Strong Balanced Hand Bidding

Here are some ways to bid (or investigate) slams over any NT opening hand.

Note that these bids all mean the same whether or not Opener opened the bidding:
1NT to show a balanced hand with 15 to 17 HCP
2NT to show a balanced hand with 20 or 21 HCP
3NT to show a balanced hand with 25 to 27 HCP
2♣ followed by 2NT to show a balanced hand with 22 to 24 HCP or
2♣ followed by 3NT to show a balanced hand with 25 to 27 HCP

If your NT ranges are slightly different then just change the points Responder needs to make the bid. If Opener has more points, Responder needs fewer points -- that just makes sense.

Note that some people will open 3NT with a balanced 25 to 27 HCP but others start with a 2♣ bid. Both work so it really doesn't matter which one you use.

The bids in this post all assume that Responder does NOT have a four card major (then they would bid Stayman) or a five+ card major (then they would make a Jacoby Transfer).

Point count needed to bid a slam

With a balanced hand opposite a balanced hand you need:
33 HCP to bid a Small Slam
(You should not have only 32 HCP -- Missing 8 HCP you could be missing two Aces! Not good at the 6 level.)

37 HCP to bid a Grand Slam
(You should not have only 36 HCP -- Missing 4 HCP you could be missing one Ace! Not good at the 7 level.)

Quantitative 4NT

If Opener opens the bidding ANY number of NT (see the five possibilities above), a bid of 4NT right away is asking Opener to bid 6NT if they are at the top of their range and "Pass" the 4NT bid if they are at the bottom of their range.

Responder's values will differ for this bid because it totally depends on what range Opener has.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 1NT showing 15 to 17 HCP

Responder would need 16 or 17 HCP to bid 4NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2NT showing 20 or 21 HCP

Responder would need 12 HCP to bid 4NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 3NT showing 25 to 27 HCP

Responder would need 6 or 7 HCP to bid 4NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2♣ followed by 2NT to show a balanced hand with 22 to 24 HCP

Responder would need 9 or 10 HCP to bid 4NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2♣ followed by 3NT to show a balanced hand with 25 to 27 HCP

Responder would need 6 or 7 HCP to bid 4NT.

5NT

If Opener opens the bidding ANY number of NT (see the five possibilities above), a bid of 5NT right away is asking Opener to bid 6NT if they are at the bottom of their range and bid 7NT if they are at the top of their range. Note that this bid is 100% FORCING!!!

Responder's values will differ for this bid because it totally depends on what range Opener has.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 1NT showing 15 to 17 HCP

Responder would need 20 or 21 HCP to bid 5NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2NT showing 20 or 21 HCP

Responder would need 16 HCP to bid 5NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 3NT showing 25 to 27 HCP

Responder would need 10 or 11 HCP to bid 5NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2♣ followed by 2NT to show a balanced hand with 22 to 24 HCP

Responder would need 13 or 14 HCP to bid 5NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2♣ followed by 3NT to show a balanced hand with 25 to 27 HCP

Responder would need 10 or 11 HCP to bid 5NT.

6NT

If Opener opens the bidding ANY number of NT (see the five possibilities above), a bid of 6NT right away is just setting the contract. Responder wants to play in a small slam and no higher. Opener must "Pass".

Responder's values will differ for this bid because it totally depends on what range Opener has.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 1NT showing 15 to 17 HCP

Responder would need 18 or 19 HCP to bid 6NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2NT showing 20 or 21 HCP

Responder would need 13 to 15 HCP to bid 6NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 3NT showing 25 to 27 HCP

Responder would need 8 or 9 HCP to bid 6NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2♣ followed by 2NT to show a balanced hand with 22 to 24 HCP

Responder would need 11 or 12 HCP to bid 6NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2♣ followed by 3NT to show a balanced hand with 25 to 27 HCP

Responder would need 8 or 9 HCP to bid 6NT.

7NT

If Opener opens the bidding ANY number of NT (see the five possibilities above), a bid of 7NT right away is just setting the contract. Responder wants to play in a gram slam. Opener must "Pass".

Responder's values will differ for this bid because it totally depends on what range Opener has.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 1NT showing 15 to 17 HCP

Responder would need 22 or more HCP to bid 7NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2NT showing 20 or 21 HCP

Responder would need 17 or more HCP to bid 7NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 3NT showing 25 to 27 HCP

Responder would need 12 or more HCP to bid 7NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2♣ followed by 2NT to show a balanced hand with 22 to 24 HCP

Responder would need 15 or more HCP to bid 7NT.

Point count Responder needs if Opener opens 2♣ followed by 3NT to show a balanced hand with 25 to 27 HCP

Responder would need 12 or more HCP to bid 7NT.

Do you need to memorize all these point counts?

No! That is hard work. Just remember what the each of the different bids ask Partner and memorize how many points you need for a small slam and a grand slam. Then do the math.

4NT -- asks Opener to "Pass" with a MINIMUM and bid 6NT with a MAXIMUM
5NT -- asks Opener to bid 6NT with a MINIMUM and bid 7NT with a MAXIMUM
6NT -- asks Opener to "Pass" since you want the partnership to be in a small slam only
7NT -- asks Opener to "Pass" since you want the partnership to be in a grand slam

25 or 26 to 33 HCP -- Game only
33 HCP -- Small Slam
37 HCP -- Grand Slam

A) You know how many points Partner (Opener) has -- their opening bid told you. Perfect!
B) You know how many points you have in your hand. Just count them.
C) Do the math to see where you belong if Partner (Opener) has the MINIMUM of their range.
D) Do the math to see where you belong if Partner (Opener) has the MAXIMUM of the range.

If the answer is the same -- just make that BID!
If the answer is different -- you need to ASK!

Example 1

Here is my hand:
♠AQ3
♥K9
♦QT65
♣QJ63

My Partner opens up the bidding 2NT. I know they have 20 or 21 HCP.

I count my HCP. I have 14 HCP.

If Partner has 20 HCP (their minimum), that together with my 14 HCP means the partnership has 34 HCP. This is enough to bid 6NT but not enough to bid 7NT.
If Partner has 21 HCP (their maximum), that together with my 14 HCP means the partnership has 35 HCP. This is enough to bid 6NT but not enough to bid 7NT.

So not matter how many points Partner has I know the contract belongs in 6NT.

I bid 6NT.

Example 2

Here is my hand:
♠KQ3
♥97
♦QT65
♣T643

My Partner opens up the bidding 3NT. I know they have 25 to 27 HCP.

I count my HCP. I have 7 HCP.

If Partner has 25 HCP (their minimum), that together with my 7 HCP means the partnership has 32 HCP. This is enough to be in a game but NOT enough to bid 6NT. We can't quite make the small slam.
If Partner has 27 HCP (their maximum), that together with my 7 HCP means the partnership has 34 HCP. This is enough to bid 6NT but not enough to bid 7NT.

So if Partner is MINIMUM I want be playing in a game only.
However if Partner is MAXIMUM I want be playing in 6NT.

How do I ask Partner to stop below 6NT if they are MINIMUM but bid 6NT if they are MAXIMUM?

That is the 4NT bid.

I bid 4NT to ask Partner if they are MINIMUM or MAXIMUM for their range.

Want some practice on slam bidding?

First of all you need a Partner. Grab your favourite Partner and ask them to bid with you.

To start with you click on the link to get to the North hands. Click HERE to get the North hands!

Tell your Partner to click on the link to get to the South hands. Click HERE to get the South hands!

North will start the bidding. They can open whatever they want. (Hint: Since these are balanced hand slams North will be opening some number of NTs if they play the same ranges as above.)

Once North bids, South will make a bid.

Back to North to make another bid

Back to South to make another bid

and so on until ONE person says "Pass"

the auction ends and you have arrived in your contract.

If you would like to see the auction I suggest please click HERE.

Enjoy!!!

Please leave a comment if you find the bidding hands useful. I can make more if people are enjoying them.