[oberiko]

Hello. Can any one explain the logic behind the conventional ranges of the following two bids (Acol system)?

• 1 NT overcall in protective seat: 11-14 HCP
  
• Takeout then rebid: 17+ HCP

It seems like it would line up better if the 1NT overcall were 13-15 (principle of borrowed king) and the double-rebid was 16+ (standard "strong" range).

[manudude03]

Regarding 1NT in balancing seat, partner could easily have a 13-14 count that just couldn't bid, and so you don't want to pass out 1S and be cold for 3NT. Bare in mind that a 11+13 3NT is likely to play well since you can place the points. I'm not 100% sure what you're asking on the second part, a balancing X then 1NT is usually 15-18. A X+suit is traditionally 17+ as a hand that can't risk being passed in their simple overcall.

Some do play slightly different ranges though, sometimes depending on what suit the opponent bid (theory being you don't want partner making a 2 level bid to your takeout double when you had a normal strong NT with the suit well stopped.

[Zelandakh]

Balanced ladders for competitive bidding:

(second seat)
11-14 = pass
15-18 = 1NT
19-21 = X then minNT
22+ = X then cue/jumpNT

(fourth seat)
11-14 = 1NT
15-18 = X then minNT
19-21 = 2NT
22+ = X then cue/jumpNT

Why the difference? Well if you have to pass balanced 14 counts in second seat, Responder needs to be able to do something other than pass onany hand that might still have game on. More than that, partner is marked with some values and the strong hand would be on lead so the risks usually attached with a 1NT overcall on minimal values are heavily reduced.

[Free]

It's because the expected values in partner's hand change, which makes 1NT on a 12 count much safer in 4th seat.

[yunling]

The range should differ in accordance with the opening bid. You can easily double then rebid 1NT after a 1C opening, but not over 1S. Rebidding 2NT showing 15-18 would be really awkward.

Lawrence suggested that
over 1m
1NT 11-14
X then NT 15-18
2NT 19-21

over 1M
1NT 12-16
X then NT 17-18
2NT 19-21

[ArtK78]

Pardon my possible hijack, but, with the assistance of a mentor, I play that 1NT in balancing seat is 11-16, which solves many problems.

Advancer can ask with 2♣ - Range Stayman. The responses to Range Stayman are normal with 11 to a bad 14 HCP. With a good 14 to 16 HCP, the 1NT bidder bids 2NT. Advancer can re-Stayman with 3♣.

Advancer can also transfer in response to the balancing 1NT. A transfer into their suit shows 4441 (short in their suit).

This is not a common treatment, but it has advantages over standard methods.

[Fluffy]

I learnt at first that a protective 1NT was 8-12, I wonder how I kept playing it for so many years

[Vampyr]

ArtK78, on 2013-August-24, 23:38, said:

Pardon my possible hijack, but, with the assistance of a mentor, I play that 1NT in balancing seat is 11-16, which solves many problems.

Advancer can ask with 2♣ - Range Stayman. The responses to Range Stayman are normal with 11 to a bad 14 HCP. With a good 14 to 16 HCP, the 1NT bidder bids 2NT. Advancer can re-Stayman with 3♣.

Advancer can also transfer in response to the balancing 1NT. A transfer into their suit shows 4441 (short in their suit).

This is not a common treatment, but it has advantages over standard methods.

I play the same, though just using 3-level rebids instead of 2NT always for the higher range. Perhaps the latter is better. Anyway, this treatment keeps it nice and simple instead of adjusting the ranges depending on the suit opened. Certainly the memory load is not worth it, considering the trash people respond with these days. Not to mention partner's rubbish overcalls

[gwnn]

edited out for copyright