Exact No-Trump
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In most bidding systems, the strength of a no-trump opening is very exact. Usually, 15-17 High-Card Points (HCP).
But, the length of a no-trump opening is very vague. Usually, described as “flat”. Often, five-card suits and unstopped doubletons are allowed. This can lead to problems later in the auction.
The Exact No-Trump opening solves this problem by promising exactly a Square hand.
Square Hand
A Square hand has a 4333 distribution.
A Square hand is the “flattest” possible hand. It is easy to find a no-trump fit.
A Square hand can support any five-card suit, and one four-card suit. It is easy to find an eight-card suit fit.
A Square hand has only one unknown. Which suit has four cards?
Opening an Exact No-Trump
1N promises 15-17 HCP, and a Square hand.
2N promises 18-20 HCP, and a Square hand.
3N promises 21-23 HCP, and a Square hand.
Any Square hand between 15 and 23 HCP can aways be opened in No-Trump!
Responding to an Exact No-Trump
Since Exact No-Trump is so exact, responder can take charge of the auction, and easily find the best contract.
Finding a 5:3+ Major Fit
When responder holds a five-card or better Major suit, a 5:3 or better fit is guaranteed!
Responder can make opener the declarer using a Jacoby Transfer. Then, responder can set the contract to the right level with a raise.
Since the fit is guaranteed, responder can also pass rather than raise. So after an Exact No-Trump, its called an Exact Jacoby.
Bidding an Exact Jacoby
min♦ promises 5+ Goren, 5+ Hearts, and asks partner to bid Hearts.
min♥ promises 5+ Goren, 5+ Spades, and asks partner to bid Spades.
Examples of Finding a 5:3+ Major Fit
1N Exact No-Trump – 2♦ Exact Jacoby – 2♥ Transfer – P Pass
1N Exact No-Trump – 2♦ Exact Jacoby – 2♥ Transfer – 4♥ Raise – P Pass
2N Exact No-Trump – 3♥ Exact Jacoby – 3♠ Transfer – P Pass
2N Exact No-Trump – 3♥ Exact Jacoby – 3♠ Transfer – 4♠ Raise – P Pass
3N Exact No-Trump – 4♦ Exact Jacoby – 4♥ Transfer – P Pass
Finding a No-Trump Fit
When responder holds no 5-card Major, he should look for a no-trump fit.
When responder holds a Square hand, a no-trump fit is guaranteed! Responder can set the contract to the right level with a raise.
When responder holds a doubleton, he needs to see if opener’s one 4-card suit covers his doubleton. It’s like using Stayman, except instead of asking only for 4-card Majors, it is asking for exactly the one 4-card suit. This is called an Exact Stayman.
Bidding an Exact Stayman
min♣ promises 7+ HCP, and asks partner to bid his 4-card suit.
Responding to an Exact Stayman
min♦ promises 4 Diamonds.
min♥ promises 4 Hearts.
min♠ promises 4 Spades.
minN promises 4 Clubs, because min♣ would take the auction up another level.
Examples of Finding a No-Trump Fit
1N Exact No-Trump – P Pass
1N Exact No-Trump – 2N Raise – P Pass
1N Exact No-Trump – 3N Raise – P Pass
2N Exact No-Trump – 3♣ Exact Stayman – 3♦ Four Diamonds – 3N Maximum No-Trump – P Pass
2N Exact No-Trump – 3♣ Exact Stayman – 3♥ Four Hearts – 3N Maximum No-Trump – P Pass
2N Exact No-Trump – 3♣ Exact Stayman – 3♠ Four-Spades – 3N Maximum No-Trump – P Pass
2N Exact No-Trump – 3♣ Exact Stayman – 3N Four Clubs – P Pass
Finding a 4:4 Major Fit
When responder holds no 5-card Major, is not Square, and holds a 4-card Major(s), he should look for a 4:4 Major fit.
He can use Exact Stayman to see if opener’s one 4-card Major supports one of his 4-card Major(s).
Bidding an Exact Stayman
min♣ promises 5+ Goren, and asks partner to bid his 4-card suit.
Examples of Finding a 4:4 Major Fit
1N Exact No-Trump – 2♣ Exact Stayman – 2♦ Four Diamonds – P Pass
1N Exact No-Trump – 2♣ Exact Stayman – 2♦ Four Diamonds –5♦ Raise – P Pass
2N Exact No-Trump – 3♣ Exact Stayman – 3♥ Four Hearts – P Pass
3N Exact No-Trump – 4♣ Exact Stayman – 4♠ Four Spades– P Pass
3N Exact No-Trump – 4♣ Exact Stayman – 4N Four-Clubs– 5♣ Maximum Clubs – P Pass
Finding a 5:3+ Minor Fit
When responder holds no 5-card Major, is not Square, holds no 4-card Major(s), and holds a 5-card or better Minor, he should look for a 5:3 or better Minor fit.
Responder can make opener the declarer using an Exact Jacoby.
Bidding an Exact Jacoby
min♠ promises 8+ Goren, 5+ Clubs, and asks partner to bid Clubs.
jmp♣ promises 8+ Goren, 5+ Diamonds, and asks partner to bid Diamonds.
Examples of Finding a 5:3+ Minor Fit
1N Exact No-Trump – 2♠ Exact Jacoby – 3♣ Transfer – P Pass
1N Exact No-Trump – 2♠ Exact Jacoby – 3♣ Transfer – 5♣ Raise – P Pass
2N Exact No-Trump – 4♣ Exact Jacoby – 4♦ Transfer – P Pass
2N Exact No-Trump – 3♣ Exact Jacoby – 4♦ Transfer – 5♦ Raise – P Pass
3N Exact No-Trump – 4♠ Exact Jacoby – 5♣ Transfer – P Pass
Auction Phases
The auction goes through phases.
The meaning of a bid depends on the phase the auction.
Examples of What 3♠ Means
At the beginning of an auction, your 3S bid is preemptive, promising long length but not opening strength.
After partner’s 1S opening, your jump to 3S is limiting, promising support but not enough strength for game.
After partner’s 2S opening, your 3S bid is invitational, inviting partner to bid game with 10+ points.
After partner’s opening of 1 of another suit, your 3S bid is a jump shift, promising 5+ Spades and 16+ points.
After your 1S opening with no opportunity to bid 2S, your 3S bid is a rebid, promising 6+ Spades.
After your 1S opening and 2S rebid, your 3S bid is a re-rebid, promising 7+ Spades.
Etc.
An auction starts in the OPEN phase.
OPEN
3N Exact No-Trump promises 21-23 HCP, and a Square hand; next phase is TAKE CHARGE
2N Exact No-Trump promises 18-20 HCP, and a Square hand; next phase is TAKE CHARGE
1N Exact No-Trump promises 5-17 HCP, and a Square hand; next phase is TAKE CHARGE
After an Exact No-Trump the next phase is TAKE CHARGE.
TAKE CHARGE
anyN Exact Raise promises no-trump fit; asks partner to pass.
jmp♣ Exact Jacoby promises 8+ Goren, and 5+ Diamonds; asks partner to bid Diamonds; next phase is EXACT TRANSFER.
min♠ Exact Jacoby promises 8+ Goren, and 5+ Clubs; asks partner to bid Clubs; next phase is EXACT TRANSFER.
min♥ Exact Jacoby promises 5+ Goren, and 5+ Spades; asks partner to bid Spades; next phase is EXACT TRANSFER.
min♦ Exact Jacoby promises 5+ Goren, and 5+ Hearts; asks partner to bid Hearts; next phase is EXACT TRANSFER.
min♣ Exact Stayman promises 5+ Goren; asks partner to bid his 4-card suit; next phase is EXACT SUIT.
After an Exact Stayman the next phase is EXACT SUIT.
After asking partner to bid his 4-card suit, a minimum no-trump reply will be startling! It will remind you that it must mean Clubs!
EXACT SUIT
minN Four-Card Suit promises 4 Clubs; next phase is GENERAL. [Startling!]
min♠ Four-Card Suit promises 4 Spades; next phase is GENERAL.
min♥ Four-Card Suit promises 4 Hearts; next phase is GENERAL.
min♦ Four-Card Suit promises 4 Diamonds; next phase is GENERAL.
After an Exact Jacoby the next phase is EXACT TRANSFER.
EXACT TRANSFER
next suit Exact Transfer promises 3-4 that suit; next phase is GENERAL.
Why would you do this? 1NT is a very powerful opening. You want to expand its use as much as possible, not contract it.
Excellent question. Exact No-Trump does lower the number of times you can open 1N. For doing that, you get a better chance of finding 5:3 Major contracts, 1N and 3N contracts, and 4:4 Major part scores.
Finding a 2S Contract
1N Exact No-Trump promises 4333
2H Exact Jacoby promises 5+ Spades
2S Exact Transfer promises 3-4 Spades
P promises 5:3+ Spades
Avoiding an Unmakeable Major Game Contract
1N Exact No-Trump promises at least 15 HCP. 4333 means no distribution points, so *not* at least 16 Goren.
Staying at a Makeable 1N Contract
1N Exact No-Trump promises no doubleton. Responder can confidently pass.
Finding a Makeable 3N Contract
1N Exact No-Trump promises 4333.
When responder holds 4432, he may be able to play 3N if opener’s 4-card suit covers his doubleton.
2C Exact Stayman asks for opener’s exact 4-card suit.
Finding a 4:4 Major contract at Level 2
1N Exact No-Trump promises 4333.
2C Exact Stayman asks for opener’s exact 4-card suit.
2M Exact Suit promises 4 of that Major.
P promises a 4:4 fit.