[WrecksVee]

kgr, on Dec 31 2004, 12:36 PM, said:

I don't play weak NT, but would think that including 5cM would make the bidding easier:
1H-1S-1NT
The 1NT rebid now shows 15-17, if you don't include 5cM then it would show 12-17.

Current players of Kaplan-Sheinwold (KS is a system based on weak NT and five card majors) around please correct me, but my memory is that 1♥-1♠-1NT showed less HCP; all other 1x-1y-1NT showed 15-17. In the major suit sequence with 15-17 balanced Opener rebid a three card major. This followed suit over suit principles used in KS and was forcing. See the Bridge World site for a detailed summary to get ideas on this solution.

Currently I have a partnership that plays a "weaker" NT, good 12 to 16, which commonly includes five card majors. Following the KS lead of catchy two letter system nicknames we call it MU, Mostly Unbalanced. This referes to the fact that unless Opener has 17-20 HCP he never opens a balanced hand with one of a suit. Note we are playing sounder opening bid standards that are not to everyones' taste.

We use by the book Keri. Certainly you will miss some major fits but in general Keri locates most such fits when you are in game going and some invitational situations. But as we play in US and even on BBO our NT range is anti field in any case. Note that we compound the problem using a wide range for 1NT. We gain on some hands with preemptive effect and poorer defense after 1NT-3NT. We have found that being sure Opener is unbalanced has advantages when we open yet end up on defense.

Our 1NT rebid is ususally 17-18 and 2NT 19-20. We play that after 1♠-1NT(forcing) that Opener rebids 2NT(17-18) and 3NT(19-20) so that a minor rebid is never a three card suit. Over 1♥ we play Kaplan Interchange (1♠=forcing NT, 5-12 HCP with 0 to 4 ♠; 1NT=5+♠ or 4+♠ with 13+HCP). Our 1NT rebid after 1♥-1♠-1NT is conventional showing 4+♠ in a hand not worth a reverse to 2♠. Opener rebids 2NT (17-18) and 3NT(19-20) as described above. This convention lets us not rebid three card minors after opening 1♥ and also solves the forcing NT problem distribution 4=5=2=2.

[NickToll]

The_Hog, on Dec 31 2004, 02:04 AM, said:

... I have found the pre emptive effect of the 1NT opening together with the systemic implications of treating balanced hands as balanced hands to be a huge plus in the long term. The other plus is that I don't need to bid fictitious suits.

100% agree. In this scenario, it seems to me that a combination of Kaplan Inversion (1♠ as a forcing notrump, 1NT as a 5-card spade response) and Gazzilli 2♣ (opener's rebid, including both weak hands with ♥+♣ and 15-17 hands) could improve constructive bidding. This way:

weak hands with five hearts and four spades can easily be solved via 1♥ - 1♠ (forcing notrump) - 1NT (majors, too weak for a reverse);

balanced hands can be described with two different routes: 18-19 can be shown with 1♥ - 1♠ - 2NT, while 15-17 go through 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♣ (Gazzilli) - 2♦ (interested) - 2NT; should partner be very weak, the sequence could be 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♣ - 2♥, and opener could choose to pass (similar sequences with other kinds of distribution, except 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2♥ showing a minimum with clubs);

Gazzilli 2♣ can also be used on 1♥ - 1NT (spades), or 1♠ - 1NT (usual forcing notrump);

bidding a 3card minor is not necessary anymore, whatever the strength; this is, maybe, the most important point.

[Gerben47]

@ Double!

This is why I play 1NT with 5-card HEARTS only with a special responses to Stayman
1NT - 2♣ - 2NT = 5-card ♥

The same is true for strong notrumps BTW.