The Baron Two Notrump Response

The traditional 2NT response to show about 11 points is not needed since a change of suit and then 2NT is just as efficient. When we have 16 or more points a jump shift is often the way to start the slam investigation going; but jumping in 4 card suits in balanced hands can make the continuations amorphous. By utilizing one bid to show all strong balanced hands we can take them out of the jump shift hands

So we use the immediate response of two notrump to one of a suit holding to shows 16 or more points in a balanced hand (it may contain a weak 5 card suit).

Opener Rebids in the following manner:

1.Bid your lowest ranking 4 card suit.

2.Rebid your suit with 5 or more (but show a lower ranking 4 card suit first)

3.Jump rebid in a second suit with a reasonable 5-5 distribution.

4.With a good 6 card major, minimum hand and no biddable second suit

jump in your major (your suit is such that Hx in responder’s hand should

ensure 6 tricks. H = A, K or Q

5.With a good 6 card minor and no biddable second suit a jump in your minor

(here you can be better than minimum because you are still below game level).

6.With a balanced minimum and no second suit - bid 3NT

7.With a balanced 15-16 jump to 4NT (responder may pass with a minimum or begin to show 4 card

suits up the line with slam values (or bid a direct 6NT)).

It follows from these that:

(a)If you immediately rebid your first bid suit, then it denies a biddable lower-ranking 4 card suit (but

not a higher ranking one)

(b)If you rebid in a suit that is higher-ranking than your first bid suit, then both suits are 4 cards in length

(and no extra strength is implied, although you may be much better than minimum).

Responder’s Rebids

Obviously depend on Opener’s rebid, but the general principles are:

1.Bid 4 card suits in ascending order at the three level.

2.Show 3 card (or longer) support for opener’s first suit by supporting at the three level.

Opener, with a minimum hand and only a 4 card suit will bid 3NT.

3.Bid a suit at the 4 level, which will either be

(a) Natural if it is a suit shown by opener

(b) A cue-bid agreeing one of opener’s suits by inference - such cue-bids are rarely ambiguous

once they are given a little thought.

Let’s look at a few examples:

(a) AJ7421 - 2NT(b) 6521 – 2NT(c) J1 - 2NT

83 ? KQ872 ? AQ1072

AQ84 AQ6 K6

K9Rebid 3D A3Rebid 3H KQ953Rebid 4C

(d) AQJ9531 - 2NT(e) K831 - 2NT(f) AJl - 2NT

83 ? Q53? KQ94 ?

A97 98 A1065

108Rebid 4 AK642Rebid 3NT J93Rebid 4NT

(g)l2NTAJ8opener has shown a minimum hand with 4 spades

33KJ32and 5 diamonds. While we have 3 diamonds

3?Q65they are poorish and the hand is minimum.

AQ3Forget about the fit and bid 3NT.

(h)12NTA73Just bid 4. The hand is minimum and lacking

3 ?QJ65in controls — any slam try is best left to opener.

QJ9If you did want to make a try then 4 is a cue-bid

AQ6agreeing hearts.

Some more examples of the convention at work.

1.AQxxxKx

KJxxxAQx

KxAxxx

xKQxx

1S2NT

4H4NT (Blackwood)

5D6H

Opener has shown a decent 5-5 with good suits but with minimum values

2.xxAxxx

AKJ10xxQx

JxAKx

AxxKQJx

1H2NT

4H4NT

5H7NT

Opener has shown a very good 6 card suit that will be solid opposite an honour. Responder checks on aces and can count 13 tricks.

3.QxxKJxx

KQxxAx

KxAQ10x

AQxxKxx

1H2NT

4NT5D

6NT

4NT shows a balanced 15-16; 5D shows a willingness to continue and 4 diamonds.

4.AQxxKx

KQxxAxx

AxKJxx

KxxAQ10x

1H2NT

3S3NT

6NT

Opener shows his 4-4 in the majors; responder shows a minimum hand; opener raises to slam.

5.KJxxxAQxx

AxxxKQ

KAxx

AQxKxxx

1S2NT

3H3S

4C#4D#

4H#5C#

5D#5H#

5NT6NT

7S

Opener shows 5-4 in the majors and responder shows support for spades. Cue-bids (#) followed by the Grand Slam Force (6NT = two top honours) leads to 7S.

6.QxAKxx

AxxxKx

AQxxxKJx

JxAQxx

1D2NT

3D3S

3NT6NT

Opener shows a minimum with 5+ diamonds; responder settles for the small slam

7.KJxxxAQxx

Al0xxKQJx

xAl0

KxxAxx

1S2NT

3H4C

4H4S

5C5D

5H6H

Opener shows 5-4 in the majors and responder shows support for hearts (didn’t bid 3S) by cue-bidding in clubs. Cue-bids follow and slam in hearts bid. 12 tricks in spades or notrumps but 13 in hearts (draw trumps, discard a club on the 5th spade, a club ruff becomes the 13th trick).

The Baron 2NT is a great improvement on the traditional Acol response and will help in both bidding good slams and helping to keep you out of bad ones.

There is another popular use for the 2NT response called the Jacoby 2NT response, but that is a story for another day!

Repercussions of using the Baron 2NT Response

Now when we jump shift we are showing 16+ HCP and at least a 5 card suit.

In keeping with modern theory we also only jump shift when holding a two-suiter when the second suit is the one partner opened. Otherwise with two suits we do not jump on the first round, but take things a bit slower so as to easily find a fit if it exists.