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A lot of time, effort and logic went into the development of this conventional defense method devised by Mr. Alvin Roth and Mr. Tobias Stone. According to The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge, published in the year 1964 by Crown Publishers, Inc., page 470, and also to The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge, published in the year 1971 by Crown Publishers, Inc., page 532, this conventional defense method was originally devised by Mr. Alvin Roth in the year 1948 and developed by him with Mr. Tobias Stone.
The Unusual No Trump is a conventional defense method designed to show two suited hands in competitive situations with one bid. The logic and reasoning behind the convention is to consume bidding space and to describe to your partner the distribution of your hand as quickly and as accurately as possible. This can be done with one bid.
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In order to understand the Unusual No Trump convention, both players must first achieve a partnership understanding of the definition of terms required before implementing this bid. The Unusual No Trump is an effective convention, but not a toy. The bid should be used according to established guidelines and not indiscriminately, which only serves to undermine not only the conventional method but also the partnership trust.
Please compare this convention with Michaels Cuebid, which cuebids the bid suit of the opener, because there are some similarities in that both conventions show two-suited hands. The Unusual No Trump convention is used after an opening bid in the Major suits, and also in other bidding circumstances which will become clear, and this is very important to remember. Since the two conventional defense methods are, practically speaking, first cousins, it is imperative that the visitor first of all, distinguish between Michaels Cuebid and The Unusual No Trump.
Example 1:
South West North East Pass Pass Pass 1 2 South employs the Michaels Cuebid to show a two-suited hand, where one suit is the other Major, in this example Spades, and an unspecified Minor suit.
Example 2:
South West North East Pass Pass Pass 1 2 NT By employing the Unusual No Trump convention, South is showing a two-suited hand, both of which are the Minor Suits.
Example 3:
West North 1 2 NT By bidding 2 No Trump, employing the Unusual No Trump convention, North is showing a two-suited hand, both of which are the Minor suits.
We shall try to establish the intended meanings to the various calls possible after the bidding is opened by the opponents. It depends very much on the Seat and the Call, and whether the bid is an immediate overcall, a bid made after passing or whether the bid is Fourth Seat after the opponents bid twice. Review the following examples carefully, and the bids will become logical.
Example 4:
South West Meaning 1 1 NT West has a legitimate 1 No Trump, 15-18HCPs, and a Stopper in Spades, and a balanced hand. Example 5:
South West Meaning 1 2 NT West has 5/5 distribution in both Minor suits by unfavorable vulnerability or West has 5/4 distribution in both Minor suits by favorable vulnerability. Example 6:
South West Meaning 1 Double West shows a 4-card Heart suit, at least 3-card support in the Minor suits, and approximately 10 plus points by favorable vulnerability and at least an opening by unfavorable vulnerability. Example 7:
South West North East 1 Pass Pass 1 NT East is in the balancing seat and has decided to re-open the bidding. The 1 No Trump bid signifies 10-12 high card points and a Stopper in Spades.
Example 8:
South West North East 1 Pass Pass 2 NT East has 5-5 distribution in both Minor suits by unfavorable vulnerability or East has a minimum 5-4 distribution in both Minor suits by favorable vulnerability.
Example 9:
South West North East 1 Pass Pass Double East has an actual 1 No Trump opening with 15-17/18 high card points, a Stopper in Spades and a balanced hand, or an actual 2 No Trump opening with 20-21/22 high card points, a Stopper in Spade and a balanced hand. But East can not show it at this time. East will do so on his next bid because East is forcing West to bid.
Note: Any 2 No Trump Bid immediately after an opening of a Major suit by the opponents signifies that the 2 No Trump bidder has at least 5/5 distribution by unfavorable vulnerability in both Minor suits, or at least 5/4 distribution by favorable vulnerability in both Minor Suits. The point range should be 6 high card points plus, and should be mainly in the suits indicated. Remember that the distribution will be your main weapon Also, the number of Losing Tricks may be the determining factor.
Note: The number of values, by partnership agreement, has been altered by many bridge players to be based on the number of Losing Tricks instead of high card points. This means that a holding such as: QJxxx - J109xx may be appropriate for the employment of this defense method. This is not, however, an individual partnership agreement.
Example 1:
East North
4 73 K9874 AJ876 1 2 NT Example 2:
East North
873 AJ864 K9873 1 2 NT
Now we analyze Unusual No Trump overcalls by a passed hand.
Example 1:
Vulnerability: Both South West North East Pass Pass Pass 1 1 NT
K4 3 A8765 Q10876
What is the meaning of the bid by South? South cannot have a genuine opening of 1 No Trump, but he knows that his opponent West is weak. And South sees a good chance to enter the bidding auction showing a two suited hand. He could have something similar to the hand in the diagram.
Note: The number of Losing Tricks in Example 1 equals 6 Losing Tricks, whereas in Example 2 below, the number of Losing Tricks equals 5 Losing Tricks. The number of Losing Tricks may be the determining factor in deciding whether to employ this conventional defense method.
South does not have an opening, but he has a good distributional hand, and with one bid, as a direct overcall after passing first, he has shown partner a distributional two-suited hand in Diamonds and Clubs, with distribution of at least 5-5, since both teams are vulnerable.
Example 2 - Vulnerability: Both
Vulnerability: Both South West North East Pass Pass Pass 1 2 NT
4 3 AK8765 Q10876
South does not have an opening, but the player has a good distributional hand, and with one bid. As a direct overcall after passing first, the player shows partner a distributional two-suited holding in Diamonds and Clubs, with distribution of at least 5-5, since both teams are vulnerable. However, South could have simply bid 1 No Trump showing both Minor Suits. Why did South bid 2 No Trump?
With a 2 No Trump bid, South is showing even more distribution and playing strength.
The Unusual No Trump bid is a conventional defense method, and like all concepts, bridge players have been trying to improve, alter and modify them.
It must be noted that the 1 No Trump and 2 No Trump bids are used by some bridge players to show a two-suited hand in other suits. Instead of the lower two unbid suits, the bid is used to denote the two higher ranking unbid suits.
Mr. Alvin Roth also made additions to the concept in his published pamphlet titled The Unusual No Trump, first published by the Devyn Press in 1981 as part of the Championship Bridge Series, that the inclusion of the bid of 2 No Trump directly over an opening bid by the opponent is unusual. He includes topics such as: 1. When is No Trump Overcall Unusual?; 2. Which Suits are shown by an Unusual No Trump; 3. Requirements; 4. Responding to an Unusual No Trump; 5. Other uses for the Unusual No Trump; 6.Defending against Unusual No Trump. The visitor should remember, however, that this variation is not part of the original version.
What if South passes and then makes a direct overcall of 1NT or 2NT over a Minor?
South West North East Pass Pass Pass 1 1 NT If South were two-suited in the Majors, South would use the Michaels Cuebid of 2 Diamonds. But with the bid of 1 No Trump South is showing the two lower-ranking unbid suits, namely Hearts and Clubs.
If East had opened the auction with 1 Club and South were two-suited in the Majors, South would use the Michaels Cuebid of 2 Clubs. But with the bid of 1 No Trump South is showing the two lower-ranking unbid suits, namely Hearts and Diamonds.
Remember: if South bids 2 No Trump, as a direct overcall, South is showing even more distribution and playing strength.
We have considered a direct overcall of 1 No Trump or 2 No Trump by a Passed Hand. The question is what, exactly, constitutes a direct overcall?
Review the following three examples carefully:
Example 1:
South West North East Pass Pass Pass 1 1 NT South has made a direct overcall after first passing his hand.
By agreement, this bid signifies The Unusual No Trump convention.Example 2:
South West North East Pass 1 Pass Pass 1 NT South has not made a direct overcall after passing his hand. In the Pass Out Position, South has decided to re-open the bidding, and, as stated above, South is in the balancing seat and has decided to re-open the bidding. The 1 No Trump bid generally signifies 10-12 high card points and a stopper in the suit of the opponents.
Example 3:
South West North East Pass 1 Pass Pass 2 NT South has not made a direct overcall after passing his hand. In the Pass Out Position, South has decided to re-open the bidding or balance with 2 No Trump. Notice the difference in the Level of No Trump. By agreement, this signifies:
1. a two-suited hand in Hearts and Clubs.
2. excellent distribution and good playing strength.
This Agreement is valid only if the opening is on the One Level. Any Direct Overcall of 1 No Trump or 2 No Trump by a Passed Hand is Unusual, and shows the two lower-ranking unbid suits and 5-5 distribution. Any non-direct overcall by a Passed Hand of 1 No Trump is not unusual but rather is a Balancing Bid. Any non-passed overcall by a Passed Hand of 2 No Trump is unusual and shows the two lower-ranking unbid suits.
Explanation: if a bridge player has passed once and finds himself in the Pass-out Position, the player must make a decision. He must either Pass or Balance.
In the following example, South must make a decision:
South West North East Pass 1 Pass Pass ? South has the opportunity to Pass, knowing that the opponents have most likely reached a poor contract. Only if South realizes that there is a good chance of balancing with an immediate and very descriptive bid, should South balance. South must also be quite aware of the fact that he could be pushing the opponents towards a makeable contract, and that he and partner will most likely end on the Three Level.
Therefore, the bridge player in the Pass-Out Position must take a serious second look at his hand and decide whether his hand is more suited for defense or offense.
The bridge player in the Pass-Out Position must also assume that the opener could have a hand with strength of about 19HCPs maximum, and must make this fact a consideration of his decision to pass or balance.
A very important feature is to remember vulnerability !!
Example:
East South West North 1 Pass 2 Pass Pass ? Should South pass or bid 2 No Trump?
South may have something like the following:
Holding K4 6 KJ986 A10972 It seems probable that West may have scraped all distributional points together in order to answer his partner. At favorable vulnerability, it might be profitable for South to reopen the bidding with a most descriptive bid. Are the opponents willing to take their suit to the Three Level?
It should be apparent to think of a distributional hand as being stronger than a hand which has only power in high card points. With such favorable distributional hands it has been proven that a 5 Diamonds contract can be made with as little as 10 high card points!
It is important that the player remember the following auction by a passed player:
South West North East Pass Pass Pass 1 Pass 1 Pass Pass ? Should South pass or bid?
1. South could have the following: 2. South could have the following:
Hand 1 AQ3 KJ98 Q54 765
Hand 2 65 54 AJ98 KJ1087 With Hand 1 South would reopen the bidding with 1 No Trump showing his partner a balanced hand with 10-12HCPs. South is in the Pass-Out Seat.
All re-opening hands are natural !!With Hand 2 South is again in the Pass-Out Seat, knowing that his bidding opponents are weak. South intends to re-open the bidding, showing at least a 5/4 distribution. Should he bid 2 No Trump, taking the contract to the Three Level? Not necessarily. South can make a better call, keeping the auction low. But how can South achieve the desired results and inform his partner at the same time? SOUTH DOUBLES !!
SOUTH SHOWS LENGTH AND STRENGTH IN THE TWO UNBID SUITS
These are the basic guidelines for the Unusual No Trump defense method, which become very useful in bidding contracts as well as providing partner with unusually fast and descriptive information, and putting obstacles in the path of the opponents. The bridge player should realize that there are several factors involved such as:
1. State of vulnerability. 2. Location of values. 3. Whether the Unusual No Trump is be a Passed or Non-Passed Hand. 4. Whether the Unusual No Trump is a direct overcall or balancing and/or reopening call. 5. Whether the opponents have bid and raised the same suit. 6. Whether or not the opponents have bid two different suits, 7. Number of Losing Tricks. ....... all of which may determine the employment of the Unusual No Trump and in deciding whether the No Trump overcall reflects which partnership agreement in the auction.
Once again, it must be repeated that the vulnerability must be regarded at all times and the Unusual No Trump conventional defense method must not be used indiscriminately for any two-suited hands. The requirements must be met, otherwise the partner will slowly lose trust.
As stated in the introduction, Mr. Alvin Roth and Mr. Tobias Stone put a lot of effort into making this method comprehensible, understandable, and underscored its effectiveness. The difficulty is to master it together with your partner. Each bid must be communicated in such a fashion that it be readily understood. Each partner must visualize the auction, especially the passes, and then make the correct decision and the correct bid.
Please Note: We have attempted to present the basic concept of the Unusual No Trump convention defense method to the reader, encourage the reader to question the material when studying the content we present, and also to encourage the reader to continue his/her study of the convention by purchasing those bridge books, which deal with the subject. It is impossible for us to present each and every case with examples and explain whether or not the Unusual No Trump convention may or may not be effective, employed and/or is applicable. We have attempted to reflect the different considerations necessary to determine whether or not such a call meets most of the necessary requirements, and which determine the advisability of such a call or overcall and/or balancing reopening call.
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.
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