September 2022 - 68

Special Contributor
Vic's Views
A better new minor forcing (part 1)
S
o, you and your partner play
new minor forcing (NMF).
Here's an example:
Opener
1'
1NT
Responder
1
2l(1)
(1) NMF: either game-invitational
with five spades or some other
game-forcing hand
It's one of the more useful conventions,
but it does have shortcomings.
It's not always clear if you're in a
game-invitational, game-forcing
or slam-invitational auction. Do
you have a clear understanding of
three-level bids by responder, either
at the second or third turn? And you
sometimes play in a risky 2NT (or
even 3NT!) contract when opener
doesn't have three-card support for
responder's major. Therefore, responder
cannot use NMF if they need
to find opener with both three-card
support and a maximum.
There is a better way: two-way NMF,
also known as two-way checkback.
In the example auction, wouldn't
it be nice to send a clear message to
partner (one of the following)?
1 I have a weak hand and would like
to escape from 1NT into a safer suit
contract.
2 I have a game-invitational hand.
3 I have a game-forcing (perhaps
slam-invitational) hand.
Here is a basic two-way NMF
structure using our sample auction of
1'-1; 1NT:
2': An artificial, Alertable relay
(similar to a transfer) to 2l, either
to play in diamonds (responder has
a weak 4-5 or 4-6 hand with spades
and diamonds) or to show some invi68
| Bridge Bulletin | September 2022
tational hand.
2l: An artificial (Alertable) game
force. Both partners bid naturally
after this (details next time).
2k: Asking opener to pass or correct
to spades. Responder has five
spades and at least four hearts; no
interest in game.
2: To play. Opener may not bid
again.
2NT: Artificial (Alertable) relay to
3', to play (like lebensohl). Responder
has four spades and at least five
clubs, weak.
3'/3l/3k/3: natural, game-forcing
" picture bid " (details next time).
Note that some players use variations
of this treatment. This is a
simple, playable structure that minimizes
memory effort. Make sure you
discuss with your partner(s).
We will look at three cases: Responder
has a weak hand (typically
6-10 HCP); responder has a game-invitational
hand (typically 11-12
HCP); responder has a game-forcing
hand (typically 13-plus HCP).
Again, let's use the sample auction
1'-1; 1NT. As responder, review
what you know about opener's hand.
First, opener does not have four
spades. Second, opener has a balanced
12-14 HCP.
Case 1: Responder has a
weak hand
After 1'-1; 1NT, responder can
do any of the following with a weak
hand:
1 Pass.
2 Bid 2k to give partner a choice
of the majors. Partner must pass or
correct to 2.
3 Bid 2 to play.
4 Bid 2', a relay to 2l. You can then
BY VIC QUIROS
vic@thebridgeclassroom.com
thebridgeclassroom.com
pass to play 2l.
5 Bid 2NT, a relay to play in 3'.
Yes, you'll have to use your judgment,
but at least you have a number
of alternatives. Remember that
partner has 12-14 HCP, balanced, so
be careful you don't do anything that
will get you too high!
Case 2: Responder has a
game-invitational hand
Keep in mind that after 1m-1M;
1NT, all invitations begin with 2'.
This is a relay to 2l, after which
responder bids naturally, showing
the nature of the invitation. Here's a
summary after 1'-1; 1NT-2'; 2l:
2k: Game invitation with five
spades and four hearts.
2: Game invitation with five
spades.
2NT: Balanced invitation to 3NT.
3': Game invitation with four
spades and five or more clubs.
3l: Game invitation with four
spades and five or more diamonds.
3k: Game invitation with 5-5 in
the majors.
3: Game invitation with six
spades.
Note that all continuations are
natural bids, offering a place to play
short of game. Remember that to
invite game in notrump, you must begin
with the 2' relay; an immediate
rebid of 2NT over 1NT is a relay to get
out in 3'. The cool part: With many
hands that will not get to game, you
can play in a safe two-level contract;
old-fashioned NMF does not allow this.
We'll look at Case 3 (Responder
has a game-forcing hand) in the next
issue.
See quiz on page 72
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September 2022

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