0
items
$0
(573) 2NT Raises in Competition
This Week in Bridge
(573) 2NT Raises in Competition
© AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: 8 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
One of my favorite sayings is “2NT is a convention, not a contract.” In specific situations, Responder can use 2NT as conventional raise of Opener’s suit. Sometimes we need to choose between several different conventional methods for competitive auctions. Here we look at our options for how to best use 2NT.
2NT After a Takeout Double – Jordan Raise
When partner opens the bidding with a suit at the 1-level and RHO makes a takeout double, then we use 2NT as a conventional raise of partner’s suit. We do not need this 2NT bid as a natural call, showing a relatively balanced hand with 10-12 points, because with 10+ points we use a redouble. Instead, we use the 2NT bid as a limit raise or better in support of partner’s suit – called a Jordan Raise.
Example 1
Opener Interferer Responder
1♥ (or 1♠) X 2NT*
Playing Jordan, this 2NT bid shows 4+card support for partner’s Major and 10+ points.
3-card Limit Raise
With a 3-card limit raise, we start with a redouble and then raise partner later, keeping the auction at the 2-level.
Example 2
Opener Interferer Responder Advancer
1♠ X XX 2♦
P P 2♠
This shows a 3-card limit raise. It is a good auction because we invite game and keep the auction low. We have only a 5-3 fit in this auction and with the takeout double, the chances of a 4-1 split are very high, so we want to keep the auction low if we are not going to bid game.
Bergen Raises and the 2NT Response
Most partnerships that play Bergen Raises return to natural bidding when LHO of the 1-Major Opener makes an overcall – turning Bergen Raises off.
If LHO of the 1-Major Opener makes a takeout double however, then many partnerships agree to leave Bergen Raises on.
Example 3
Opener Interferer Responder
1♠ X __?
2NT* Jacoby 2NT, 12+ points, game forcing, 4+card ♠
3♣* 4-card limit raise, good 10 to bad 12 points, 4+card ♠
3♦* Mixed raise, 7-9 points, 4+card ♠
3♠ Weak raise, 0-6 points, 4+card ♠ (3-6 points when vulnerable)
The key change here is that 2NT is no longer Jordan; it is back to being a game forcing raise, Jacoby 2NT. We show our shortness and use the same follow-up bids to try for slam. The opponents often make takeout doubles on lots of shape and few HCP these days, so slam may still be possible.
This 2NT bid can also be helpful because we know when Forcing Passes are on and when they are not.
Example 4
Opener Interferer Responder Advancer
1♥ X 2NT* 4♠
P?
If this 2NT bid is Jacoby 2NT, then we are in a game forcing auction, and this allows us to pass the auction around to partner and let them decide what to do next.
2NT After an Overcall
If partner opens the bidding with a suit and the next player makes a simple overcall, then we use the cuebid of their suit as a limit raise (or better). In this case, we use a 2NT response as natural, showing invitational values, a stopper in the opponent’s suit, and no fit for our suit.
Example 5
Opener Interferer Responder
1♠ 2♣ 2NT
2NT is not a ♠ raise. This is a natural 2NT, showing a ♣ stopper and invitational values.
Conclusion
The 2NT Response in competition is most commonly used as conventional. This is especially true after a takeout double – when they overcall, we may need to keep 2NT as a natural bid. If we use 2NT as an artificial raise, then we need to make sure that we fold it into our other bidding agreements. If we have other tools, like Bergen Raises, then we may be able to adjust the meaning of our 2NT responses to give us more information and allow us to use all of our bids to describe our hand.
