New Minor Forcing

NEW MINOR FORCING

This concept is a version of the Delayed Stayman or Checkback conventional method and was originated by Mr. Max Hardy, who lived in Camarillo, California, at that time. Some partnerships refer to this method as PLOB, which is an acronym for Petty Little Odious Bid, of which a second version designated as Extended PLOB employs some similar developments with the stipulation that the method be only then employed when the responder has either game values or at least game invitational values.

In some bidding auctions, the opener will often rebid 1 No Trump to indicate a range between 12-15 high card points and that both partners have still not found a fit in any suit. A range of 12-15 high card points indicates that the partnership generally opens a strong 1 No Trump of 16-18 high card points. If the partnership employs a No Trump range of 15-17 high card points for a No Trump opening, then the range of the rebid of 1 No Trump would show 12-14 high card points.

The responder, therefore, finds it useful to have a low-level forcing bid available, in order to inquire about opener's support for responder's suit, or to make responder's description of his own hand more accurate.

According to the partnership agreement, some bridge players will use a 2 Clubs rebid by the responder as the only forcing bid after a 1 No Trump rebid by the opener. And other bridge players will use a 2 Clubs rebid by the responder as the Stayman convention after a 1 No Trump rebid by the opener.

A third method of treating this situation, which is becoming popular, is the use of the unbid Minor Suit as a forcing bid by the responder. The general consensus is that this conventional method should only then be employed if the responder has at least 10 high card points or more. With fewer high card points the responder should pass the 1 No Trump rebid or, with support, raise the first suit of the opener. The values should be at least strong enough to bid on the two level or game values. Therefore this conventional method should only be then employed when the responder has game invitational values or game values.

Assume the following auction:

North

South

1

1

1 NT

2

The rebid by the responder of 2 Diamonds is artificial and forcing. The continuance by North, the opener, depends greatly on the partnership agreement.

One possible partnership agreement following an opening of 1 Club is:

2 :
Shows a minimum hand with three Hearts.

2 :
Shows a minimum hand with fewer than three hearts, or natural if the 1 NT rebid may have concealed a 4-card Spade suit.

2 NT:
Shows a maximum hand, but fewer than three Hearts.

3 :
This is a natural bid, showing a 5-card suit.

3 :
Shows a maximum hand, less than three Hearts, no Diamond stopper.

3 :
Shows a maximum hand with three Hearts.

A second possible partnership agreement, following the bid of 1 Spade by the responder, is, as in the following example:

North

South

1

1

1 NT

2

2 :
This is a natural bid, showing a 5-card suit.

2 :
This is a natural bid, showing a 4-card suit.

2 :
Shows a minimum hand with three Spades, but does not deny a 4-card Heart suit.

3 :
Shows a maximum, less than three Spade, no Club stopper.

3 :
Shows a maximum hand with three Spades.

We would also like to present another variation of New Minor Forcing which is used by many bridge players in their partnership agreements.

Simplified New Minor Forcing

Although this conventional method should be used when the responded holds at least 10 plus high card points, it can also be employed to describe a weak two-suited holding with 9 or fewer high card points, generally a 4-card Major suit and a 6-card Minor suit. When possible, the responder bids the Major suit first, the opener rebids 1 No Trump, and then the responder jumps one level in the unbid Minor suit to show the 6-card Minor suit, as in the following illustration:

North

South

1 NT

	AJ86
	8
	75
	K109854

North

South

1 NT

	AJ86
	8
	K109854
	75

In almost every auction of this type, the opener will pass unless the opener has a maximum holding, stoppers in all the other three suits and a good 3-card Club or Diamond suit for entries. In this case the opener will perhaps gamble on a 3 No Trump contract. For example:

North

South

1 NT

3 NT

	94
	A95
	AQ7
	A10965

	AJ86
	8
	K109854
	75

The New Minor Forcing conventional method can be employed by the partnership according to the partnership understanding, which can be altered or modified according to the needs of the partnership. The most important feature of the concept is for the opener to additionally describe his holding although he has semi-limited his holding with the rebid within a certain range. It becomes the goal of the opener, since he is forced to additionally describe his shape, distribution and point values, to make the best possible and descriptive rebid. Once this is achieved the responder has the additional information necessary to define and set the final contract. The consensus is that this forced rebid by opener be listed in priorities, which follow:

1. Bid the unbid Major suit, which promises a 4-card length.

2. Rebid two of the Major suit of the responder, which shows at least a 3-card support and minimum values.

3. Rebid three of the Major suit of the responder, which shows a least a 3-card support and maximum values.

4. Rebid 2 No Trump showing a stopper in the unbid suit and minimum values.

5. Rebid 3 No Trump showing a stopper in the unbid suit and maximum values.

6. Rebid of the original Major suit or raise the Minor suit of the responder, which is a natural bid and which denies the possibility of making any other rebid.

In conclusion, many bridge players use the bid of the other Minor suit on invitational hands, and other bridge players use the bid of the other Minor suit as game-forcing. However you wish to employ this treatment, be certain that it is part of the partnership agreement.

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.


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2 :	Shows a minimum hand with three Hearts.
2 :	Shows a minimum hand with fewer than three hearts, or natural if the 1 NT rebid may have concealed a 4-card Spade suit.
2 NT:	Shows a maximum hand, but fewer than three Hearts.
3 :	This is a natural bid, showing a 5-card suit.
3 :	Shows a maximum hand, less than three Hearts, no Diamond stopper.
3 :	Shows a maximum hand with three Hearts.

1.	Bid the unbid Major suit, which promises a 4-card length.
2.	Rebid two of the Major suit of the responder, which shows at least a 3-card support and minimum values.
3.	Rebid three of the Major suit of the responder, which shows a least a 3-card support and maximum values.
4.	Rebid 2 No Trump showing a stopper in the unbid suit and minimum values.
5.	Rebid 3 No Trump showing a stopper in the unbid suit and maximum values.
6.	Rebid of the original Major suit or raise the Minor suit of the responder, which is a natural bid and which denies the possibility of making any other rebid.