[navit]

I play 2 nt 21-22 points . I had 20 points and balanced hand with 4 D . I bid 1 D then 3 passes. How do I show my partner i have points on opening bid? Do most people bid 2nt with less points?

[gwnn]

Yes most people nowadays use 2NT as 20-21, 19-21 or 20-22 or something along these lines.

If you really like 2NT as 21-22, then perhaps partner should respond with a "useful" hand with 5 points too. Most people do, anyway.

[jtfanclub]

navit, on Feb 10 2007, 07:56 AM, said:

I play 2 nt 21-22 points . I had 20 points and balanced hand with 4 D . I bid 1 D then 3 passes. How do I show my partner i have points on opening bid? Do most people bid 2nt with less points?

It's tough to make 2NT with 20 hcp across 2.

Just because it feels wrong to be in 1♦ with 20 hcp doesn't mean that it is wrong. In the rare cases where you have a powerhouse AND your partner can't find a bid AND you actually had game, smile and go on to the next hand.

Or, you can always come over to the dark side. Make your 1♦ opening promise 4, and make your 1♣ opening 'could be short'. Now you can open those 19-20 balanced hands 1♣, and your partner should go out of his way to find a bid even if he has 3 or 4 hcp. Beware though...down that road lies Precision.

[mike777]

Nothing wrong with 1D.

Next you can discuss how light you want partner to respond but learn to count and practice counting out the hands is much more important.