THE 1NT OPENING INTRODUCTION
(WEAK NOTRUMP = 12-14 POINTS)

This Chapter deals with hands that start with a 1NT opening bid from your partnership.
It covers all sorts of responding hands in an attempt to explore all possible options.
An emphasis is placed on the use of transfer bids and Stayman.
The system of transfers can be selected (or de-selected) by using the configuration menu.
 I do recommend that you use the system of transfers - it makes bidding over 1NT
much easier and much smoother.

The subjects dealt with in this section are:

TRANSFERS
STAYMAN (including weak hands)
Bidding WITHOUT TRANSFERS
RESPONDING WITH LONG MINOR
QUANTITIVE RAISES

Transfers
In response to 1NT
2♦ shows FIVE or more HEARTS
2♥ shows FIVE or more SPADES
2♠ shows a hand with a long MINOR
When responding to each of these bids the responder should CLOSE HIS EYES
and make the call directly above (2♥ in response to 2♦, 2♠ in response to 2♥
and 2NT in response to 2♠).

For a detailed description of bidding with transfers - see the BASIC SYSTEM FILE.
It is recommended that you view this file before you embark on this chapter
and the use of transfers.

Stayman (including weak hands)
Stayman is a bid of 2♣ in response to 1NT - it is used to find a 4-4 fit in a major.
For a detailed description of the Stayman Convention - see the BASIC SYSTEM FILE.
 

Bidding Without Transfers

WEAK TAKE-OUTS (without transfers)
When you hold a long suit and a weak hand when responding to a 1NT opening bid
it is often best to play in the suit contract.
A bid of 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠ (not 2♣ - Stayman - see above) shows such a hand and
the 1NT Opener should pass. These two-level responses are called weak take-outs.

INVITATIONAL HANDS (without transfers)
To show an invitational hand (10-11 points) with a long major, you need to bid Stayman
and then follow with a bid of three-of-the-major over whatever the response.

Responding with a Long Minor
Whenever you have a long and strong minor suit, always contemplate playing in notrumps
- the profit is much greater in notrumps and game is much easier to make.

Quantitive Raises
When responding to 1NT there are a variety of choices - showing long suits,
searching for a major suit fit, etc. Once you have discounted the suit options,
then you have to decide how high to bid. The 1NT opening bid shows 12-14 points, so:
with 0-10 points     game is not likely           PASS
with 11 points        game is a possibility       2NT
with 13-18 points   game is probable           3NT
with 19 points       a slam is a possibility      4NT
with 20-22 points  a slam is probable           6NT
with 23 points       a grand slam is possible   5NT
with 24-26 points  a grand slam is probable  7NT