Unusual notrump
Encyclopedia
In the card game
of bridge
, the unusual notrump is a conventional bid showing two lower unbid suits.
When the right-hand opponent opens 1 or 1, the immediate overcall of 2 NT shows at least 5-5 in the minor suit
s (that is, at least five clubs plus at least five diamonds) and, presumably, a weakish hand (6 to 11 points). If the next player passes, the partner is expected to select the minor suit that he/she prefers and bid it at the 3-level. The unusual notrump extends the principle that when the natural meaning of a bid is not generally very useful, it is profitable to agree that it means something somewhat opposite. That is, while natural notrump bids show a strong hand with balanced distribution, the unusual notrump shows a weak hand with very unbalanced distribution.
The unusual notrump is used only after the opponents open the bidding. In addition to succinctly describing the hand to the partner, it also deprives the opponents of a lot of bidding space (that is, it has a preempt
ive value).
Many players extend the convention to have it show the "two lowest unbid" suits rather than strictly the minors. Thus, over 1, 2NT shows diamonds and hearts; and over 1, it shows clubs and hearts.
If the 2 notrump bidder bids again freely, then it shows a strong two suiter
. To distinguish the weak and strong holdings, many partnerships agree not to use the unusual notrump for intermediate hands (about 12 to 14 points); they would simply overcall with one of their suits and show the other later if the bidding offers a chance. However, for two-suiters, many players apply losing trick count (LTC) instead of point count, as it more accurately depicts the offensive trick-taking potential of the hand. With LTC in effect, the required strength is about 4.5–7 losers, the latter only in favorable vulnerability.
Similarly, a 4NT overcall shows an extreme two suiter (usually at least 6-5, often 6-6 or 7-6) and enough trick-taking potential so that a 5-level contract can be made, or a sacrifice will likely be profitable. It shows the same two suits as 2NT would show. Note that 4NT is "unusual" only when the opponents open the bidding; otherwise, 4NT is normally played as the Blackwood convention
or a quantitative invitation to 6NT.
The Michaels cuebid
is a similar convention which is used to show a two suiter with one or both major suit
s.
To counteract the unusual notrump, the opening side may employ unusual vs. unusual
.
An important principle is that of the corresponding Major - minor.
Spades - Diamonds
Hearts - Clubs
By cue bidding a minor you are showing a good holding in the corresponding Major while a bid of the Major shows a weaker holding.
After a 2NT Over Call of our Major
1H - 2NT - X = looking to penalize, no primary Major fit
3C = good raise in H (8 losers or better)
3D = sound values in S at the three level or better
3H = weak raise in H but stretched (8½ to 9 losers)
3S = 6S, not forcing
3N = to play
4m = splinter in support of H
1S - 2NT - X = looking to penalize, no primary Major fit
3C = sound values in H at the three level or better
3D = good raise in S (8 losers or better)
3H = 6H, not forcing
3S = weak raise in S but stretched (8½ to 9 losers)
3N = to play
4m = splinter in support of S
After a 2NT Opening:
2NT - X = able to penalize one of the minors or 20+ HCP
3C = Take Out for the Majors, better H
3D = Take Out for the Majors, better S
3H = single suited in H, opening hand
3S = single suited in S, opening hand
This often leads to one of:
Card game
A card game is any game using playing cards as the primary device with which the game is played, be they traditional or game-specific. Countless card games exist, including families of related games...
of bridge
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
, the unusual notrump is a conventional bid showing two lower unbid suits.
When the right-hand opponent opens 1 or 1, the immediate overcall of 2 NT shows at least 5-5 in the minor suit
Minor suit
In contract bridge the minor suits are diamonds and clubs . They are given that name because contracts made in those suits score less than contracts made in the major suits , and they rank lower in bidding. In particular, one can make game with a bid of 4 in a major suit, while a bid of 5 is...
s (that is, at least five clubs plus at least five diamonds) and, presumably, a weakish hand (6 to 11 points). If the next player passes, the partner is expected to select the minor suit that he/she prefers and bid it at the 3-level. The unusual notrump extends the principle that when the natural meaning of a bid is not generally very useful, it is profitable to agree that it means something somewhat opposite. That is, while natural notrump bids show a strong hand with balanced distribution, the unusual notrump shows a weak hand with very unbalanced distribution.
The unusual notrump is used only after the opponents open the bidding. In addition to succinctly describing the hand to the partner, it also deprives the opponents of a lot of bidding space (that is, it has a preempt
Preempt
Preempt is a bid in contract bridge whose primary objectives are to thwart opponents ability to bid to their best contract, with some safety, and to fully describe one's hand to one's partner in a single bid. A preemptive bid is usually made by jumping, i.e. skipping one or more bidding levels...
ive value).
Many players extend the convention to have it show the "two lowest unbid" suits rather than strictly the minors. Thus, over 1, 2NT shows diamonds and hearts; and over 1, it shows clubs and hearts.
If the 2 notrump bidder bids again freely, then it shows a strong two suiter
Two suiter
In contract bridge, a two suiter is a hand containing cards mostly from two of the four suits. Traditionally a hand is considered a two suiter if it contains at least ten cards in two suits, with the two suits not differing in length by more than one card. Depending on suit quality and partnership...
. To distinguish the weak and strong holdings, many partnerships agree not to use the unusual notrump for intermediate hands (about 12 to 14 points); they would simply overcall with one of their suits and show the other later if the bidding offers a chance. However, for two-suiters, many players apply losing trick count (LTC) instead of point count, as it more accurately depicts the offensive trick-taking potential of the hand. With LTC in effect, the required strength is about 4.5–7 losers, the latter only in favorable vulnerability.
Similarly, a 4NT overcall shows an extreme two suiter (usually at least 6-5, often 6-6 or 7-6) and enough trick-taking potential so that a 5-level contract can be made, or a sacrifice will likely be profitable. It shows the same two suits as 2NT would show. Note that 4NT is "unusual" only when the opponents open the bidding; otherwise, 4NT is normally played as the Blackwood convention
Blackwood convention
In the partnership card game contract bridge, the Blackwood convention is a popular bidding convention that was developed by Easley Blackwood. It is used to explore the partnership's possession of aces, kings and in some variants, the queen of trumps, to judge more precisely whether slam is likely...
or a quantitative invitation to 6NT.
The Michaels cuebid
Michaels cuebid
The Michaels cuebid is a conventional bid used in the card game contract bridge. First devised by Mike Michaels of Miami Beach, it is an overcaller's cuebid in opponent's opening suit and is normally used to show a two-suited hand with at least five cards in each suit and eight or more points.After...
is a similar convention which is used to show a two suiter with one or both major suit
Major suit
In the card game contract bridge, the major suits are spades and hearts . The major suits are of prime importance for tactics and scoring as they outrank the minor suits while bidding and also outscore them...
s.
To counteract the unusual notrump, the opening side may employ unusual vs. unusual
Unusual vs. unusual
Unusual vs. Unusual is a competitive bidding convention used in contract bridge by the opening side after a defensive bidder has made an overcall showing two suits...
.
Modifications
Recently, the Unusual 2NT has been used in opening seat showing a 5-5 minor suited hand and 7-11 HCP. The preemptive value of the two suited hand puts pressure on the opponents to find their fits, games and slams at the three level.Defense to 2NT (showing both minors) as an over call and an opening bid
By opening or over calling 2NT you are given extra bids as well as the double.An important principle is that of the corresponding Major - minor.
Spades - Diamonds
Hearts - Clubs
By cue bidding a minor you are showing a good holding in the corresponding Major while a bid of the Major shows a weaker holding.
After a 2NT Over Call of our Major
1H - 2NT - X = looking to penalize, no primary Major fit
3C = good raise in H (8 losers or better)
3D = sound values in S at the three level or better
3H = weak raise in H but stretched (8½ to 9 losers)
3S = 6S, not forcing
3N = to play
4m = splinter in support of H
1S - 2NT - X = looking to penalize, no primary Major fit
3C = sound values in H at the three level or better
3D = good raise in S (8 losers or better)
3H = 6H, not forcing
3S = weak raise in S but stretched (8½ to 9 losers)
3N = to play
4m = splinter in support of S
After a 2NT Opening:
2NT - X = able to penalize one of the minors or 20+ HCP
3C = Take Out for the Majors, better H
3D = Take Out for the Majors, better S
3H = single suited in H, opening hand
3S = single suited in S, opening hand
Drawbacks
Due to the ease with which it is learned and used, it is among the most abused conventions: the convention is often used by players with insufficient strength or lengths (such as 5-4 in the minors).This often leads to one of:
- Opponents double and collect a heavy penalty.
- Opponents outbid the bidders to obtain a major suit contract.
- Opponents make a contract that is normally unmakeable due to forewarning of adverse distribution.