5 NO TRUMP OPENING

The origin of this conventional method is unknown. It is, however, a feature of the Acol bidding system generally used in the United Kingdom as an opening bid to describe a certain holding containing one Losing Trick in both Minor suits. The following illustration clarifies this concept:

Example 1:

Opener
A
AQJ1086
AKQJ75
5 No Trump

The opener realizes that the holding contains only one Losing Trick and must discover whether the responder / partner may possibly possess the King of Diamonds for the grand slam.

In Example 1, if the partner, without holding the King, bids the small slam with 6, then the opener may / can correct to 6. If the partner, holding the King, bids the grand slam with 7, then the opener may / can correct to 7.

Example 2:

Opener
KQJ9876543
AKQ
5 No Trump

Again the opener has a holding which contains only one Losing Trick and must discover whether the responder / partner possesses the Ace of Diamonds.

Since the partner knows that the opener holds both Minor suits, then the partner will bid the small slam without an honor in either Minor suit and bid the grand slam with a honor in either Minor suit.

In Example 2, if the partner, holding the Ace, bids the grand slam with 7, then the opener will correct to 7.

This concept has been varied to include a two-suited holding with a Minor suit and a Major suit. The modification is that the opener bids 5 No Trump showing only one Losing Trick. The partner assumes that the opener holds both Minor suits and only one Losing Trick and bids at the seven level holding the necessary cards for both a Minor suit and a Major suit grand slam. If the responder, on the other hand, holds only a Minor suit honor, then the responder bids 6 or 6, which informs the opener to pass with a Major suit and continue to bid the grand slam with the Minor suit.
A second variation of this concept is that the opener can show any two-suited holding by opening with 5 No Trump. Promising a holding with only one Losing Trick, the responder can show the following with individual bids explained below. These are guidelines.
6 : Promises no Ace or King in Clubs.
6 : Promises an Ace or King in Clubs but not in Diamonds.
6 : Promises an Ace or King in each Minor suit.
7 : Promises an Ace or King in three suits.
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.
Claus and Raymond Conventions Bridge Sites
Home Page I Glossary Home Page II