Robert's Bridge Page - Three-Level Bids Over 1NT

1NT-3C hows a weak hand with 5-5 or better in the minors. Pass or correct.

1NT-3D shows a game force with 5-5 in the minors. Opener may bid 3NT to show values concentrated in the majors (the most discouraging response), 3H to show a minimum with a club preference, 3S to show a minimum with a diamond preference, or four of a minor to show a maximum with a preference for the suit bid.

After 1NT-3D-3M, responder can (1) sign off in 3NT, (2) bid four of the agreed minor (1430 RKC), and (3) bid four of a major (exclusion 1430 RKC). Any otherwise undefined nonjump response is a cue-bid.

After 1NT-3D-4m, cheapest step by responder is 1430 RKC, and the next two steps are exclusion for hearts (second step) or spades (third step).

After 1NT-3D-3NT, responder should ordinarily pass, but may bid on with an exceptional hand. Notrump raises are quantitative, and 4m is 1430 RKC for the suit bid. 4M is exclusion 1430 RKC with the kings of both minor suits counted as key cards, after which any minor-suit bid by responder is natural and to play; any notrump bid is forcing and asks opener to choose the strain.

1NT-3H shows an invitational hand with 5-5 or better in the majors. Pass, correct, or bid a major-suit game. 3NT is not to play - it simply expresses a desire to play in game while denying a major-suit preference. Responder then chooses the game.

1NT-3S shows a game force with 5-5 or better in the majors. Opener may rebid (1) 3NT (forcing) with no preference between the majors (does not show a minimum - could be a beatiful 17-point 4-4 or a crappy 15-point 3-3), (2) 4M with a minimum and a preference for the major actually bid, (3) 4C with a maximum preferring hearts, or (4) 4D with a maximum preferring spades. After 1NT-3S-3NT, responder bids 4C preferring hearts or 4D preferring spades with slam interest, or four of his better major with no slam interest.

After a signoff in 4M, the cheapest step is 1430 RKC. After any auction where 4C or 4D has been bid to show a major (either 1NT-3S-4m or 1NT-3S-3NT-4m), the other partner bids the cheapest step to show serious slam interest, or the agreed major to show a minimum for the auction so far. Partner continues by responding as if to 1430 RKC. At any point in the auction, 5m by responder is exclusion 1430 RKC if there has been no previous ace-asking move.

Example #1: 1NT-3S (GF 5-5 majors)-3NT (don't care)-4C (better hearts, slam interest)-4D (good hand, also slam interest)-4H (1 or 4 keycards)-... Opener can't very well have serious slam interest without at least 2 keycards, so he knows partner must have 1.

Example #2: 1NT-3S (GF 5-5 majors)-4H (prefer hearts, minimum)-4S (1430 RKC)-5D (2 without the queen)-...

Example #3: 1NT-3S (GF 5-5 majors)-3NT (don't care)-4H (prefer hearts, no slam interest)-P.

Example #4: 1NT-3S (GF 5-5 majors)-4C (prefer hearts, maximum)-5C (1430 RKC with clubs excluded)-5H (0 or 3 keycards)-... Once again, opener can't have a maximum with 0 key cards, so he must have 3.

Variant: Scrambled Eggs (3C response to 1NT): A direct 3C response to 1NT shows a raise to 3NT with a flaw, either a hand which is 3-1 in the majors and 5-4 in the minors, or a hand which is 5-5 in the minors with no stopper in either major. If opener cares, he rebids 3D. Opener then bids his major-suit fragment, or 3NT with 5-5 in the minors. Opener can bid (or pass) 3NT, raise responder's fragment to 4M, or bid four of five of a minor naturally. This probably comes up more often than a weak hand with 5-5 in the minors. However, it may tip the opponents off to a winning lead, and 1NT-3NT probably needs to be alerted.