Introduction

The weak NT is a powerful convention that is difficult to play against. Weak NTs can wreak
havoc on even the most experienced partnerships. They cause volatility on “normal” hands, serve
as effective pre-empts, and defending against them is often misunderstood. We are more likely to
have a game after the opponents open a weak NT, than if they open a strong NT. As a result, our
objectives and criteria for entering the auction are different.

Competing over a weak NT can be dangerous, because the opponents have already narrowly
defined one of their hands, and we are completely in the dark about partner’s strength and
distribution. If they misstep, it is much harder for us to penalize them; however, if we misstep,
it’s easy for them to penalize us because they already know so much more about their side’s
values and shape. We are trying to make the best educated guesses possible, but they are a step
ahead because of the descriptive nature of their opening bid.

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 a weak NT opening as having a minimum of a good 13 or less. If their card
says 14-16, we consider it strong, but if their card says 13+-16, we consider it weak. As we work
through examples, for ease of visualization, we assume that the dealer opens the bidding with
1NT; thus, 3rd seat is always the “responder," and 4th seat is always the player to the right of the
1NT opener.

Objectives for Doubling 1NT

1. Establish that it’s our hand.

2. Penalize the opponents.
3. Compete for part-scores.
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.

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 4th seat as well, but in 4th 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 NT in 2nd seat (directly)
The hand-types included in Double vary slightly depending on your other methods over 1NT; we
choose to define a penalty double as 15+ HCP. Wedouble on almost every 15+ HCP hand
without a 6-card suit, balanced or not. (Whether to double or overcall with a 6-card suit and
15+HCP depends greatly on your methods and is beyond the scope of this article.) Depending on
your preferences, or if you are playing against a 10-12 NT, you can adjust the expected range for
double accordingly.

Methods after 2nd hand's Penalty Double

When 3rd Hand Passes over the Double

We now define the bids of the advancer (the partner of the doubler) when responder (3rd hand)
passes. Most weak notrump systems have intricate runout structures that assign special meanings
to 3rd hand's pass. Although there are small gains from playing different methods based on these
specific meanings, in the case of pass, these gains are negligible when considering the amount of
memory work necessary. Using the same structure vs. pass, no matter what it means, works well
enough in practice.

After 3rd hand's pass, advancer (4th hand) should pull to the 2-level with very weak hands
(generally 0-4 HCP), pull to 2NT and higher with strong (game-forcing) offensive hands, and
pass holding 5+ HCP and no clear direction. We recommend playing a natural structure instead
of “systems on,” since the doubler is not always balanced, and may have a difficult time showing
their hand with a “systems on” approach.

PASS shows 5+ HCP, and sets up a force through 2♥ (the opponents cannot play a contract of 2♥
or lower undoubled). If advancer passes and then bids at the 2-level on a later round, this is
natural and non-forcing. Doubler’s later non-jumps are also natural and non-forcing; 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.

South
♠
K1083
♥
Q95
♦
42
♣
Q843
1NT X P P
XX P 2♦ X

Since this would be the first double by our side after the penalty double, and their bid is natural,
our Double is takeout. If 2♦ were artificial (say, the majors), then Double shows cards.

South
♠
K54
♥
108
♦
K1052
♣
9852
\
1NT X P P
2♣ X 2♦ X

Our side has already used our takeout double, now all our doubles are penalty. Doubling 2♦ here
shows 4+ cards in their suit.

2♣ is a general-purpose pull with weakness (0-4 HCP), and could be a balanced weak scramble.
It cannot contain a 5-card suit other than clubs. We try to have at least 2 clubs for this call -- with
the dreaded 4441 pattern we would probably bid 2♦. After 2♣, the doubler is expected to pull
with a 5-card suit of their own, or if they have no 5-card suit and fewer than 4 clubs, they pull to
their lowest 4-card suit. Our goal is to find a playable spot and avoid too much damage, not find
the perfect contract.

9843
J854
83
Q102
1NT X P 2♣

With below our suggested minimum to pass and and no 5-card suit, we leave our options open
for finding a safe playing spot by bidding 2♣ to show our general weakness. This bid does not
promise clubs, it just shows the lack of a biddable 5-card suit.

2♦, 2♥, and 2♠ show 5+ card suits (2♦ could be 4441) and weak hands (0-4 HCP). Further
followups are natural, and we are not in a force.

2NT shows a forcing 2-suiter with at least 5-5 in the two suits: Enough values to game-force, but
too offensive to defend 1NT-X. After 2NT, the doubler bids the lowest suit for which they have
at least 3-card support. Since a game-force has been established, we still have room to find a
better fit if possible. Doubler’s 3♠ bid is natural, showing at least 5.

K9853
4
KJ8742
4
1NT X P 2NT
P 3♣ P 3♦
P 3♥ P 3♠

We showed diamonds and a major with 3♦ (if we had clubs and diamonds, we would have
raised). Since reaching a major-suit fit takes priority over a minor-suit fit, partner's 3♥ shows 3+
hearts and does not deny 3+ diamonds (which can be shown later). Now, we can show our major
with 3♠.

4
K9853
4
KJ8742
1NT X P 2NT
P 3♣ P 3♥

When we hold clubs and a major and partner bids 3♣, we still bid our major because it's
important to find the major-suit fit. Unlike the previous example, this 3♥ bid does not deny a
club fit. We would bid the same way with both majors or with hearts + clubs.
3 of a new suit is natural and game-forcing: Enough values to game-force, but too offensive to
be willing to defend 1NT-X.

KQJ1098
82
4
KQ62
1NT X P 3♠

At unfavorable vulnerability, this is a clear 3♠ bid. It's possible 1NT-X may not be enough to
make up for your practically certain game.

When 3rd hand redoubles

For simplicity, we recommend using the same structure as if they had passed over the double. It
doesn't matter if the redouble shows values or is the start of a runout. When in doubt, if the
redouble shows values, prefer running out to potentially sitting out 1NT redoubled.

Summary of methods to date:

1NT (Double) = 15+ HCP, could be unbalanced

 3rd hand passes or redoubles

o PASS = no clear direction, 5+ HCP, sets up forcing pass through 2♥
 first double of natural bid becomes takeout
o 2♣ = ART, 0-4 HCP, no 5-card spade/heart/diamond suit
 With 0-3 clubs, doubler should pull to a 5-card suit, or their cheapest 4-
card suit.
o 2♦ = natural, 5+ diamonds, 0-4 HCP
o 2♥ = natural, 5+ hearts, 0-4 HCP
o 2♠ = natural, 5+ spades, 0-4 HCP
o 2NT = ART, GF two-suiter (5-5 or better)
 Doubler bids 3-card suits up the line, or 3♠ to show long spades
o 3 any = natural, GF one-suiter

In part 2 of Taming the Weak NT, we will cover the structure after 3rd hand bids over 2nd
hand’s penalty double, and when 4th hand is the initial doubler.

In part 1, we covered what to do after they opened a weak notrump, partner doubled for penalty,
and 3rd hand passed or redoubled. We now discuss our structure after 3rd hand makes a bid.
When the opponents bid in 3rd hand: 2♥ or lower (Natural)

Passes set up a force through 2♥ (they cannot play 2♥ or lower undoubled), the first double by
our side is takeout, and both hands should avoid doubling with a void in their suit. After our side
has made one takeout double, later doubles are penalty: Direct penalty doubles show 4+ cards in
their suit, while balancing penalty doubles are more cooperative and show 3+ cards in their suit.

If we make a forcing pass, it shows either a hand without clear direction or a penalty pass. If the
strong hand reopens with double, once advancer fails to pass, they must have a hand without
clear direction: 2NT is natural, non-jumps are non-forcing, and a cuebid is a general force.

983
KJ10
J983
542
1NT X 2♥ P
P X P 2NT

If the strong hand reopens with something other than double, we pass with very weak hands,
2NT is natural, new suits are forcing, and a cue-bid is a general force.

For hands with direction, we bid immediately and mostly naturally in 4th hand. An issue in these
auctions is having only one way to make a 3-level bid; we want to judge our game prospects
accurately, and we resolve this by playing Lebensohl. This gives us two ways to bid on the 3-
level, while only sacrificing a direct natural 2NT. We can usually pass and bid a natural 2NT
later.

Direct bids at the 2-level are non-forcing and natural. At the 3-level, there are three important
hand-types to show: forcing, invitational, and competitive. When we have a natural bid available
on the 2-level, we can accomplish all three: Compete on the 2-level, invite by bidding 2NT
followed by 3 of our suit, and force by making a direct 3-level bid.

When we do not have a 2-level bid available, even with Lebensohl, we only have 2 ways to bid
on the 3-level. In favor of showing forcing and competitive hands, we choose to give up showing
the invitational hand; when we have the invitational hand, we either overbid or underbid slightly.

AK943
52
843
982
1NT X 2♦ 2NT
P 3♣ P 3♠
Facing 15+ HCP, this hand isn’t enough to game-force, but is more than a competitive 2♠.

A direct cue-bid shows a forcing offensive hand with shortness in the opponent’s suit; this is a
hand unsuitable for a takeout double. Bidding 2NT then cue-bidding shows a forcing hand with a
stopper and 5+ cards in a major.

KJ54
Void
Q9754
K1053
1NT X 2♥ 3♥

This is a textbook hand for a direct cue-bid: We have a 3-suited hand, enough to GF, and cannot
double because of the heart void.

When the opponents play “Systems On” or 2-Suited Runouts

After Stayman by 3rd hand, double shows values and creates a penalty double situation, and
other bids are natural, using the same Lebensohl structure we discussed.

After a transfer by 3rd hand, we gain a few extra bids. Since we “know” what bid to expect from
the 1NT opener, we can use this to our advantage: Pass is still forcing, and 2NT and higher
remain the same, but we use the 2-level “cue-bid” as a replacement for a takeout double, and use
a double to show values. Double followed by double shows a 3-card penalty double, while pass
then double shows a 4-card penalty double in the suit shown by the transfer.

A83
K985
54
10832
1NT X 2♦ P
2♥ P P X

9♥
K954
♦
A8752
♣
1084
1NT X 2♥ 2♠
After a 2-suited bid by 3rd hand, if they are bidding one of their suits, double is takeout of that
suit (showing some values), and other bids are natural. If they are not bidding one of their suits,
double creates a penalty double situation, and other bids are natural.
South

K974
Q942
43
K42
1NT X 2♦ X

When the opponents bid in 3rd hand: 2♠ or higher

If the opponents bid 2♠, we are not in a force. Doubles are card-showing. Due to the limited
space and non-forcing 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 2♠ as discussed before. Direct bids are forcing, while bidding 2NT first
then a 3-level bid is non-forcing but constructive.

South
♠
92
543
Q108642
43
1NT X 2♠ P
P X P 3♦
A direct 2NT followed by 3♦ would show a constructive hand -- This hand is not good enough
for that auction, and must pass over 2♠ and bid 3♦ over partner’s reopening double.

When the opponents bid 2NT or higher, we use the same card-showing doubles as over 2♠, but
we no longer have the luxury of using Lebensohl. Here, with only one way to bid on the 3-level,
we choose to sacrifice the weaker hands in favor of avoiding jumping with the stronger ones.
Bids on the 3-level are forcing, and weaker hands must pass. We miss competing with this
treatment, but in turn gain accuracy in our game-bidding.