Taming The Weak Notrump

by Steve Weinstein & Adam Kaplan

1. Introduction

The weak notrump is a powerful convention that is difficult to play against. It

can wreak havoc on even the most experienced partnerships. Its preemptive nature
causes volatility on normal hands. Defending against it is often misunderstood.
We are more likely to have a game after the opponents open a weak notrump, than
if they open a strong notrump. As a result, our objectives and criteria for entering
the auction are different.
Competing over a weak notrump can be dangerous, because the opponents have
already narrowly defined one of their hands, and we are completely in the dark
about partners strength and distribution. If they misstep, it is much harder for us
to penalize them; however, if we misstep, its easy for them to penalize us at least
one of the opponents knows so much more about their sides combined values and
has some idea about his partners shape. In a sense, our side is trying to make the
best educated guess possible.
In this article, our focus is on auctions that start with double by the non-opening
side. We cover the objectives for doubling, and then we present a structure for
competing after the initial double. We define weak notrump as any notrump
range weaker than 14-16 HCP (including 13+ -16). As we work through examples,
for ease of visualization, we assume that the dealer opens the bidding with one
notrump; thus, third seat is always the responder, and fourth seat is always the
player to the right of the one notrump opener.

1.1. Objectives for doubling one notrump

1. Establish that its our hand.
2. Penalize the opponents.
3. Compete for part-score.
4. Judge when to bid a game, and when to stop in a part-score.
5. Avoid going for a number while accomplishing the above four goals.

1.2. Accomplishing our objectives

Double provides the backbone for many of the above objectives, but it is also the
most challenging call to untangle, since it includes so many hand-types. We need
double to convey our values, penalize them, and establish a foundation for competition. A combination of card-showing and takeout doubles, along with Lebensohl,
allows us to not only compete accurately, but also judge whether to bid game or
stop in a part-score.
All of the above objectives apply when bidding in fourth seat as well, but in fourth
seat, RHO has often already described their hand-type. Although we sometimes
have less bidding space, we have more information to work with.
When we double their weak notrump in second seat (directly) The hand-types
included in double vary slightly depending on your other methods over one
notrump; we choose to define a penalty double as 15+ HCP. We double on almost
every 15+ HCP hand without a six-card suit, balanced or not. (Whether to double or overcall with a six-card suit and 15+ HCP depends largely on your methods
and is beyond the scope of this article.) Depending on your preferences, or if you
are playing against a 10-12 notrump, you can adjust the expected range for double
accordingly.

2. After second hands penalty double

2.1. Responder passes or redoubles

Most weak notrump systems have intricate runout structures that assign special
meanings to third hands pass. Although it may be beneficiary to adjust your methods based on these specific meanings, in practice, these gains are negligible considering the amount of memory work necessary.
After responders pass, advancer should pull to the two-level with very weak hands
(less than five high-card points), pull to two notrump or higher with strong (gameforcing) offensive hands, and pass holding five-plus points and no clear direction.
Because the double does not promise a balanced hand, we recommend playing a
natural follow-up structure instead of system on.
For simplicity, we recommend using the same structure over responders redouble.
It doesnt matter if the redouble shows values or is the start of a runout. When in
doubt, if the redouble shows values, prefer running out.
2.1.1. Pass shows five-plus points, and sets up a force through two hearts.
In other words, the opponents cannot play a contract of two hearts or lower undoubled. If advancer passes and then bids at the two-level on a later round, this
is natural and non-forcing. Doublers later non-jumps are also natural and nonforcing; he must cue-bid or jump to force. After passing, the first double by our
side of a natural suit is takeout, and later doubles are penalty.
K1083 Q95 42 Q843
W EST
1NT
Redouble
*

N ORTH
Double
Pass

E AST
Pass*
2

S OUTH
Pass
?

Forces redouble.

Since this would be the first double by our side after the initial penalty double, and
their bid is natural, advancers double is takeout. If two diamonds were artificial
(say, the majors), then double shows cards.
3

 54 108 K1052 9852

W EST
1NT
2

N ORTH
Double
Double

E AST
Pass
2

S OUTH
Pass
?

Our side has already used our takeout double, now all our doubles are penalty.
Here, double of two diamonds four-plus cards in their suit.
2.1.2. Two clubs is a general-purpose pull with weakness (0-4 HCP), and could
be a balanced weak scramble.
The two-club runout denies a five-card suit other than clubs and suggests two-plus
cards in clubs for this callwith the dreaded 4=4=4=1 pattern we often bid two
diamonds. After two clubs, the doubler is expected to pull with a five-card suit of
his own; with less than four clubs, he pulls to his cheapest four-card suit.
9843 J854 83 Q102
W EST
1NT

N ORTH
Double

E AST
Pass

S OUTH
2

Our goal is to find a playable spot and avoid damage as much as we can, not find
the perfect contract.
2.1.3. Two diamonds, two hearts, and two spades show five-plus-card suits
and 0-4 HCP.
Further followups are naturalwe are not in a force.
2.1.4. Two notrump shows some five-five or longer two-suiter with enough values to force to game but too offensive to defend one notrump doubled.
In response, the doubler bids the lowest suit for which he has three-plus-card support. Since a game-force has been established, we have room to find the best fit.
Doublers three-spade response is natural, showing five-plus-card suit.

 K9853 4 KJ8742 4
W EST
1NT
Pass
Pass

N ORTH
Double
3
3

E AST
Pass
Pass
Pass

S OUTH
2NT
3
3

Advancer showed diamonds and a major with three diamonds (with minors, he
would have raised). Since reaching a major-suit fit takes priority, the doublers
three hearts shows three-plus hearts and does not deny three-plus diamonds (which
can be shown later). Now, advancer can show his major with three spades.
4 K9853 4 KJ8742
W EST
1NT
Pass

N ORTH
Double
3

E AST
Pass
Pass

S OUTH
2NT
3

With clubs and a major, advancer still bids his major over doublers three clubs.
Unlike the previous example, three hearts does not deny a club fit. Note that advancer would bid the same way with both majors instead of with hearts and clubs.
2.1.5. Three of a new suit is natural and game-forcing with enough values to
force to game, but too offensive to be willing to defend one notrump
doubled.
NorthSouth vulnerable
4 K9853 4 KJ8742
W EST
1NT

N ORTH
Double

E AST
Pass

S OUTH
3

At unfavorable vulnerability, this is a clear three-spade bid. Its possible that one
notrump doubled may not be enough to make up for your practically certain game.

2.2. Responder makes a natural bid below two spades

2.2.1. Advancers pass sets up a force through two hearts (they cannot play
two hearts or lower undoubled).
The first double by our side is takeout; though, in general avoid doubling with
a void in their suit. After our side has made one takeout double, later doubles
are penalty. Direct penalty doubles show four-plus cards in their suit; balancing
penalty doubles are more cooperative and show three-plus cards in their suit.
A forcing pass shows either a hand without clear direction or a penalty-pass. With
a penalty pass, advancer passes the reopening double; otherwise bids what fits best:
Two notrump is natural, non-jumps are non-forcing, and a cuebid is a general force.
983 KJ10 J983 542
W EST
1NT
Pass

N ORTH
Double
Double

E AST
2
Pass

S OUTH
Pass
2NT

If the doubler reopens with something other than double, advancer passes with
very weak hands; two notrump is natural, new suits are forcing, and a cue-bid is a
general force.
2.2.2. Otherwise advancer makes a natural immediate bid.
An issue in these auctions is having only one way to make a three-level bid; to
judge game prospects more accurately, and we resolve this by playing Lebensohl.
This gives us two ways to bid on the three-level, while only sacrificing a direct
natural two notrump; with a natural two notrump bid, advancer can pass and bid
two notrump later.
Direct bids at the two-level are non-forcing and natural. At the three-level, there are
three important hand-types to show: forcing, invitational, and competitive. When
we have a natural bid available on the two-level, we can accomplish all three: Compete at the two-level, invite by bidding two notrump followed by three of our suit,
and force by jumping to three-level bid.
AK943 52 843 982
W EST
1NT
Pass
*

N ORTH
Double
3

E AST
2
Pass

Invitational.
6

S OUTH
2NT
3*

When Lebensohl is not available something must give. We favor showing gameforcing and competitive hands; hence, with an invitational hand, advancer either
upgrades or downgrades.
A direct cue-bid shows a forcing offensive hand with shortness in the opponents
suit; it suggests a hand unsuitable for a takeout double. Bidding two notrump then
cue-bidding shows a forcing hand with a stopper and five-plus cards in a major.
NorthSouth vulnerable
KJ54 Q9754 K1053
W EST
1NT

N ORTH
Double

E AST
2

S OUTH
3

This is a textbook hand for a direct cue-bid: We have a three-suiter with enough
values to force to game, but cannot double because of the heart void.

2.3. The opponents play system on or two-suited runouts

After Stayman by third hand, double shows values and creates a penalty double
situation, and other bids are natural, using the same Lebensohl structure we discussed.
After a Jacoby Transfer by third hand, we gain a few extra bids. Since we know
what bid to expect from the one notrump opener, we can use this to our advantage:
Pass is still forcing, and two notrump or higher remain the same, but we use the
virtual cue-bid as a replacement for a takeout double, and use a double to show
values. Double followed by double shows a three-card penalty double, while pass
then double shows a four-card penalty double in the suit shown by the transfer.
A83 K985 54 10832
W EST
1NT
2
*

N ORTH
Double
Pass

E AST
2*
Pass

Transfer to hearts.

S OUTH
Pass
Double

 9 K954 A8752 1084

W EST
1NT
*

N ORTH
Double

E AST
2*

S OUTH
2

Transfer to spades.

After a two-suited bid by the third hand; if the actual bid shows one of the two suits,
double is takeout of that suit, and other bids are natural; otherwise double creates a
penalty double situation, and other bids are natural.
K974 Q942 43 K42
W EST
1NT
*

N ORTH
Double

E AST
2*

S OUTH
Double

Diamonds and hearts.

Takeout of diamonds.

A1084 KJ42 984 43

W EST
1NT
2
*

N ORTH
Double
Pass

E AST
2*
Pass

Majors.
Can penalize one suit.
Penalty.

S OUTH
Double
Double

2.4. Third hand bids two spades or higher

We are not in a force. Double is card-showing. Due to the limited space and nonforcing auction, we can no longer pass with values; as a result, double no longer is
takeout, and instead shows general values.
Since we still need to be able to distinguish between weaker and stronger hands,
we use the same Lebensohl structure over two spades as discussed before. Direct
bids are forcing, two notrump followed by three-level bids are non-forcing but
constructive.
92 543 Q108642 43
W EST
1NT
Pass

N ORTH
Double
Double

E AST
2
Pass

S OUTH
Pass
3

A direct two notrump followed by three diamonds would show a constructive hand,
which would show more than this. Thus advancer should first pass over two spades
and bid three diamonds over partners reopening double.
When responder bids two notrump or higher, we use the same card-showing doubles as over two spades, but we no longer have the luxury of using Lebensohl.
Here, with only one way to bid at the three-level, we choose to sacrifice the weaker
hands in favor of avoiding jumping with the stronger ones. Bids at the three-level
are forcing, and weaker hands must pass. We miss competing with this treatment,
but in turn gain accuracy in our game-bidding.
9 9843 K108652 K4
W EST
1NT
*

N ORTH
Double

E AST
3*

S OUTH
?

Preemptive.

Although this hand isnt fully worth a game-force, it is simply too good to pass.
This illustrates the problem with only having one way to bid on the three-level.
Given the choice between forcing and passing, we prefer to round up, therefore,
we would bid three diamonds and hope for the best.

3. Doubling in 4th seat after partner passes

In balancing position, we use the same methods as in direct seat, however balancing
bids can be slightly lighter (double is 13+ or so).

3.1. Responder passes

Advancer should still run from one notrump doubled with fewer than 5 HCP, and
the first double by either partner after the balancing double is takeout. Most importantly, after a fourth seat double, a force through two hearts is set up only if
advancer is able to show strength. Showing strength is defined as either passing
one notrump for penalty, or by making a takeout or penalty double.

3.2. Responder bids over 1NT

Despite lead-directional doubles being the optimal treatment over responders artificial bid when they play a strong notrump, and still a reasonable treatment over
weak notrump, we believe it is more valuable to use the double as a strong hand
over a weak notrump, since we would be stuck for a bid otherwise. Double shows
roughly the equivalent of the values needed for a direct-seat penalty double.
AJ K98 QJ53 AQ87
W EST
1NT
*

N ORTH
Pass

E AST
2*

S OUTH
Double

Transfer to spades.

On the other hand, when responders bid is natural, we prefer double to be takeout.
Although there are hands where a value-showing double would work better, we
feel that you are more likely to want to compete when your hand is short in their
suit. When you have a hand that does not fit a takeout double, your partner can still
balance if he is short.

10

 AJ52 9 QJ53 AQ87

W EST
1NT
*

N ORTH
Pass

E AST
2*

S OUTH
Double

To play.

Responders bid is natural, so your double would be takeout. Double, bringing

every suit into play.
AJ K98 QJ53 AQ87
W EST
1NT
*

N ORTH
Pass

E AST
2*

S OUTH
Double

Transfer to spades.

Responders bid is natural, so your double would be takeout. So you must pass
with this hand. A stronger hand might chance a double.
It doesnt matter if fourth hands double is values or takeout, our responses to it
use two notrump as Lebensohl, with corresponding meanings for new suits (twolevel = non-forcing, three-level = forcing). If opener bids, then the first double by
our side is card-showing, and later doubles are penalty. Once again, in auctions
where fourth seat is the initial doubler, we are only in a force through two hearts if
second hand is able to show strength, either by passing the double for penalty, or
by making a card-showing double of openers rebid.
105 QJ9873 AJ3 72
W EST
1NT
2
*

N ORTH
Pass
3

E AST
2*

S OUTH
Double

Transfer to spades.

After partners value-showing double, we can bid a forcing three hearts thanks to
Lebensohl.

11