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BLUE POWER
1. Power 1NT Opening

  1. Point ranges for the 1NT Opening
  2. The Power 1NT Opening
  3. Power 1NT Stayman responses
  4. Transfer responses to 1NT
  5. Slam bidding
  6. 2NT Opening & Responses
  7. The 15-18 HCP 1NT Overcall

    Bidding Guide - Practice


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BP 1.1 - Point ranges for the 1NT Opening

Comment
Ron Klinger (in his book "The Power System", 1993) states unequivocally that all 1NT opening bids (falling within the 12-18 pts range) are wrong, because they all have substantial flaws.
Here is an overview of the most common ones.

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Here are a few of the negatives concerning these point ranges.
  1. 1NT = 12-14 or 12-15
    These bids have a good pre-emptive value by shutting out the Opponents from making any suit bid at the 1-level.
    However this applies also to themselves, as they are frequently overcalled and then in many cases struggle to find a suitable part-score contract.   These Opening bids are also prone to being Doubled for penalties, often with dire results.

  2. 1NT = 15-17 or 16-18
    A major disadvantage here is that Responder (unless he makes a "Rescue bid") will pass with less than 8 points. As a result a better part score trump suit contract can easily be missed. Including a possible 5-card major in these 1NT Openings is especially vulnerable in this regard.
    Above all the 19-20 points gap above these 1NT Openings leaves Opener no option but to open 1♣ or 1♦ with such point count, and is left in a poor contract whenever Partner passes with 5 points or less.

  3. 1NT = all point ranges between 12 and 18
    When fortunate enough to be left in a 1NT contract, you will on average achieve a good 65% Match point score (according to the statisticians). Therefore Opponents will do everything possible to interfere with such contract, and a wide range of defensive conventions have been devised to do just that : Astro, Becker, Brozel, Cappelletti, Canape, DONT, Landy, TRASH, Ripstra, RCO 2s, etc.

So is there a better range for the 1NT Opening bid ? According to Klinger, yes there is, and he has tested it within his self designed Power System successfully (both Nationally and Internationally) for many years.


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BP 1.2 - The Power 1NT Opening (17-20 pts)

The Power 1NT is one of the crucial 5 elements of Ron Klinger's Power System, but can be used by itself and fit into any other bidding system.
The Power 1NT opening shows 17-20 points (including a possible length point) and a balanced hand which may include a 5-card major. The diagram below shows how it compares with other 1NT points ranges.

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Considering the various problems with other 1NT points ranges as listed in Chapter 35.1, the following points can be made :

  1. Enemy interference
    It is a brave (if not reckless) Opponent indeed, who dares to make a Take-out double or Overcall over such a powerful opening, as it is likely to have dire consequences.
    Bidding after a Power 1NT Opening will therefore proceed without any Enemy interference in 95% of all cases.

  2. Being left stranded in 1♣ or 1♦ with 19-20 points
    When Partner passes with less than 5 points (and a hand not suitable for a "Rescue bid") the 1NT contract will in the vast majority of cases be much better than being left stranded in 1♣ or 1♦.
    In all other cases, when Partner does make a response bid, reaching the right contract is easy (and compatible with any other method) in view of the wide range of response options available.

  3. Missing a major suit part-score contract
    Because Partner must respond with at least 5 or 6 points, it is safe to include a 5-card major in the Power 1NT hand with 17-20 pts, as missing a superior part-score contract in a major trump suit is now impossible.

The diagram below shows the Power 1NT opening within the context of all other balanced hand opening bids in the system.

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When using the Multi-2♦ opening bid, balanced hands with 21-22 points can be included as one of the options. (Also included in the Jazclass recommended version are 4441 hands with 18 HCP+ and/or 4 losers.)
In such case the 2NT Opening bid can be used for other purposes, such as a weak 2-suited hand (see RCO 2s).

After a Game force 2♣ Opening bid Opener's rebid of 2NT shows a balanced hand with 23-24 points, while a rebid of 3NT shows a balanced 25+ points hand.


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BP 1.3 - Power 1NT modified Stayman responses

The Power 1NT opening can stand entirely on its own and can be used within any simple NT bidding arrangement.   The great thing is that your Partner must respond with 6 points or more, no matter what.

Do not include 5-card major suits in the 1NT opening. You can use the system I recommend as shown below. It uses a slightly modified version of the Stayman Convention, where traditional Stayman replies made at the 2- level show 17-18 points, and mirror replies at the 3-level show 19-20 points.

bp01-1nt-1
(Note : Balanced hands with 5332 shape and a 5 card minor can be included in the 1NT opening.)

After Opener's rebid of 2NT or 3♣ (showing both majors), the Responder (if he does hold a 4-card major) can use transfers : bidding 3♦ as transfer to 3♥, or bidding 3♥ as transfer to 3♠.

Here follow two examples.

Ex. 1     Opener (W)
♠ - A K
♥ - K J 8 5
♦ - A 9 5 3
♣ - Q 9 2
  Responder (E)
♠ - Q 8 4 2
♥ - A 9 7 3
♦ - 8 7 4
♣ - 8 6
 

Comment
Opener's 2♥ shows a 4-card major and 17-18 pts. Responder passes with only 6 HCP.


Bidding : (W) 1NT - 2♣ - 2♥ - Pass


Ex. 2     Opener (W)
♠ - A 3
♥ - K J 4
♦ - A Q 10 5
♣ - K Q 9 7
  Responder (E)
♠ - 9 7 4 2
♥ - A Q 10 7
♦ - K 9 7
♣ - 6 2
 

Comment
Opener's reply of 3♦ shows a maximum 19-20 points without a 4-card major. Responder signs off with 3NT.


Bidding : (W) 1NT - 2♣ - 3♦ - 3NT - Pass



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BP 1.4 - Transfer responses to Power 1NT

Responder hands with a 5+card suit are not suitable for the Stayman enquiry route. Most of them are dealt with via a suit transfer.

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  1. With weak unbalanced hands go the Transfer route and pass after Opener made his transfer bid.

  2. With 6-11 points and a 5+card suit also go the Transfer route, bid to Game after Opener's response.

  3. With 12-14 points and a 6+card suit bid 2♣ (Extended Stayman).
    If Opener is minimum (17-18) proceed to Game, if Opener is maximum proceed to Slam.

  4. With 15+ points and a 6+card suit, bid your suit directly at the 3-level. This shows interest in Slam even if Opener is minimum.

When the 1NT Opener is maximum (19-20 pts), has 3+card support for Responder's major suit and a doubleton, he makes a super accept, by bidding his transfer suit at the 3- level.   For example :   1NT - 2♦ - 3♥

Ex. 5     Opener (W)
♠ - A K
♥ - K 8
♦ - A 9 5 3
♣ - Q J 9 7
  Responder (E)
♠ - Q 8 4
♥ - A J 9 7 3
♦ - 8 7 4
♣ - 8 6
 

Comment
After Opener's transfer Responder passes having only 7 HCP.


Bidding : (W) 1NT - 2♦ - 2♥ - Pass


Ex. 6     Opener (W)
♠ - K Q 3
♥ - K J 9 7
♦ - A Q 10 5
♣ - A 7
  Responder (E)
♠ - A 8 7 4 2
♥ - A Q 10
♦ - K 9 7
♣ - 6 2
 

Comment
Opener's super-accept of 3♠ shows a maximum 19-20 points, 3 hearts and a doubleton. Responder confidently bids to Slam.


Bidding : (W) 1NT - 2♥ - 3♠ - 6♠ - Pass

Transfers have two advantages :
The weaker hand is the exposed Dummy when the transfered suit does become the trump suit

The Opener (forced to do the transfer bid) is so to say "put on hold", while the Responder can describe his hand with two bids.
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BP 1.5 - Slam bidding

There are several options for asking for Aces or Roman Key Cards.

The simplest way is to use the Gerber 4♣ Convention throughout. Responses are :

4♦ = 0 or 4 Aces     4♥ = 1 Ace     4♠ = 2 Aces     4NT = 3 Aces

I recommend a slightly more involved approach :

  1. Use RKC Gerber 4♣ after all Stayman and transfer responses.
    4♦ = 0 or 3 key cards     4♥ = 1 or 4 key cards
    4♠ = 2 key cards without the trump Q     4NT = 2 key cards with the trump Q

  2. After 1NT - 3♥ or 1NT - 3♠ : use 3NT RKC Blackwood

  3. After 1NT - 3♣ or 1NT - 3♦ : use 4 of the minor RKC ask


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BP 1.6 - The 2NT Opening bid (21-22 pts)

With 4+ points Responder must bid after Partner's 2NT Opening bid.

3♣ is Stayman, and promises at least one 4-card major

Use transfers for the major suits only

3♠ shows length in both minors (opener bis his longest minor)
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BP 1.7 - The 1NT Overcall

Traditionally in the Standard system the 1NT Overcall has the same points range as the 1NT Opening bid, with the only added requirement being a stopper in the Enemy suit.
However for the Power 1NT this is not appropriate. After Opponent's Opening bid you are unlikely to have a 17-20 points hand yourself, and in such rare case that you do : prefer to make a take-out double.

Klinger recommends you use the 1NT Overcall for balanced hands within the 15-18 HCP range, 2 HCP lower than the Power 1NT Opening bid. This is more likely to occur and is also strong enough to protect you against Opponent's penalty double. Remember, one of your Opponents holds an Opening hand and his Partner is therefore in an excellent position to judge their combined strength.

The responses to Partner's 1NT Overcall can be the same as those to his 1NT Opening, except all point ranges are 2 HCP less.

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© 2017 Michael Furstner (Jazclass).