[gurgistan]

What does 3N over 1M show in 2/1? In SA, it shows 2 card support and 15-17hcp.

Also, in SA, 3N over 1m is 16,17 hcp and no desire to play in the majors. 2N over 1m would show 13-15hcp and no desire to play in the majors.

What would the equivalent NT bids in 2/1 show?

We are assumed unpassed hands and no intervention.

Any and all advice appreciated.

Many thanks.

[Phil]

You can play it several ways:

1. 13-15 with a doubleton in partner's major and no outside five card suit.

2. A 'strong' raise to 4M - preemptive, but with an outside Ace or King. Qxxxx, Axxx, x, xxx for instance. This makes 1M - 4M very rotten (or tactical if you want).

3. Some sort of conventional raise. There's really too many to count, but you can play it as a balanced raise with 4 trump, some sort of splinter, bla bla. Google is your friend.

I've played all 3. I probably like #1 the least.

[peachy]

You can agree what you want in 2/1.
Many people have a conventional meaning for 3NT in 1M-3NT, commonly some sort of raise, perhaps 5-card support with one outside card. If it is not conventional, you can play it whatever range you are comfortable with, many play it is 13-15 and 4-3-3-3, giving opener choice of game in NT or the major. Some play 13-15 and 2-3 cards in opener's suit. Some play it showing exactly 2 cards in opener's major.

Over 1m opening, same thing. You can agree what ranges you think are best. If you were opposite a random pickup partner, 1m-2N is invitational and 1m-3NT is 13-15. In SAYC (which is *not* the same as SA or Standard American) 1m-2NT is 13-15 and 1m-3NT is 16-18.

Whatever you decide, make the jump from 1M or 1m to 3NT as narrowly defined as possible because it takes away so much bidding room.

[Hanoi5]

If you use Bergen raises, 3NT is 3-card support with a very balanced hand (4333 but some may do it with 4432) and all the suits stopped. Partner can pass or go forward.

[gurgistan]

At the moment, I am thinking of using 3N over 1M to show 13-15hcp and 2 card support without 4 cards in the other major. I guess that would make it a very rare bid indeed.

Though, I think in ten months play (I am new to bridge), I did not bid it more than once using SA.

[Free]

I like to use 3NT as some support with shortness.

1♥-3♠ = something with unknown shortness (3NT asks)
1♥-3NT/4m = something else with known shortness ♠/m

1♠ - 3NT = something with unknown shortness (4♣ asks)
1♠ - 4m/♥ = something else with known shortness m/♥

You can distinguish these 2 types of support according to HCP range (so you have a weak splinter and a strong splinter).
You can also use it (like I do) to show the difference between singleton and void. 1♠-3NT = unknown void ; 1♠-4m/♥ = known singleton.

Imo it's better than using 3NT as some balanced raise/doubleton M. With such hands I prefer to respond 2♣.