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April 27

New Minor Forcing

What are the problems?

These ideas apply to third-suit and fourth-suit forcing auctions.

The flavors of new-minor forcing:

A characteristic of natural, and to a lesser extent Walsh, is opener, who doesn't have much more to say, uses space to describe his hand, rather than leaving space for responder. In all flavors, a minimum continuation allows a stop at 2NT. If opener shows 3-card support at the two-level, responder can pass. Continuations above 2NT are forcing, and often suggest slam.

Robinson's explicit rules are complex. He gives examples. I think all of his examples can be solved with seat-of-the-pants bidding after the first four bids.

I am going to poll the group and present the new-minor style that people prefer. Votes for the natural style will be ignored. In this draft I assume the Walsh style wins.

New-Minor Forcing (Walsh Style)

The conditions are:

Opener's rebid after New Minor Forcing
Open 1♣ 1 1
Response 1♠ 1 1♠ 1 1♠
Open Rebid 1NT 1NT, 1♠ 1NT 1NT, 1♠ 1NT
New Minor 2 2♣ 2♣, 2
Minimum 2♠ = three spades
2 = other
2 = three hearts
2♠ = other
2♠ = three spades
2 = four hearts
2 = other
2 = three hearts
2 = other
2♠ = three spades
2, 2 = other
Maximum 3♠ = three spades
Other = natural
3 = three hearts
Other = natural
3♠ = three spades
Other = natural
3 = three hearts
Other = natural
3♠ = three spades
Other = natural

Examples

Common NMF hands are:

A. B. C.
AQxxx
Kxx
xx
???
AQxxx
Kx
xx
???x
AQxxxx
Kx
xx
???

The question marks represent anything from x-x-x to A-K-Q. Responder's intent ranges from sign-off to slam interest.

I think a five-two fit scores better on average at 2-major than at 1NT or 2NT. If you think notrump is better, then bid 2NT over the forced 2 with five-card invites. At game I prefer notrump to the five-two major.

Kxx
KJxxx
KJxx
x
1 1
1NT (1♠) 2♣
2 2 (Pass)

Responder has to choose between diamonds and hearts. 3 would be forcing.

AJxxx
????
xx
xx
1 1♠
1NT ?

Depending on ?-?-?-? your next bid is:

????
xx
x
KQJxxx
1 1♠
1NT ?

Depending on ?-?-?-?:

No! No! No!

AQxxx
Kxx
Qxx
xx
1 1♠
1NT 2♣
2 2

No! 2 is forcing with slam interest. You cannot use new minor forcing this way.

AQxxx
KQxx
xx
Ax
1 1♠
1NT 2♣
2 2

Third-Suit and Fourth-Suit Forcing

Opener bids naturally. Treat third- and fourth-suit below 2NT as forcing to 2NT. Continuations above 2NT are game forcing and often show slam interest.

1♣ Pass 1♠ Pass
2♣ Pass ?

2 is new-minor forcing. 2 is to play. But

1 Pass 1♠ Pass
2♣ Pass ?

2 is fourth-suit forcing.

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