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| by Lee |
How often have you seen two players with a good no trumps hand bouncing back and forward in the bidding without telling each other anything about their hands? E.g. one bids 6nt, the other bids 7nt, the next call is 8nt, ect.
How often have you had a good no trumps hand that was only missing a couple of key cards that could have allowed you to call slam? If only your partner was able to call you those cards, if they had them?
What is the highest point scoring bid in 500? No trumps, of course.
Most players follow conventions when bidding a suit bid. There are even basic calling conventions for misere and open misere play. Yet they follow no bidding rules when calling a no trumps hand – why is this? It is, after all, a unique form of play in 500. As unique as any of the other types of calls available.
All of the above are good reasons why some simple rules of bidding should be followed when calling a no trumps hand. Like any form of play in 500, the idea is to share as much information about your hand with your partner so as to maximize your bid.
First Golden Rule – When does a no trumps bid begin?
Please note there are no set rules, as two partners may settle on their own signs for when the “trigger” for a no trumps bid begins. However the easiest way when getting used to no trumps bidding is that a secondary call of no trumps between two partners starts a no trumps bid.
Example:
P1: 6nt
P2 7D
P3 7nt
P4 pass
Player 3, (P1’s partner) has made a secondary call of no trumps. He/She is announcing that they have a good no trumps hand and want to definitely head in that direction in the bid.
Further examples:
P1: 6C
P2 7H
P3 7nt
P4 pass
P1 8nt
Player 1, (P3’s partner) has just made a secondary call of no trumps.
Second Golden Rule – What do I start bidding?
When a secondary call of no trumps is made, partners should start bidding their aces, lowest suit first.
Bear in mind there is no need to call aces that may have already been called at the 6 level – your partner is already aware of them and it is not advancing the no trumps bid.
Simple Example:
P1: 6nt
P2 7D
P3 7nt
P4 pass
P1 8S (I’ve got the ace of spades)
P2 Pass
P3 8nt
P1 Pass (I’ve called all my aces)
In the above example, P1 has pushed the bid up by one trick by calling the ace of spades, but why shouldn’t they when they are calling a certain trick?
Imagine if P3 has an excellent run in certain suits and was only missing the ace of spades to call 10nt – He/she wouldn’t have let the bid rest at 8nt and most certainly would have bid slam.
Note that both partners have an opportunity to bid their aces and should do so.
Example:
P1: 6nt
P2 7S
P3 7nt
P4 pass
P1 8S (I’ve got the ace of spades)
P2 Pass
P3 8D (I’ve got the ace of diamonds)
P1 8H (I’ve got the ace of hearts)
P3 8nt (No more aces to bid)
P1 9C (Guess what – I’ve got the ace of clubs too)
P3 9nt
In the above example, neither partner should be left in any doubt as to what a safe lead is. Both should also be in an excellent position to work out whether a 10nt bid is possible.
Note that P1 has pushed the bid up 2 tricks (to 9nt) by calling two aces – but again, if his/her partner’s 7nt bid was realistic, then this is no problem as P1 has simply called two more certain tricks.
P1 has also made any Kings/Queens held by P3 in these suits look particularly good as well.
Third Golden Rule – NO ONE GETS LEFT ON AN ACE BID!!!!!
In all of the above examples, once the no trumps bid has commenced both partners call all aces they have but NEVER pass when an ace is called to them.
This is a simple but vital rule – once you’ve exhausted all your bids, you NEVER pass, you call no trumps. Your partner may continue to call their hand after this – always respond with a no trumps bid, NEVER pass.
Fourth Golden Rule – Don’t up the bid by one if you’re calling a card that’s already been called
If you’ve already called an ace before the no trumps bid commenced, don’t call it again if it is going to lift the bid by one. Your partner may have already taken this card into account when calling 7nt or above to trigger the no trumps bid.
There’s no problem in calling it again if it isn’t going to lift the bid by one though.
Calling a run
What if you have the ace/king (or more) in a suit and you want to call it?
In a no trumps bid, if these cards haven’t already been called, you are calling two more certain tricks, so call it!
Example
P1: 6nt
P2 pass
P3 7nt
P4 pass
P1 9D (I’ve got the Ace and King of diamonds)
P3 9nt
Note that if P3 had the ace of hearts, there would have been an opportunity to call it also.
What if P1 held the Ace, King, Queen, Jack and a few more smaller diamonds?
Between two players who understand these simple bids and follow the basic rules, there should be no reason why P1 wouldn’t call 10D, and P3 should respond with an ace of hearts bid (10H) or 10nt.
If P3 responded with 10H, P1 must call 10nt. But note the ease of play because of a few simple calls. P1 plays out his/her diamond run then is left in no doubt what to lead – a heart.
(a further post from Lee on this topic)
"Most players follow conventions when bidding a suit bid. There are even basic calling conventions for misere and open misere play. Yet they follow no bidding rules when calling a no trumps hand – why is this? It is, after all, a unique form of play in 500. As unique as any of the other types of calls available."
Grumma and I had a good understanding (we did have our occasional disasters). Take the following example:
Grumma: 6S
Lee: 6NT
Grumma: 7NT
Lee: 8S
Grumma 8NT
Lee: Pass
Grumma knew I wouldn't have been calling a suit bid (a definate NO NO when your partner annouces to you they want a NT bid). She knew I wouldn't advance the bid by one unless I was calling a further winner. She knew I was calling the King of Spades.
We got the bid in a cakewalk, which was pretty typical for our NT play.
To me it was a very simple and risk free bid. I daresay though, the prospect of calling a mere King at 8 would make most players baulk. I don't know why. In NT Kings are of the same standing as bauers in a suit bid. A lot of players think nothing of calling a bauer at 8.
IMPORTANT: Anyone who wants to follow these basic NT bidding conventions, please tell me before we partner/play. If you haven't, I won't know and will interpret your calls in the othodox way. Disaster is likely to ensue.
