General
When partner opens the bidding with 1♣ or 1♦ then our primary objective is to look for a Major suit fit. We do so by responding to 1-Major when we have a 4-card Major suit. We do so if we have 6 HCP or even enough for game (a good 12+ points). If we do not have a 4-card Major suit, but we have a balanced hand with enough values for game, then our most common action is to just bid the game we are likely to make, 3NT! Let’s look at this 3NT response in more detail and see what is going on with this response.
1-minor – 3NT
A jump to 3NT after a 1-minor opening eats up a tremendous amount of bidding space. Bids that do this should be highly defined bids, giving partner a precise description of our hand. These types of bids are called picture bids.
1-minor – 3NT shows game forcing values, but not many more values than that, a good 12-15 points. This jump to 3NT also shows a relatively flat hand with little interest in other games. Most partnerships play 1-minor – 3NT as denying a 4-card Major or a 5-card minor suit. This bidding sequence also shows a desire to be the declarer and a hand with at least some tenaces, because otherwise we can make a minor suit response and see if partner wants to become the declarer by bidding Notrump.
After a 1♣ opening bid, what do we respond?
Example 1
♠ KJ3
♥ AQT
♦ KJ32
♣ T53
This hand is a textbook 3NT response.
Example 2
♠ 43
♥ AK3
♦ A832
♣ Q543
Here we Response 1♦ and give partner a chance to bid NT, so that we can play 3NT from their side.
Do We Ever Lie? – 4-card Majors
After a 1♣ or 1♦ opening bid, we usually bid 1♥ or 1♠ when we have a 4+ card suit. That is the normal action! But is there a case where we might choose to not bid our 4-card Major suit.
After a 1♦ opening bid, how do we respond?
Example 3
♠ AJT
♥ T987
♦ KJT
♣ AJT
Here we should respond 1♥. But we might make the small lie of bidding 3NT. We have an extremely balanced hand with double stoppers in all the unbid suits and a bad ♥ suit. This can be a reasonable tactical bid (certainly not a textbook one). If it does not work, then we may just need to apologize to partner.
Do We Ever Lie? – 5-card Minors
As Responder, when we do not have a 4-card Major, but we are dealt a 5-card minor we usually bid that suit. But is there another time
Let’s say partner opens the bidding 1♣, how do we respond with this hand?
Example 4
♠ AQ4
♥ AQ3
♦ 98432
♣ Q3
Here, we want to play 3NT from our side. We need to bid 3NT right now to make sure that happens.
Conclusion
1-minor – 3NT is a common auction when we do not have a 4-card Major. This auction classically shows a minimum game forcing hand (about a good 12 to 15 points) and not 4-card Major. It also implies that we usually do not have a 5-card minor suit and that we have some reason for wanting to play a potential NT contract from our side. We do occasionally make a small lie in order to try to land in the best contract from the right side while giving away as little information as possible. That small lie is often just to jump to 3NT immediately. Make sure you know how to use this important bid!