8-NT Convention Card: No Trump Opening Bids

In this series we systematically discuss the various sections of the ACBL convention card, and what I consider to be 8-NT standard bidding.

This is a big section, both in terms of length and importance.  Here we describe our NT opening bids, and the systems we use in response.

First, we must enter the HCP range of our 1NT opening bid.  We play 15-17 HCP.  This means that with a balanced hand and 15-17 HCP, we open 1NT.  Other pairs play different ranges, and some will even play different ranges for different situations.  Notice that this line is in Blue.  That signifies an Announce-able bid.  When your partner opens 1NT, you should say "15 to 17" (or whatever your agreed range is).

We do not check off "5-card Major common," as we would normally open 1 of a major with 5 cards in that suit, even with a balanced hand in the right range.  If you and your partner opt to open 1NT on many of these balanced 5-card major hands, you should check this box (and devise your subsequent methods to deal with this decision).

I have also left "System on over" blank.  This line refers to the bidding system we describe in the rest of the section, and asks what we do in the face of opponent interference.  I think that in a basic system, the safest thing is to play as naturally as possible over interference, which means playing systems off over any bid. That means that if 1NT is doubled, or if the opponents make any bid, we no longer play Stayman and Jacoby transfers.  Feel free to change this, but keep in mind that certain members of 8-NT enjoy Disrupting Opponents No Trump.

Now we get to the meat of the system.

For "2C" we check Stayman (puppet is a way to ask opener for 5 card majors-it is a more complicated version of Stayman).

For "2D" and "2H" we check the transfer box (and note that these bids carry an announcement.  If your partner bids 2D or 2H, you should say "transfer."

I left the 2S line blank.  Most of us play that this is a transfer to an unspecified minor.  If that is your system, you should write this on the line, and alert the bid.  I didn't write anything because there are other possibilities, and we very rarely bid this.  (Also, because I vastly prefer 4-suit transfers, but that requires fiddling with the Stayman structure just a bit).

We write nothing on the 2NT line, because our 2NT bid is natural.  It means what people would expect it to mean.

We leave the rest of the lines (outside the 2NT and 3NT box) blank.  These are also all talking about more complicated systems (which some of us play), but which I do not consider 8-NT standard.

Finally, we enter our range for 2NT as 20-21 (note, this is not an announce-able bid), and check off Jacoby to show that we use transfer responses to 2NT as well (these do get announced).  We also enter a range for 3NT (25-27 HCP).

That's our No Trump opening bids section.

In terms of describing the full system of bidding over 1NT, this section is woefully inadequate.  Even within 8-NT we have ways to show a huge variety of hands in response to 1NT.  However, that does not appear on the convention card.  So, be prepared to answer your opponents questions should they ask, and of course, ask questions if you need to know.

Next up will be: Major Openings!