3.4 New Minor Forcing

The rebid of 1NT by a minor-suit opening bid shows a very specific hand — balanced, 12-14 HCP. Therefore, the responding partner becomes Captain of the auction, in charge of how high to go. After the bidding has started with a minor, a major suit response, and a 1NT rebid, there are four things responder may wish to do:

sign off in a suit at the two-level
invite partner to game, exploring the fits
force to game, exploring the fits
invite to slam, exploring the fits

However, there is only the 2-level and 3-level at which to bid a suit, and so we are short of options no matter which level is assigned the different meanings. A common way to solve this sort of problem is to take one bid that isn’t particularly useful and sacrifice its normal meaning so we can make it ask a question instead. The “useless bid” here, is 2 of the other minor. If we want to play in a part-score, we’re already in the highest scoring spot (1NT), so the usefulness of this bid to set the contract in 2♣ or 2♦ is questionable. Instead, we use it to ask partner about her holdings in the majors, and her range. It promises at least game-invitational values. It is called New Minor Forcing.

West	North	East	South
	1♣	Pass	1♠
Pass	1NT	Pass	2♦	Tell me about your major suits
Pass	?

2♥	4 hearts, any range
2♠	3 spades, denies 4 hearts, minimum
2NT	Denies 3 spades or 4 hearts
3♣ - 3♥	Unused
3♠	3 spades, denies 4 hearts, maximum

West	North	East	South
	1♦	Pass	1♥
Pass	1NT	Pass	2♣	Tell me about your major suits
Pass	?

2♦	Denies 3 hearts or 4 spades
2♥	3 hearts, minimum
2♠	4 spades, 4=3=3=3, any range
2NT - 3♦	Unused
3♥	3 hearts, maximum

You will have noted that the only time we jump is with 3-card support for responder’s suit, and maximum values. We can afford to jump here because we know we have a fit (if that is what partner is looking for) and that we have enough HCP for game. If partner doesn’t want to play 4 of his major opposite this hand, 3NT will do nicely.

The other sequence of note is that 1♣ - 1♥; 1NT can have 4 spades. Usually we give top priority to finding the major suit fit, but in my experience, you are better to rebid 1NT with this distribution (4=3=3=3). At least then partner will not be backed into giving you preference to 2♣ when you are on a 3-3 fit! Anyway, if that’s too theoretical an explanation for you, take this one on faith!

Responder’s Other Options

Using New Minor Forcing has an impact on all other continuations responder can chose after 1m - 1M; 1NT. Let’s look at some examples:

West	North	East	South
	1♣	Pass	1♠
Pass	1NT	Pass	?

2♣	Preference, to play
2♦	New Minor Forcing
2♥	Weak hand, asks for 2-level preference
2♠	5+ spades, to play
2NT	Denies 5 spades, invitational to 3NT
3♣	5+ clubs, 10 - 12 in support, invitational
3♦	Picture Bid: invitational to game, 5+ spades, 5+ diamonds
3♥	Picture Bid: invitational to game, 5+ spades, 5+ hearts
3♠	6+ spades, invitational to game
3NT	Game if you make it
4♣	Gerber, asks for Aces
4♦ - 4♥	Unused
4♠	Game if you make it
4NT	18 - 19 HCP, no extra length in the majors, invitational to 6NT

West	North	East	South
	1♦	Pass	1♠
Pass	1NT	Pass	?

2♣	New Minor Forcing
2♦	Preference, to play
2♥	Weak hand, asks for 2-level preference
2♠	5+ spades, to play
2NT	10 - 12 HCP, invitational to 3NT, no extra length in the majors
3♣	Picture Bid: invitational to game, 5+ spades, 5+ clubs
3♦	5+ diamonds, 10 - 12 HCP, no extra length in majors
3♥	Picture Bid: invitational to game, 5+ spades, 5+ hearts
3♠	6+ spades, invitational to game
3NT	13 - 17 HCP, no extra length in the majors
4♣	Gerber, asks for Aces
4♦	RKCB for diamonds
4♥	Unused
4♠	6+ spades, game if you make it
4NT	18 - 19 HCP, no extra length in the majors, invitational to 6NT

Responder’s Continuations After New Minor Forcing

West	North	East	South
	1♦	Pass	1♠
Pass	1NT	Pass	2♣
Pass	2♦	Pass	?	Opener does not have 3 spades or 4 hearts

2♥	5+ spades, 5+ hearts, game forcing
2♠	6+ spades, forcing 1 round; either invitational to game or slam-try
2NT	10 - 12 HCP, invitational to game
3♣	4+ Clubs, forcing to game
3♦	4+ Diamonds, forcing to game
3♥	Small singleton heart, 4+ diamonds, slam-try
3♠	Sets spades as trumps, demands cue bid
3NT	13 - 17, to play
4♣	Small singleton club, 4+ diamonds, slam-try
4♦	RKCB for diamonds
4♥	Unused
4♠	Game if you make it
4NT	18 - 19 HCP, invitational to 6NT