How wide a range is a "strong" NT bid allowed to be?

Question

In a "strong two" sequence of 2 clubs, pass, 2 diamonds, pass, I rebid 2NT, I'm saying that I can make 3NT with just a little help from partner. I would do this with a balanced distribution and 22 or more high card points. Responder is expected to raise to 3NT with 4 hcps or more.

In a "strong two" sequence of 2 clubs, pass, 2 diamonds, pass, I rebid 3NT, I'm saying that I can make 3NT with no or minimal help from partner (maybe a stray "ten" or sufficient length in my key suit to help me drop opposing honors).

(I reserve a direct 3NT for the "gambling" bid (with a long, strong, minor suit), so with a point count in the high 20s, I first bid two clubs, followed by 3NT.)

I have a vague recollection that a NT bid cannot have a range greater than five points. If that were the case, I could follow 2 clubs with 2NT for 22-26 points, but would need to bid 3NT with 27 in this style.

Is this rule generally true? And if so, does it apply in the case of a "strong two" sequence, rather than a "standalone" bid? The reason I'm concerned is that if dummy has "nothing," my 25-26, and even 27 high card points probably won't make 3NT, because I lack "transportation" to dummy.

This might be true even though the same point count could make 3NT if dummy had as many as 8-9 points of the combined points of the two hands. Left to my own devices, I would require 28, not 27 points for a "solo" 3NT bid. Or is this concern less valid than not if you have 27 hcps and a balanced hand?

Answer 1

At least on the ACBL Open+ chart, the 5 point range only applies to 1NT openings. Your convention is permitted any range.

This is not to say the ranges you describe make sense, just that you’re welcome to use any of them.

Answer 2

Tables of data:

http://www.rpbridge.net/8j25.htm

With 25 opposite 1 and both hands balanced, you make 3N about 45% of the time. With 26 opposite 1, you make 3N about 65% of the time. This is double dummy. Opponents are actually quite likely to give you a trick on the opening lead, so your actual odds are better. In addition, when you have 25, partner is actually very likely to have at least 2. (On average they have 5!) I don't think it's really worth worrying about.

Here's the problem when rebidding 2N with 25. Partner presumably has to pass with 2 points, since you might have only 22. But, in fact, when you have 25, partner is more likely to have exactly 2 than to have 0 or 1. So, when you have 25, rebidding 2N actually loses more often than it wins. It's even worse vulnerable at rubber/IMPs, when it pays to bid games that have about a 40% chance of making (and that's assuming opponents double when you go down, which they probably don't here), and so 25 opposite 1 is a good game to bid.

A fair number of advanced-to-expert players play Kokish after 2C, for which the sequence 2C-2D-2H shows either a 24+ balanced hand or hearts. Responder is essentially forced to bid 2S (with 0-1 points and one or both minors, responder bids 2N with both minors or 3C/3D with that minor), after which opener clarifies.

Also, many players play that a 2D response to 2C shows some values (exact details vary) and one responds 2H with nothing. (This could be in addition to Kokish.) That can also help, but it does have downsides. (In contrast, if you also play Grue switches for the unbalanced hand, Kokish is essentially free except for the memory load.)

Answer 3

An opening 2NT bid usually shows 20-22 points. So normal practice after a Two Club opening is to rebid 2NT with 23-24 points, and 3NT with 25+ points.