Responding with weaker hands:
After a 1 of a suit opening bid:
Because 1NT is a game force, all other bids are natural and bidding continues in a normal fashion, but a
lot of responses are not strong and hence not forcing, something to be kept in mind. Keeping in mind
also that we are playing 5 card majors and that 1C can be as short as TWO.
Let’s take a look at responses to a 1C opening bid:

Now let me show you a deal from X-Clubs, from Monday 16/3/2026

Board 6, Dealer East, EW vulnerable

	JT 52 Q86 T85432
32 AKJ74 KT AKQJ		AQ64 QT9 A7532 9
	K9875 863 J94 76

Vil is starting a new series which he's picking will be of interest to only a few players. The concept is simple: 5 card majors, a strong (15-17) 1NT and a GAME FORCING 1NT response to all 1-level opening bids. Anyone interested in following the series can get the articles first hand by registering with him (villyn@xtra.co.nz). His articles will be published on this site while he continues to answer any questions anyone may have and helps juniors as much as possible

This system is based on “Five Card Majors”
We have all gotten used to responding to partner’s opening of one of a suit in time-honoured fashion: bid our suit at the one level, or bid 1NT with “6-9” if we haven’t enough points (usually 10+) to bid at the two level. But how often do we really need to bid 1NT? With ‘five card majors’ that is something that I find can be circumvented, with the 1NT response being far more useful to create a game going scenario, with many, many advantages to off-set the loss of the 6-9 1NT response. Read on if getting more out of your system interests you

We saw in No.7 how a slam might have been bid using “splinters” but hindsight is a wonderful thing.
Let me show you another and very similar layout, where you might consider splintering but a slam is
near impossible.

South	West	North	East
1	Pass	2	Pass
?

You are sitting South and your hand is:

AT964

AQJ9

9

KQ9

A much better hand than earlier, so surely a splinter bid of 4D is in order. And responder also has a
better hand than we saw last time:

Q2

KT876

KQJ

AJ87

Not enough people play strictly major oriented takeout doubles, and then they find that because they
don’t trust partner to be on the same page, end up in the wrong contract. Here is a good example

You are SOUTH, Both vulnerable, dealer West.

South	West	North	East
-	1	X	2

Your hand is:

42

AT42

J4

AJ987