[dickiegera]

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What is 2NT?

[manudude03]

18-19 balanced for me.

[Zelandakh]

19-21 for me. Whatever the agreed range this is natural.

[EricK]

You need to be able to show a wide range of NT bids here, so this really has to be natural.

I think that the standard balancing NT ladder goes: 1NT; X followed by 1NT; 2NT; X followed by 2NT; X followed by cuebid followed by NT. But there is, I think, some disagreement as to whether an immediate balancing cue-bid should be a strong two-suiter (a la Michaels) or whether it is just strong, so can also include some balanced hands. Anyway, that particular argument does not affect the meaning of the immediate 2NT.

So to answer the question in the OP, just ask yourself what the maximum point count you could hold for an immediate 1NT balance is, then add 4 points to that to give the minimum for an immediate 2NT. To get the maximum, ask yourself what HCP range you are comfortable with. Some are happy with a three point range for a 2NT bid, but others prefer it to have only two as partner does not have an invite available.

[Endymion77]

I think the standard in balancing seat is:

1NT - 11-14
X, then 1NT - 15-17
2NT - 18-19
X, then 2NT - 20-21

With 22+ you have to cuebid at some point.