Sunday, May 09, 2004 4:15 AM
Hand Evaluation - Forcing 1NT ( Limit Raises )
PITBULLS:
One of the most important uses of the forcing NT is to show limit raises with 3 trump.
When opener makes a simple rebid , showing the limit
raise is trivial . You jump in the major , make a fit showing jump or raise the rebid major.
In other auctions like jump raises, showing the limit raise hands is not so trivial and needs to be discussed.
Take the auction 1♠-p-1NT-P
3♠-P-? - what shows the limit raise hand ? . The 4 level is reserved for Q bids to show the limit raise hand . Partner bidding another suit ( Ace or King ) implies the limit raise in spades so opener can act accordingly. 1♠-P-1NT-P 3NT-P-? same with this auction . A Q bid at the 4 level implies the limit raise hand so pulling 3NT to 4 spades is just a sign off . The sanctity of the 4 level for Q bidding helps define the limit raise.
1♠-p-1NT-P
3♠-P-4♥-p is not to play but
show a limit raise in spades by showing a control
in hearts.
O.K. the auction 1♠-p-1NT-P
2NT-p-?
. O.K. we play a 3♣ relay to 3♦ here to show all the weak
sequences ( Wolffe
like ) so this is easy . In the absence of a relay , a
direct preference of 3 spades shows a good
limit raise with slam interest. A weak spade raise you would relay first followed by supporting spades.
Say you were too weak to bid two spades going in ♠Kxx
♥xx ♦Q10xxx
♣109x so you bid 1NT. After
partners 2NT bid , force partner to relay to 3♦ by bidding 3♣ first & support spades . You now have done
your duty by showing your dog spade raise. A leap to 4♠ after 2NT accepts the invitation to
game but in spades rather than no trump. This shows a minimum limit raise in
spades so no slam interest ( fast arrival ).
The next auction is the strong
jump shift into a suit other than
the all purpose 3♣ bid ( only diamonds left
for us) . 1♠-P-1NT-P 3♦-p-? . Here we could use the principle of “fast arrival” to show the doggy
raise. Probably more common will be the hand with two small trump
with an unwillingness to bid 3NT. Lets compromise so say a leap to 4 of the major shows the limit raise.
Playing the Subash treatment of a major opening with a multi-purpose 3♣ jump shift needs more understandings. A forcing NT takes a
special understanding to show the limit raise hands. The
sequence 1♠-P-1NT-P
3♣-P-? This bid is a relay to 3♦ but if you refuse
the relay it shows the limit raise hand in spades. With most other
hands you accept the relay to 3♦ .
The invitational 1♠-P-1NT-P
3♥-P-? has
three preference sequences . A direct 3♠ bid says
we are probably too high already so should be passed. A leap to 4♠ is accepting the invitation to game . A
super limit raise in spades or hearts , is shown by a
Q bid at the 4 level. ♠QJx ♥Ax ♦xxxxx ♣Axx
1♠-P-1NT-P
3♥-P-? You bid 4♣ so
partner with ♠AKxxx ♥KQ10xx ♦Ax
♣x bids Blackwood so on to our 1430 in 6
spades.
When you accept the relay to 3♦ , in these auctions , partner bids 3♥ or 3NT showing a strong jump shift in hearts & clubs
respectively , a bid at the 4 level
is a slam try . Jumping to game or bidding game ( fast
arrival ) shows enough to bid game but that’s about all. ♠xx ♥KQ9x ♦KQxxx ♣xx
1♠-P-1NT-P
3♣-P-3♦-P
3♥-P-? you
can not bid 4♥ as you are too strong
. You bid 4♦ showing
a control with implied heart support. Since you accepted the relay ,
you can not have the spade limit raise so this must
show a good hand for hearts. Partner with ♠AKxxx ♥AJ10x ♦Ax
♣Ax might have a chance to get to our cold 7♥ grand .