Bridge
25 April, 2026
Opening a not-quite-standard 1NT
Opening 1NT has many advantages – not only do you tell partner a great deal about your shape and strength, you seize the initiative in terms of being able to play in notrumps
Opening 1NT has many advantages – not only do you tell partner a great deal about your shape and strength, you seize the initiative in terms of being able to play in notrumps. For those reasons, there is some merit in bending the rules on when you might open 1NT i.e. not only with traditional 4333, 4432 and 5332 balanced shapes, but also with 5422 hands with both minors, or even 6322 hands with a long minor suit.
Because the 6322 shape has additional playing strength, you might consider "borrowing" a point or two to open 1NT with such a hand and with honours in your short suits. That's exactly what South did on this deal:
After a 1NT opening, ostensibly 15-17 points, North will of course bid 2♣️Stayman and over opener's 2♦️ rebid, jump to 3NT. This makes without much effort.
In contrast, see what happens if as South you open 1♦️. West will overcall 1❤️, partner will make a negative double to show 4 spades and you will have little choice but to rebid 2♦️. That might well be the end of the auction!
Of course if you open an off-shape 1NT, there will be times you find yourself playing in a relatively poor 5-2 fit in a major suit after responder transfers and then passes, when you did in fact have a good fit in a minor suit. Nothing's perfect! However, there will be other times when you will be able to reach a makeable game contract that you might otherwise miss.
There is much to be said for opening 1NT with any hand that is a reasonable approximation to a typical 1NT bid.
Rakesh Kumar
The Southern Highlands Bridge Club runs three duplicate sessions every week (Mon 1:00 pm, Wed 6:30 pm, Sat 1:00 pm) at the East Bowral Community Centre. Highlands players and visitors welcome!
For more information: https://shbc.bridgeaustralia.org
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