[jillybean]

I'm in love with 1nt, strong, weak, mini, I just love that 1nt bid. There is definitely a fear of the bid, many players seem reluctant to open 1nt without "suits stopped" or to be left in 1nt.
I've been testing my 1nt openings playing with mainly pickups on BBO, opening everything within range but staying away from hands with a stiff, even A. K or Q
While it's obviously no great sample, the results have been outstanding, this could also be due to playing in the MBC.
Has anyone any data on 1nt openings, 1nt openings with a stiff?

I've just played this hand, =7, proof of my theory. wink

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[PrecisionL]

This hand does not prove your theory. I would open 1♥ in a canape system and get to 6♥ also making 7♥ 6♥.

[Cyberyeti]

We'd start (weak NT) 1♣-1♥-3♥ and get to 6 most likely

[DavidKok]

I don't have any data for you, but opening 1NT with semibalanced hands or hands with a singleton honour is most definitely popular. 4♥5m is particularly popular, anticipating rebid problems on 1m-(P)-1♠-(P); ?. You're in good company! Personally I am less enthusiastic about the approach, but it's popular at the very highest and at a lot of lower levels, so maybe I'm just overly stubborn.

I'd only make 12 tricks in hearts.

Larry, I'd expect a strong 1♣ with this beauty of a hand. Two tens! And look at those 8s! (and of course 16 HCP with almost all values in the longest suits, making for an incredible five card club suit)

[pescetom]

I have a lot of data for you, some objective some not.
I played for fun "let's open anything legal in range" with my favourite partner for a couple of years, found it productive enough to redefine the developments to make it work better.
Unfortunately all that went onto the shelf while he went off to study medicine... but he graduates next week and so who knows, although I doubt he will want to work here.

[jillybean]

♠9 lead, pull 2 rounds trump, run clubs, pitching spades
The only reason 7 made was that for some reason 7 made was when west, holding J75 ducked ♦T

pescetom, I hope your partner stays around and, isn't playing for fun the reason we play this game, and bidding 23hcp slams.

[mike777]

I don't mind 1NT but prefer reversing on this one.

[mw64ahw]

So quick to avoid 6N

[thepossum]

jillybean, on 2025-October-07, 09:03, said:

...many players seem reluctant to open 1nt without "suits stopped" or to be left in 1nt.

...
Has anyone any data on 1nt openings, 1nt openings with a stiff?

No data but once I started learning bad habits here years ago I am more and more confident opening 1NT with any (note hyperbole) shape - don't tell anyone - I reckon it goes ok but who knows. I used to prefer suit contracts but am getting more confdent in 1NT

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

opening the North hand with 1NT is not uncommon, ...,
I would start with 1C following up with a 2H reverse,
you may find peoble, which think the hand to strong.
Showing where you live, helps finding the right contract.

Remove the Q of diamonds, and I would go with 1NT.

With regards to opening anything that looks like a NT
opener, with 1 NT: It depends on your structure after a 1NT
opening.
If the balanced nature of the opening plays a crucial role,
you should stick to the balanced nature.

And, for what' s it worth, we reduced the freq. of our NT openings,
and are happy with it, we only open 1NT with 4 spades holding 4333.

Know what you get, know what you loose, take your pick and move on.

[pescetom]

 P_Marlowe, on 2025-October-07, 23:37, said:

With regards to opening anything that looks like a NT
opener, with 1 NT: It depends on your structure after a 1NT
opening.
If the balanced nature of the opening plays a crucial role,
you should stick to the balanced nature.

And, for what' s it worth, we reduced the freq. of our NT openings,
and are happy with it, we only open 1NT with 4 spades holding 4333.

Know what you get, know what you loose, take your pick and move on.

I agree with that. Once we gave up the ghost on 1NT being balanced a lot of things had to be tweaked to make things work. In particular one intuition (probably my only chance of contributing to bridge history) was to take Responder's 5=3 majors out of Jacoby transfer and put them through Stayman. We maybe went a step too far by allowing 1NT to contain 5=4 majors, which adds complexity: I think would take a step back from that if we can start playing the system again.

[jillybean]

Do you only open 1nt with 4♠333 so as not to miss a spade partial? please explain

[mike777]

 pescetom, on 2025-October-08, 10:28, said:

I agree with that. Once we gave up the ghost on 1NT being balanced a lot of things had to be tweaked to make things work. In particular one intuition (probably my only chance of contributing to bridge history) was to take Responder's 5=3 majors out of Jacoby transfer and put them through Stayman. We maybe went a step too far by allowing 1NT to contain 5=4 majors, which adds complexity: I think would take a step back from that if we can start playing the system again.

.at least Responder with gf 5-3 majors you can show that using " impossible 3NT" or "fake" Smolen

So if responder has a five card major and opener has a. Different 5 card major, you can find your fit.

[Huibertus]

I can't think of a system/opening choice that remotely makes sense that would miss 6♥ on these combined hands.

[pescetom]

mike777, on 2025-October-08, 11:58, said:

.at least Responder with gf 5-3 majors you can show that using " impossible 3NT" or "fake" Smolen

So if responder has a five card major and opener has a. Different 5 card major, you can find your fit.

Not sure what "impossible 3NT" (outside of XYZ) or "fake" Smolen are, but I would bet that they take up a sequence already used.
We can handle 5=3 it with any range of strength from INV upwards.
The benefits are not just finding the 3=5 fit in Opener's major that might go missing with a transfer but also in more clearly defining the transfer, which can now pin down Responder's hand with secondary transfers when game forcing.

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean, on 2025-October-08, 10:44, said:

Do you only open 1nt with 4♠333 so as not to miss a spade partial? please explain

We play weak NT, and this treatment was suggested to us by a (former) german international,
specifically for 4th seat ... which would also echo the rule of 15 a bit.
We dont like exceptions, so we decided to do it always, it works.

I seem to recall that Mike Bell, a former regular on the forum said, that he played this as
well for a while.

And yes, you reduce the risk of missing spade 4-4 partials.
It addresses the main weakness of every NT opening, you may loose 44 major suit partials, when you open
1NT.

But it also has it costs:
We also like, that openers rebid clarifies its shape, that the weak NT strengthens the minor suit openings.
This gets partially lost, opening 1C and rebidding 1S could still be the weak NT with 44 in the blacks.
But what do you do with 44 in the majors and a weak NT?
It helps the defenders.

We play 2D as a constructive Erkren, i.e. 44 ... 55 in the majors, 2+ D and 11-14, for every add. major card
you can loosen the point req., i.e. you will have 9-14.

On the other hand, taking out the spades simplifies the response structure to the NT opening, i.e. you can loosen
up the shape req., it also helps you with your runout seq., in case the try to get you, after you opened 1NT.