When Does Bidding Notrump Promise a Balanced Hand?

The article on this topic is here.

  • Which (there is only one) auction below by South guarantees a balanced hand (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2):

    A)

    WestNorthEastSouth
     Pass  1♠ Pass 1NT

    B)

    WestNorthEastSouth
     Pass 1♠ Pass 1NT

    C)

    WestNorthEastSouth
     Pass 2♠ Pass 3NT

    D)

    WestNorthEastSouth
     Pass 1♠  Pass  3NT
    Choose One:
    1. -

    A

    2. -

    B

    3. -

    C

    4. -

    D

    Answer: 4

    D) None of the first 3 auctions guarantee a balanced hand.

    Your result so far:
    Next
  • Which (there is only one) auction below by South guarantees a balanced hand (4-3-3-3, 4-4-3-2 or 5-3-3-2):

    A)

    WestNorthEastSouth
     1♠  3♠ Pass 3NT

    B)

    WestNorthEastSouth
     3♠ 3♠ Pass 3NT

    C)

    WestNorthEastSouth
     Pass 3♠ Pass 3NT

    D)

    WestNorthEastSouth
     Pass 1♠  Pass  3NT
    Choose One:
    1. -

    A

    2. -

    B

    3. -

    C

    4. -

    D

    Answer: 4

    D) -- A raise to 3NT (assuming it isn't conventional) shows a balanced hand (no singletons or voids).
    In A), the 3NT bidder could have, say:

    ♠ KQ108  
    ♥ KJ1087  
    ♦ Q  
    ♣ AQ2.
     


    In B), the 3NT bidder could have, say:

    ♠ 3  
    ♥ KQ10  
    ♦ KQJ107  
    ♣ J1096.
     


    In C), the 3NT bidder could have, say:

    ♠ K2  
    ♥ --  
    ♦ AKQJ10876  
    ♣ QJ3.
     

    Your result so far:
    Next
  • With which hand (only 1) should South bid 2NT in this auction:

    WestNorthEastSouth
         1♠ Pass
     1♠ 2♠ Pass 2NT

    1)

    ♠ J1093  
    ♥ KQ54  
    ♦ A  
    ♣ 7642?
     

    2)

    ♠ K1076  
    ♥ Q653  
    ♦ J1096  
    ♣ 2?
     

    3)

    ♠ KQ7  
    ♥ Q1076  
    ♦ KJ2  
    ♣ 1093?
     

    4)

    ♠ J10982  
    ♥ K876  
    ♦ K42  
    ♣ 2?
     

    Choose One:
    1. -

    Hand 1

    2. -

    Hand 2

    3. -

    Hand 3

    4. -

    Hand 4

    Answer: 3

    #3 is a perfect 2NT bid.

    #1 is better suited for a raise (via a 2♠ or 2♠ cuebid)
    #2 and #4 are not strong enough.

    Your result so far:
    Next
  • Identify the one (only one) auction below where South could easily be unbalanced (no jokes, please):

    1)

    WestNorthEastSouth
           2NT

    2)

    WestNorthEastSouth
       1♠ Pass  3NT

    3)

    WestNorthEastSouth
       2♠  Pass  3NT

    4)

    WestNorthEastSouth
     1♠  Double  Pass  1NT
    Choose One:
    1. -

    Hand 1

    2. -

    Hand 2

    3. -

    Hand 3

    4. -

    Hand 4

    Answer: 3

    On Hands 1,2 and 4, South should be balanced.

    On Hand 3, South could easily have something like:

    ♠ 2
    ♥ KQJ  
    ♦ KQJ1098  
    ♣ AK10.
     

    Your result so far:
    Next
  • On this auction:

    WestNorthEastSouth
       1♠  1♠ ?

    With which hand below (only 1) should you, South, bid 3NT?

    1)

    ♠ KJ98  
    ♥ A32  
    ♦ QJ87  
    ♣ K2?
     

    2)

    ♠ KJ  
    ♥ KJ93  
    ♦ AJ107  
    ♣ J32?
     

    3)

    ♠ QJ6  
    ♥ QJ6  
    ♦ QJ76  
    ♣ Q54?
     

    4)

    ♠ A  
    ♥ K32  
    ♦ KQ108765  
    ♣ Q43?
     

    Choose One:
    1. -

    Hand 1

    2. -

    Hand 2

    3. -

    Hand 3

    4. -

    Hand 4

    Answer: 2

    With #1, A negative double is better.
    With #3, South isn't strong enough for 3NT
    With #4, South is unbalanced and should bid 2♠

    Your result so far:
    Next
  • With which hand below should you, South, bid 2NT. 

     

    None vulnerable. The auction starts: 

    WestNorthEastSouth
       1♠  2♠  ?

    1) ♠ KQ1093  
    ♥ 4  
    ♦ AJ5  
    ♣ KJ32
     

    2) ♠ Q105  
    ♥ 54  
    ♦ KQ1092  
    ♣ KJ10

     

    3)

    ♠ 98  
    ♥ A76  
    ♦ Q9852  
    ♣ AJ10
     

    4)

    ♠ A73  
    ♥ 4  
    ♦ 10876  
    ♣ KQ1087
     


     

    Choose One:
    1. -

    Hand 1

    2. -

    Hand 2

    3. -

    Hand 3

    4. -

    Hand 4

    Answer: 2

    2. 2NT on this auction shows 11-12 with a club stopper. Only hand 2 fits that description. With 1, you should bid 2♠. With hand 3, you should make a cuebid raise of hearts by bidding 3♠. On hand 4, you should pass, hoping partner balances with a takeout double. This is sometimes called a penalty pass or trap pass. 

    Your result so far:
    Next