The bidding sequences shown in the 1 NT Opening Bidding Summaries (2 Pages)  are  not unique to 2/1 Game Force and is typical of any system using a 15-17 NT. These Twelve  Lessons deal with an Opening 15-17 NT and typical conventions used. 

This Bridge Clinic Program is based on a combination of 2/1 GF writers. The Core of the system is to Open 1NT as often as possible with 15-17 (18-) and use Conventions that allow declarer & responder to describe their hands. In this Range the ONLY REASONS FOR NOT OPENING 1NT ARE:
 

• There is a Singleton or Void
• There are 2 Doubletons which TOGETHER have less than One (1) HCP.
• There is a 6 card Major
• There are 3 Doubletons, in other words a 7 Card Suit.

These Specifications narrow Opener's Reasons for using a different Opening Bid, and in so doing make them more Specific in their Own Right.

Lets start with a "big" hand which will use quite a few conventions to get to a Final Contract.

 BEFORE YOU LOOK AT THE FULL HAND ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.

My Partner has 16 HCPS; 4, 3, 3, 3. What is Our desired Final Contract? How do we bid this Contract?

THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT THE 2/1 GAME FORCE BIDDING IN THE ANSWER. (Revised Dec 7, 2010 to conform with 14/30 Responses)

Lesson 1.A described most of the bids shown. In this sequence North tells South he has 15-17HCPs 4-5, 3Key Cards SK, DA & CA (since he has the other 2) and the CK a total of 14 points. Already at the Six Level he selects 6S as the Contract hoping that a Queen and/or distributional points will bring in the Slam.

WITHOUT OPENING THE E-W HANDS, WHAT IS NORTH'S BEST CHANCE TO MAKE 12 TRICKS.

 I have 16 HCPS and Open 1NT

BEFORE YOU LOOK AT PARTNER'S HAND ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.

My Partner has 11 HCPS; 2, 5, 2, 4. What is Our desired Final Contract? How do we bid this Contract?

THEN YOU CAN LOOK AT THE 2/1 GAME FORCE BIDDING IN THE ANSWER.

As this is a suit Contract its is best to look at the losers. This is a bit tricky when the Long Trumps are in Dummy since it is more useful to count the losers in the hand that has the most winners.

Total Winners; 1, 4, 2, 1 = 8 Expecting to lose 1 Heart and A of Clubs

 East, Dummy has 1, 1, 3 losers  (provided Hearts break normally).

The Lead is 7 of Hearts; How do you make 10 tricks?

My Partner South opens 1NT. What Contract should we play? Who should be Declarer? How do we bid the Desired Contract?

NOW LOOK AT SOUTH'S HAND. DOES IT FIT THE CRITERIA FOR OPENING 1NT? OF THE TWO HANDS WHICH SHOULD BE EXPOSED TO THE DEFENSE? WHICH SHOULD RECEIVE THE LEAD?

The answer gives the bidding and Lesson 3.B will discuss the Play of the Hand. 

As described in lesson 3.A, North, the responder, decided that opposite the 1NT Opening a 4Spade Contract should be played by Partner and A Texas transfer was made.

west Leads 8 of Spades. 

BEFORE OPENING THE EAST - WEST HANDS PLAN TO MAKE 10 TRICKS.

My Partner West, opens 1NT. Do I have enough to force Game? If so I should use a Texas transfer at the 4 Level. Should I just invite game? If so I should use a Jacoby Transfer then raise to 3 to tell my partner if he has maximum he should go to game. 

NOW LOOK AT EAST'S HAND. DID YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE? CHECK THE ANSWER AND PART 4.B WILL SHOW BEST OPTIONS FOR MAKING FINAL CONTRACT

As described in Lesson 4A. E W arrive at 4H using a Texas Transfer. Norrth leads the K of Diamonds.

BEFORE OPENING THE EAST - WEST HANDS PLAN TO MAKE 10 TRICKS

My Partner, North opens 1NT. With 8HCPs I am not sure if we have enough for game. Should I even invite or do I risk putting us to a Level too high to make? My choices are to pass or use stayman to find out if my Partner has 4and then invite.

NOW LOOK AT NORTH'S HAND. DID YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE? CHECK THE ANSWER AND PART 5.B WILL SHOW BEST OPTIONS FOR MAKING FINAL CONTRACT

With a combined Total of 23 HCPs, it is decided not to try game. Declarer's 5 card Diamond suit makes the total points 24, still slightly short of the prescribed 25. West leads the 5 of Hearts.

BEFORE OPENING OPPONENTS HANDS PLAN HOW TO MAKE 8 TRICKS

My partner opens 1NT If we have a Major fit should I invite Slam? Similar to an invitation to game a slam invite tells Opener to try for slam with a maximum. This is different from a Slam try and uses a Quantitative rather than Asking Bid. How do I find out as much as possible about partner's hand?

NOW LOOK AT WEST'S HAND. DID YOU MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE? CHECK THE ANSWER. PART 6.B WILL DISCUSS  BEST OPTIONS FOR MAKING FINAL CONTRACT AS WELL AS DESCRIBE THE BIDDING FOR A SLAM TRY WHICH RESPONDER WOULD USE IF HE HAD 17+ total points.

With a minimum Declarer declines slam and selects the Spade contract expecting that partner has shortness in the minor(s).

If Responder had 17+ points he would have kept control by using normal stayman. Example:

1NT 2C 2S* 4C** 4NT*** 5S****

* Opener has 4-5 Spades

**Reponder Asks Roman Key Card (14/30) Spades Trumps

*** Opener shows 2 key cards + the Q of Spades

****Missing 2 key cards Responder would have to stop short of slam.

In both cases you arrive at the 5 level. Note that with an additional 2/3 points in either hand slam is very probable, and WEST should invite not try slam with 14/15 points.

BEFORE OPENING OPPONENTS HANDS PLAN HOW TO MAKE 11 TRICKS

The 1NT Bidding Summary describes 3 &  3 reponses showing 2 x 5+Card Majors. Which one, if any would you use here?  What Level and Strain(s) would you suggest to Partner who has opened 1NT (of course).

LOOK AT OPENER'S HAND AND COMPLETE THE BIDDING, THEN CHECK THE ANSWER. LESSON 7. B WILL COVER DEALING WITH THESE 5/5 HANDS WHEN THEY ARE VERY WEAK OR VERY STRONG  AS WELL AS GIVE HINTS ON HOW TO MAKE THE FINAL CONTRACT.

7.A deals specifically with invitational or game force hands with 5+/5+ in the majors. With very weak hands, < 6 Total points, transfer to the longer/stronger suit and pass. Opener will have at least a doubleton and even if there is a better fit in the second suit this will help to make tricks in the final contract.

With 14-16 Total points/six loser hand,  invite slam/slam try by using Jacoby to transfer to the longer/stronger suit then bidding the other suit at the lowest level. With Maximum and/or 5 COVER CARDS  Opener should investigate slam.

With 17+ Total point, 5 loser hand use the 3S bid then if Opener selects a suit at the 4 level ASK 4NT RKC BL. note that 4NT in this situation is Asking. Should Opener say 3NT after 3S indicating doubleton in both majors; 4C would be ASKING for Aces 4NT would be a Quantitative Invite.

THE ANSWER GIVES THE PLAN FOR MAKING 10 TRICKS IN THIS HAND. THE LEAD IS A of DIAMONDS

With this 7 loser hand Responder would like to look for a short-cut to game. The 2NT Response is a tool which can give partner the information to decide whether 3NT is feasible or if to forego game in a 4 level minor suit contract or bid game at the 5 level.

LOOK AT OPENER'S HAND AND COMPLETE THE BIDDING, THEN CHECK THE ANSWER. LESSON 8.B WILL COVER HANDS WITH 6 CARD MINORS OF DIFFERENT STRENGTHS, AS WELL AS GIVE HINTS ON HOW TO MAKE THE FINAL CONTRACT.

Mosr players would bid 3NT with these hands. The element of gambling is somewhat reduced as Responder is saying in this sequence I have six tricks in the minor can you stop the others and make 3 quick tricks? When Responder transfers and then goes to 3NT with or without acceptance, He is indicating the strong possibility of 6 tricks in the minor with no outside strenght.

Just like with Jacoby Transfers, with 6 of a minor and 0-7 points make the transfer to play. Note the added lenght required as the Contract is played at the 3 level. With Invitational and game strenght values (below the 5 level) that are distributed in outside suits, make the corresponding invitation/Game (3NT) bid.  With a 6 loser hand 15+ Total points make the transfer and either INVITE slam with 4NT Quantitative or TRY Slam by asking RKC REDWOOD.

BEFORE LOOKING AT THE OPPONENTS HANDS PLAN TO MAKE 9 TRICKS WHEN NORTH LEADS THE 10 of CLUBS.

With 5/4 in the majors, Use Stayman to find a Major fit. SMOLEN is a convension used to show 5/4 in the Majors when 1NT Opener rebids 2 D to Stayman. Rsponder bids the 4Card Major at the 2 Level with Invitational Values; at the 3 Level to show Game Force Values.

What do you bid after Partner's 2D rebid in this Hand?

OPEN PARTNER'S HAND TO AND COMPLETE THE BIDDING. THE ANSWER SHOWS THE FINAL CONTRACT AND PART B WILL DESCRIBE HOW TO BID HANDS OF VERY LOW (<8 Total Points) VALUE AND VERY HIGH (> 15 Total Points) VALUE HANDS

In hands which are very weak (<6 Total Points) transfer to the 5 Card major and Pass. There will be the rare occassion that there is an 8 or even 9 card fit in the other major. This "secondary" fit will help/augment making the final contract. However it is not worth jeapardizing what would be a safe contract most of the time for the odd occassion when there might be a better fit.

To make a slam TRY always use staymen followed by the 3 Level Smolen bid if partner has no 4 card major. Once Opener selects the Strain proceed to Ask. 4NT over 4 of the Major is RKC Blackwood; 4C over 3NT is Gerber.

To make a Slam Invitation transfer to the 5card suit and bid the 4card suit at the lowest level; Opener with 5 COVER CARDS should investigate Slam.

THE ANSWER SHOWS HOW TO PLAN FOR 10 TRICKS WITH THIS HAND ONCE EAST LEADS K of CLUBS.

Any 6-4 Combination can be a 6 Loser Hand with as few as 9HCPs (1A+1K+1Q)provided that the points are in the 2 long suits. In this hand there are 6 Losers with 11HCPs so slam is worth investigating. Describe your hand by transferring to the long suit then bidding the other at the lowest level.

Now look at Partner's Hand and Complete the bidding; Should Opener accept the Slam invitation?

Note: Bidding explanation corrected in answer 2/2/11

Opposite 1NT Opening, Responder can systematically describe his range and distribution in 2 bids. In general the 15 - 17 1NT range blocks/discourages interference more effectively than a Strong Club for example.

The Strategy is to use sequences that uniquely describes the limits on Responder's hand to arrive at the best level and strain for the combined hands. So that whenever Responder shows 2 suits as in this 6/4 example slam is being invited. Loser Count is a valuable tool in assessing Game/Slam viability once a fit is established.

THE ANSWER SHOWS HOW TO PLAN FOR 12 TRICKS ONCE K of Spades IS LED.

In this hand the Dealer East opens 1NT and East West bid and play 2in East easily making 8 - 9 tricks.

Now Look at the Opponents Hands. North South can easily take 11 Tricks in Hearts or Diamonds. How would you suggest that the Opponents get to their Contract?

Partner Opens 1NT and RHO overcalls, LEBENSOLN proceeds as follows:

1. Over double and 2C, which are very often artificial, systems are on and a double of the 2C bid is Stayman. Redouble of genuine double asks Opener to take-out. Otherwise:
2. 0 - 4 : Usually breathe a sigh of relief and PASS
3. 5 - 7: Combined hands have > 20 hcps but game not likely;
   • With strength/lenght in overcalled suit double for penaty.
   •  Compete naturally with 5+card suit below 2NT
   • to compete at the 3 level bid 2NT; this demands Opener to bid 3C and pass any subsequent bid below Opponents suit.
4. 8 - 9: Combined hands have 23+ hcps and because game is not guaranteed a double for penalty may be the best option. However Opponents who dare to enter the bidding over 1NT generally have very distributional hands and a penalty double may yield less points than proceeding to game/partscore and choice should consider vulnerability.
   • With strength/lenght in overcalled suit double for penalty.
   • Invite game in 5card suit by by-passing it (if necessary) on the 2 level and bidding 2NT. Opener has to bid 3C now any suit bid on the 3 level is a game invitation.
5. 10+: Combined hands have 25+hcps and it is quite possible that a penalty double would not yield as much as bidding game. LEBENSOLN checks for stoppers as well as 4 4 major fits as follows: 
   • WITH Stopper bid 2NT and after Opener bids 3C, bidding Opponents suit shows at least one 4Card Major; bidding 3NT is to play
   • With NO Stopper, NO 4Card Major bid 3NT. Opener can leave with Stopper(s) or bid 1st 4+card minor at 4 level, or bid 5+card minor at 5 level with max.
   • With NO Stopper and a 4Card Major cue-bid Opponents suit at 3 Level
   • With NO Stopper and 5 Card suit bid suit at 3 Level

WHAT DO YOU BID OVER OPPONENTS 2S OVERCALL?

There are variations to the Lebensoln convention as with all others. The basic principle is to preserve the double for penalty. Lebensoln also has treatments over Natural Weak 2 bids and after Opener has made a reverse which are very effective; these would be described in their relevant Section.

In any Contract you Defend you try to defeat the Opponents and always minimize the No. of tricks they make. In a Doubled Contract there is a set target of the Minimum no. of tricks you must take similar to making a contract.

WHAT DO YOU LEAD now that your Opponents are in 2S doubled? HOW do you PLAN your defense?