Page 97 - Learn Bridge Ver2_Neat

Review.

A balanced hand when we are opening 1NT (12-14) is one of the
following shapes -
‘ 4-3-3-3
‘ 4-4-3-2
‘ 5-3-3-2 when the five card suit is a minor
‘ 5-3-3-2 when the 5 card suit is a poor major

When we are opening 2NT (20-22) we can open any shape above and
a five card major need not be poor.

With all balanced hands we either open in notrump or, unless
something interesting happens, we rebid notrump.

So, it is the gap in the middle that is the most difficult to handle. That
is, 15-19 balanced hands.

The first thing we do is to allow hands like this to be
Í 8 7
added to the shape when we define hands as balanced -
Ì A J 10 7 4
Ë K Q 8 4
We open 1Ì here and if partner responds 1Í we rebid
Ê A Q
1NT as it is the best description of the hand.

However, if partner had responded 2Ê a rebid of 2Ë is best.

We use the two charts earlier to show us what to open 4-4-3-2 and
depending on what partner responds, what to rebid.

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