UNUSUAL
NO TRUMP

A lot of time, effort and logic went into the development of this Convention devised by Mr. Alvin Roth and Mr. Tobias Stone. The Unusual No Trump is a convention 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.

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 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. Above all, if you intend to use these conventions, then they must be included in your partnership agreement. First of all, let us distinguish between Michaels Cuebid and The Unusual No Trump.

Both Conventions are used as overcalls:

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
1
West		West has a legitimate 1 No Trump, 15-18HCPs,
1 NT		a Stopper in Spades, and a balanced hand.

Example 5:

South
1
West		West has 5/5 distribution in both Minor suits by unfavorable vulnerability or
2 NT		West has 5/4 distribution in both Minor suits by favorable vulnerability.

Example 6:

South
1
West		West shows a 4-card Heart suit, at least 3-card support in the Minor suits, and approximately 10HCPs+
Double		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 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.

x 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 6high card points plus, and should be mainly in the suits indicated. Remember that the distribution will be your main weapon. x

Example 1:

East	North
	4 73 K9874 AJ876
1	2 NT

Example 2:

East	North
	873 AJ864 K9873
1	2 NT

Now we analyze No Trump overcalls by a passed hand.

South	West	North	East
Pass	Pass	Pass	1
1 NT
K4 3 A8765 Q10876

What is the meaning of the bid by South? South can not have an opening, 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 chart.

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:

South	West	North	East
Pass	Pass	Pass	1
2 NT
K4 3 A8765 Q10876

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. However, South could have simply bid 1 No Trump showing both Minor Suits. Why did South bid 2 No Trump?

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 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 South were two-suited in the Majors, South would use 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

x What is a direct overcall? x

View the following three examples carefully:

Example One:

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 Two:

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 signifies 10-12 high card points and a Stopper in the suit of the opponents.

Example Three

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

Partnership Agreement

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-direct 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:

	K4
	6
	KJ986
	A10972

Is 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 Diamond Contract can be made with as little as 10 high card points!

x Remember well the following bidding by a passed hand !! x

South	West	North	East
Pass	Pass	Pass	1
Pass	1	Pass	Pass
?

Should South pass or bid?

1. South could have the following:	x	2. South could have the following:
AQ3 KJ98 Q54 765	x	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 !!	x	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.
x	x	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?
x	x	SOUTH DOUBLES !! SOUTH SHOWS LENGTH AND STRENGTH IN THE TWO UNBID SUITS

These are the basic guidelines for The Unusual No Trump, 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.

Once again, it must be repeated that the vulnerability must be regarded at all times and The Unusual No Trump convention 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 feasible, understandable and effective. 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.

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.