NEW MINOR FORCING


An awkward auction in standard biding is the one in which responder holds a five-card major suit, invitational values (10-12) or better and opener has rebid 1 NT after responder’s 1H or 1S.


1.

You hold KQJ84=KQ8=643=93 and the bidding goes:

1C/D 1S

1NT

Now what? You have invitational values and you would like to check to see if opener has three spades. This is an example of the type of hand where the convention New Minor Forcing can help you sort things out.


2.

Let’s look at some auctions:

1C 1S

1NT 2D* (New Minor Forcing. Forcing for one round.)

Here responder is bidding the ‘new minor.’ Responder has a hand with at least invitational values and at least five spades and possibly four hearts. Without that sort of shape and with invitational values, responder would simply raise to 2NT. Opener’s first obligation is to show a four-card heart suit if she has one. Her second obligation is to show three-card spade support.


3.

1C 1S

1NT 2D* NMF

2H* (4 hearts)

In the above auction, responder was checking back for either a 5-3 spade fit or a 4-4 heart fit. Opener is also on a minimum. If opener was on the top of her bid and had four hearts, she would have bid 3H.


4.

1C 1S

1NT 2D* NMF

2S*

Opener is denying four hearts and promising three spades and minimum values (11-12).




4.

1C 1S

1NT 2D* NMF

3S*

Opener is denying four hearts and promising three spades and maximum values (13-14+)


5.

1C 1S

1NT 2D NMF

2H* 2NT

In the above auction, responder was checking back for a 5-3 fit in spades and not a 4-4 in hearts. Opener can still correct to spades if she also has three spades in addition to four hearts. Responder has invitational values.


6.

1D 1S

1N 2C* NMF

3S*

Opener is showing three spades and maximum (13-14+) values. This auction also denies four hearts by opener.


7.

1H 1S

1N 2C/D* NMF

This is still New Minor Forcing even though opener’s first bid was 1H. Responder could easily have five spades in this auction. In this situation, responder picks his best minor suit to use as New Minor Forcing.


8.

1H 1S

1N 2C/D* NMF

2S*

Opener is showing three spades and minimum values (11-12).


9.

1H 1S

1N 2C/D* NMF

3S*

Opener is showing three spades and maximum values (13-14).


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