A Discussion with Adam Kaplan and Carol and Lee Hargrave

Partnership Bridge: Bidding in the Balancing Seat versus No Trump

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Carol: The balancing seat can be defined as the pass-out seat: the bidding has gone: 1NT – p – p - ?

If you play a convention over NT in the direct seat, you can simply use the same convention in the balancing seat. Some professional players use a different bidding system in the balancing seat than they do in the direct seat.

Lee: We play DONT over strong NT in both seats and Modified Cappelletti over weak NT in both seats. It’s really much easier to remember what you are doing if you are using the same convention. I really don’t see any reason to use two different systems.

Adam: I prefer to play Cappelletti over both strong and weak NT’s, however in balancing seat over a strong notrump, I play Cappelletti, with one exception: double is takeout. In the balancing seat against a weak notrump, I like to be able to have 2 takeout bids, one that shows 12+ HCP, and one that shows 11 or less HCP--a system, which I will explain in detail later. Here is a basic outline: 2♣ shows a takeout double with 11 or less HCP, 2♦ shows diamonds and a major. 2♥ shows the majors or just hearts (With only hearts, I rebid 3♥ over 2♠) and 2♠ is natural. A double shows a takeout hand with 12+ HCP; this still allows you to penalize 1NT in the balancing seat.

Carol: We’ve talked about Modified Cappelletti in the last two articles. Why don’t you explain DONT for our readers, Lee?

Lee: It’s really quite simple.

Double means that you have a single-suited hand. In the absence of an interfering bid, the DONT bidder’s partner is expected to bid 2♣ to inquire what the suit is. The DONT bidder will name his suit in response (2♦, 2♥ or 2♠), passing the 2♣ bid if the suit is clubs.

2♣ tells partner that you have a two-suited hand consisting of clubs and another suit. To uncover the second suit, the DONT responder bids 2♦, after which the DONT bidder identifies his second suit by either naming it or passing if the second suit is diamonds.

2♦ signifies diamonds and a higher ranking suit (hearts or spades). Again, the inquiry bid as to which major the DONT bidder holds is 2♥, which the DONT bidder will either pass or correct to spades.

2♥ means hearts and spades. Partner selects his preference by passing or calling 2♠.

2♠ tells partner that you have a spade suit strong enough to play at the two-level with minimal support from partner. If you double and then bid 2♠, you show more than a minimal hand with spades.

Adam: I disagree with the 2♠ bid, I think that 2♠ shows a weaker hand, because of the immediate pre-emptive effect, doubling and bidding in general shows a stronger hand

Carol: Here are a few hands to consider. The bidding has gone 1NT (15-17) and you are playing DONT. Explain to the readers what you would do with these hands, Adam, regardless of vulnerability.

Adam: I play DONT but I dont like it in balancing seat. It is a good system to use in the direct seat, however. Here you are. I would like to revisit these hands in the balancing seat to see what changes we might make in the bidding style.

1) ♠KQJXXX, ♥KX, ♦XXX, ♣XXX -----2♠, you have a “Weak Pre-Empt”

2) ♠KQXXX, ♥QJXXX,♦X, ♣XX-----2♥, this hand passes Mel’s rule, and looks very nice to declare with, but is almost useless on defense.

3) ♠XX, ♥KQXXX, ♦KQXX, ♣XX----- 2♦ seems right here with your 5-4 pattern

4) ♠X, ♥QJ10XXXX,♦KJX, ♣XX----- this is close, without the 7th heart it is pretty ugly, but with the extra heart, this hand looks a lot more attractive. I would double to show a single- suited hand; over partner’s 2♣, I would correct to 2♥.

5) ♠KJXXX, ♥AX, ♦XX, ♣KJXX----- another close one, but it cannot hurt to venture 2♣here.

6) ♠AQXXX, ♥KX, ♦KJX, ♣XXX----- just pass, this hand is AWFUL!

7) ♠AJ10X, ♥KXXX, ♦XX, ♣Q10X----- pass! What is there to even think about?


Lee: Bidding in the balancing seat is simply a matter of judgment. It is somewhat easier opposite a strong NT because you know that there are 15-17 HCP on your left and 7 or less on your right. You have a good idea of how many points partner has. You need some shape to compete with a DONT bid. If you use Mel’s Rule (see last month’s article), you will know when it is safe to compete.

Carol: I agree. However there is another corollary that Mel recommends in his book. He says that, regardless of your HCP or whether your hand meets Mel’s Rule, you should always compete against a strong NT if you have a singleton, a void or two doubletons, namely two shortness points. Partner shouldn’t get carried away with a good hand because you are not looking for game; you are just looking to compete. You could have this hand and you should bid: ♠XXXXX, ♥XXXXX, ♦X, ♣XX. Partner has all the missing cards for you, sitting over the strong NT hand.

Adam, what do you like to do in balancing seat versus a weak NT? I think it is much harder in the balancing seat to know when it is safe to compete against a weak NT.

Adam: Like I mentioned above, you can keep it simple, or for those who like new systems I like this:
2♣--Balancing with 0-11 HCP or any hand with a Long Minor (1N-P-P-3C or 3D are natural) Partner may pass with 5+ Clubs or bid another suit with 4+ Cards in that suit.
2♦--Diamonds and a major; 2♥ relay-- asks for the major
2♥--Majors or just hearts; over a potential 2♠, bid 3♥
2♠--Natural
2NT--Clubs and a higher suit; 3♣ is to play; 3♦ is a major ask (Bid your 2nd suit); 3♥ shows no tolerance for either minor.
X--Balancing with 12+ HCP; with 10+ HCP, you may convert to penalty, otherwise bid normally

I know this is a lot to remember, but if you take the time, it will help over Weak Notrumps in the balancing seat. I will not give any practice hands for this, but if you would like some, let me know.

Let’s revisit those hands from before:

Carol: Regardless of your hand, if you have some shape and a few points, you should try one of these systems for competing in the balancing seat, especially against the strong NT. Against the weak NT, you also have to gamble a little with shape.

Remember: Shape is everything! Just defend with flat hands against either NT and declare with shapely hands! It’s much easier to declare than it is to defend! Get in there and bid!