1NT with a Six-Card Suit: When It Still Works
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Bidding is generally all about being as simple, predictable and as accurate as possible. That is why, 1NT as an opening should generally be balanced, or at least it should not contain a six card suit. There are times where experts are breaking the rules and opening 1NT with six card suits though.
A good example comes from the semi finals of the recent American Trials, where Joe Grue (from the team that won the entire event) had this hand.
He decided to open 1NT. At the other table, the player opened 1♦, and after his partner bid 1♠, he rebid 2♦, ending the auction. 3NT was the winning contract, which was the result of the 1NT opening.
A major reason in favour of 1NT is that it describes the strength better than the 1♦ opening, with a 2♦ rebid.
Why not rebid 3♦? The general guide for this bid is 15-17 points, or about 7 tricks. While the hand does fit in the range, it’s a bit “soft”. The Qx and KQJ tight, are down gradable features. Also the hand is very balanced, so its prospects of successfully playing in 5♦ or 6♦ are very bad.
If the hand looked more like the one below, with the same amount of high card points, players would gladly open 1♦ and rebid 3♦, as it has excellent playing strength in diamonds, as its nicely distributional.
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