Your one notrump opening range is not important, except that if (like us) you open lots of balanced 11 HCP hands, it’s better to use either a 14-16 or an 11-13 range.
Players who stretch to open one notrump whenever the ACBL allows it tend to win matchpoints in the long run. Players who are picky about when to open one notrump tend to lose matchpoints in the long run.
Stayman and Jacoby transfers are essential. Also, every long-term partnership needs some method so that responder can sign off in three of a minor on suitable hands.
It’s essential to have very solid agreements on these auctions:
- When it’s OK for responder to pass opener’s two diamond, two heart and two spade Stayman rebids.
- What it means when, over opener’s two diamond Stayman rebid, responder bids two hearts or two spades.
- What it means when responder, having bid Stayman, rebids three of a minor.
When partner opens one notrump and your RHO overcalls two diamonds, two hearts or two spades:
- Playing negative (takeout) doubles wins matchpoints in the long run.
- Playing two notrump as artificial (“Lebensohl”), asking opener to bid three clubs, wins matchpoints in the long run; this allows responder to sign off with a long suit and weak hand.
Because most three-level responses to one notrump occur so infrequently, time that most partnerships devote to them has little or no impact in The Real World.
It’s important to agree on how opener should rebid, if:
- Responder bids Stayman and next hand doubles.
- Responder makes a transfer for hearts or spades and next hand doubles.
Auctions starting with two notrump occur infrequently enough that most partnerships can safely minimize time spent discussing these auctions.