The Weak No-trump and I

I don't play the weak no-trump. I know it has faithful adherents and the majority of those learning the game in this country are taught it, so there is a strong representation at the grass-roots but, well, we've never really got on. If I have something that approaches a principled objection it is that the 12-14 no-trump distorts the auction when you have better balanced hands.

Consider holding a strong no-trump; you are obliged to start with a minor most of the time because you don't want to hear partner respond a no-trump. The wide and awkward range of that bid, typically 6-9 HCP, opposite your 15-16 can place you in limbo. So you open a minor, hoping that partner bids a major and you can rebid a descriptive one no-trump. The downside is that when the opponents intervene, you are less well placed. If partner has a few high cards he or she has to act, usually with a take-out double. It gets murky, especially over jump overcalls. If you were playing a stronger no-trump, these sequences would affect only your weaker range. You could get away a lot of times by simply passing and defending.

But there are other less objective reasons why the weak no-trump and I don't see eye to eye. I don't think it likes me. When partners twist my arm and I have to play it, it's frequent they say, and pre-emptive but I always seem to be vulnerable and the opponents always double:

  • AKJ3
  • Q1087
  • Q4
  • J76
N
W
E
S
  • 92
  • KJ964
  • 982
  • 532

After one no-trump, double we naturally escaped to two hearts. The high cards were separated from the ace of trumps and we escaped a double; -100. The opponents had nine tricks in no-trumps so a triumph for the opening? No. At the other table they started one club, discovered hearts and our team-mates didn't locate their strength.

  • 76
  • KQ862
  • A76
  • K76
N
W
E
S
  • J982
  • 75
  • Q102
  • J1098
West
North
East
South
1NT
X
Pass
Pass
XX
Pass
2
Pass
Pass
X
Pass
Pass
2
End

North's second double was for take-out but she should have doubled two hearts for penalty. I had to lose two spades, three trumps and trick in each minor. Matchpoints this time: -200 never scores well, I got 2/24 – it could have been worse.

  • AK87
  • J3
  • AQ107
  • 1083
N
W
E
S
  • J3
  • 9754
  • 962
  • KJ65

I opened a 1NT, they doubled, led the heart ace-king then a third round to the queen in South who advanced a low spade to trick four. This ran to dummy's knave and things were looking good.

As South was known to hold both major queens the other top cards seemed to be with the doubler but there was room for the diamond knave so my next shot was to run the nine for, naturally, a losing finesse. North cashed the ten of hearts and exited with a spade. I tried the diamond ace in case the king fell then realised that I had to play the spade king less, when I give North the diamond king, he lock me in dummy with ace and queen of clubs for down two. North played to this trick (meaning that clubs were 3-3 after all) but when I conceded the diamond it was South that won. And cashed a spade for -500.

North had doubled on 9xx AK10x Jxx AQx. Maybe that's a lesson for us. Get after the weak no-trump, declarer will seldom play all out and risk a big set and there's always a chance that with a dummy lacking entries, the play will be easy to misjudge. Yes, I know I could have made it.

Published Saturday 10.Feb.2007