This Real Deal was dealt by an Australian player. Larry wrote this article for "Better Bridge Magazine."

Vul:Both Dlr: N	QJ92 AQ985 96 K7
875 K104 AK752 85		K643 763 J3 Q1032
	A10 J2 Q1084 AJ964

EAST	SOUth	WESt	NORth
	1	Pass	1
Pass	1NT	Pass	2*
Pass	2NT	Pass	3NT
All Pass

*New Minor Forcing

The Opening Bid

South’s opening bid decision is difficult. While it is possible to pass, I prefer to open. I would pass a 12 HCP hand only if it were really ugly (like 4-3-3-3 distribution and no 10’s or 9’s). This hand contains a 5-card suit and some potentially useful 10’s and 9’s. But, what to open? 1 you say? That is what most players would do. But, that creates a potential rebid problem. If the response to 1 is 1-of-a-major (quite likely), what is opener to bid next? A 1NT rebid is correct on HCP, but wouldn’t normally include two doubletons. A 2 rebid violates “don’t repeat 5-card suits.” A 2 rebid is completely out of the question, because that is a reverse. Opening in one suit and then rebidding on a higher level in a higher-ranking suit promises at least 17 points.

One solution is to open the bidding 1. Yes—in the 4-card suit. Then, opener has an easy rebid of 2 (without having to “reverse”). But, he will have portrayed the minor-suit lengths in a backwards way. This route is one I might try with a good 4-card diamond suit and a so-so club suit. For example, I would open 1 with x Axx AQJx Qxxxx. I would be afraid that if I opened 1 and partner responded 1, that I would be stuck. Notice that a singleton spade (or heart) takes the 1NT rebid option out of the equation. Are you still with me? So, with that 1=3=4=5 hand, I’d open 1, planning to rebid 2 over the likely 1 response. But, of all the possible ways to bid the actual South hand in this Real Deal, my best plan is to open 1 and live with the potential rebid problem.

The Rest of the Bidding and “New Minor Forcing”

Indeed, North responds 1 and South’s best lie is to rebid 1NT to show 12-14 “balanced.” At least he has a good stopper in that unbid doubleton spade suit. South would show 4 spades over 1 (1-1-1), so his 1NT rebid tells North that there is no 4-4 spade fit. However, a 5-3 heart fit is still possible. How can North explore for this fit, while also making sure his side reaches the correct level? North can’t rebid 2, because that is a pure sign-off. If North rebids 3 it is invitational, and would typically show a decent 6+ card suit. So, neither of those bids is an option, nor is 4, which insists on hearts (yuk!). North does want to be in game. He has a decent 12-count with a 5-card suit, facing an opening bid. So, how can he tell partner: “I’d like to play in either 3NT or 4. If you have 3-card heart support, I want to play in the 8-card trump suit.”? He would need a convention.

It is called “New minor forcing.” It can also be called “Checkback Stayman” or “new minor checkback” or just “new minor.” It is used when opener has rebid 1NT. The responder now bids the new (hasn’t been bid yet) minor suit. This bid is alertable and artificial. In the auction shown, the “new” minor is diamonds, so North bids 2. This says: “Partner, tell me more. Specifically, do you have 3-card support for the major I bid?” To use “New minor forcing,” the responder needs to have at least game interest. Without game interest, he either passes 1NT or just “corrects” the contract to two-of-his major (willing to play a 5-2 fit instead of 1NT). If you want to play this convention, make sure to learn all the details (is it on in competition, by a passed hand, etc.).

After North checks back with 2, South would show 3-card heart support if he had it. He doesn’t, so he retreats to 2NT. North now knows there is no 8-card major-suit fit, so he places the contract in 3NT.

The Lead:

West has an easy lead. Against notrump, it is a tried and true practice to lead “4th from your longest and strongest.” Here, the 5 is the card to select. Against a suit contract, of course, West would lead a high diamond—not this underlead. If the goal were to take only two diamond tricks, it would be easy to cash the ace-king. But, the goal is “multiple” tricks. Taking the ace-king and then leading another is not as good a plan as leading the low one to maintain communication with partner’s hand.

The Play:

Declarer has hardly any top (sure) tricks. However, he has great potential for more in every suit. The diamond lead goes to East’s jack and declarer’s queen. It is convenient to now work on hearts by leading the jack for a finesse. If dummy’s hearts were AQ109x, this would be a very simple finesse against the king. Here, the 10 is also missing, so the suit is more complex. West does best to cover the honor with an honor (if he doesn’t cover, declarer’s jack wins and then a heart to the queen results in 5 easy heart tricks). After jack-king-ace of hearts, declarer should note that the H10 is the only relevant missing card. Laying down the queen next would work if the H10 is doubleton. But, finessing (by coming back to hand in a different suit) is a better percentage play. How should declarer come back to hand? He could play a spade to the 10 or play clubs (maybe the king and then a finesse to the jack). I like the spade play, because even if it loses, it sets up a total of 3 spade tricks. Furthermore, I’d like to leave the K in dummy as a later entry to the hearts. So, after winning the A, declarer plays a spade to his 10. When that finesse wins, he is in hand to try another heart finesse. That wins, too. This is a very friendly layout. Now, the Q drops the 10 and declarer has 5 heart tricks. Assuming declarer plays this way, he is up to 10 tricks (2 spades, 5 hearts, 1 diamond and 2 top clubs). At matchpoint scoring, he can then get greedy and also finesse in clubs. By that time it is risky; declarer will have thrown diamonds and if the club finesse loses, the defense could take the rest. Still, with 9 tricks in the bank, it feels like a reasonable risk. When the club finesse wins, declarer has 11 tricks for what should be a near top. In fact, if East discards even one club on the run of the hearts, declarer can emerge with all 13 tricks!

Lesson Points:

1) With 5 clubs, 4 diamonds and a minimum hand, be aware of the potential rebid problem.

2) If stuck, 1NT can be rebid with 2 doubletons, but should not be done with a singleton. Repeating a 5-card minor should be (but can’t always be) avoided.

3) After the opener rebids 1NT, the responder can use a new minor on the 2-level as a conventional way to try to uncover a 5-3 trump fit.

4) With Jx opposite AQ98x, the percentage play is to lead the jack. If it is covered, come back to hand and finesse again (against the 10).

For Larry's webinar on New Minor Checkback, click here.