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Stretching the range


On the page ‘opening balanced hands’ I included a table showing how different opening bids and rebids should be used to show the point-count in a balanced hand.  This table assumes the standard ranges of 12 to 14 for an opening bid of 1NT, and twenty to twenty two for an opening bid of 2NT.

Post-beginner and above

Context  -  Acol bidding - the opening bid - opening balanced hands.

This page last revised 21st Oct 2021

Intermediate and above

These will be the default assumptions throughout this site, but there is much to be said for not sticking quite slavishly to the ranges as given there.


There are two ways in which this might be done, and these can to an extent go hand in hand.


The first of these is to refine the assessment of your hand beyond the raw point count.

This approach was discussed under fine-tuning the strength.

You may or may not agree within that context to add or subtract a point (exceptionally two) to the raw count.  If this is your choice then the table of opening bids (opening balanced hands) will refer to the strength following adjustment.

But even if you do not follow such a route you should certainly recognize that there is more to a hand than point count, and concepts such as ‘a poor twelve’ or ‘a good thirteen’ should be regular visitors to your mind-space.


The second is to redefine the ranges whilst remaining broadly within the 12 to 14 camp.

(Note that the range for 2NT may be reassigned by partnership agreement to fit in with other aspects of your system and is independent of the present discussion.)


Alternatives


There are two specific areas of concern over opening all balanced hands in the 12 - 14 point range with 1NT.


The first of these is that the hand might be in some way unsuitable (weak suits) or might be better described in some other way (five-card major).

To overcome this concern some partnerships will retain the 12-14 opening 1NT whilst permitting some balanced hands in the range to be opened with one of a suit.  To accompany this they will incorporate some kind of wide-ranging 1NT rebid incorporating the 12 - 14 range together with conventional continuations to determine the hand-type more accurately.

I am not a great fan of this approach, losing the preemptive effect of the weak no trump to some extent and providing ample opportunity for the opponents to mess about with your low-level conventional bids, but there is some consideration of it in the section on opener’s rebid.


The second is that the range is just a little too restrictive, and in particular throws pressure on the rebid when holding a hand of nineteen or so points.

In response to this many excellent partnerships have broadened the range of the opening 1NT to either 12 - 15 or 11 - 15.

The higher extension makes it easier to adjust the system to show the stronger ranges below the level of 3NT.  It is recommended as you look to tweak your system, although it is important that your rebids in no trumps after opening one of a suit are redefined in a consistent manner.

The extension down to eleven can be implemented independently and is in many ways a matter of partnership style.  Only very few will open all balanced eleven point hands in all seats and at all vulnerabilities with 1NT, but to add the possibility on suitable hands and suitable occasions represents a step forward.  However, the partnership should be very clear about when this might happen as they look to move forward with invitational values.


When and where?


Options which you might like to consider include:-


opening 11 counts when not vulnerable, particularly if you like the look of the hand;

not opening 12 counts (or 11 counts) in third seat when vulnerable (particularly at pairs scoring with little prospect of game) - all risk, little gain.


Provided that it is carefully thought out such an approach is recommended.