NOTTINGHAM CLUB

These notes are to tempt anyone who would like to try playing Nottingham Club and to help others to defend against the system when they meet it at the table.

Introduction

The Nottingham Club has many of the advantages of the highly successful Italian systems (Roman, Neapolitan, etc.) but is more natural, with no complicated codified sequences to remember. It places emphasis on locating 4-4 major fits, either to play at a low level or on the way to game and slam. 

Opening Bids

All strong hands (16+) are opened with 1C.

A 1NT opening shows 14-16 pts and may be only semi-balanced (by partnership agreement).

Opening bids of 1H and 1S are natural, showing at least 4 of the suit, although the hand may contain a longer club suit, which will remain concealed – a rebid of 2C showing 5 of the opening suit and four clubs as in any natural system.

The 1D opener may be natural but also includes opening hands for which no other bid is available.

All opening 2-level bids are natural and weak (2NT shows both minors) – how weak is a matter for partnership agreement.

Development:

After a 1C opening, the negative response (0-9pts) is 1D, after which the bidding continues naturally, except that 2D from opener is artificial and game-forcing. Positive responses are natural and forcing to game, with bidding order determined by economy rather than length and 1NT showing a flat hand that may contain a 4-card major.

After a 1NT opening, Stayman and transfers can be used.

Over other 1-level openings:

 - with 4-card support, responder can raise, a single raise being stronger than a double raise.

• - responder bids a 4+-card suit at the one level with 6+ points, over which opener can rebid 1NT with 11-15pts;
• - with the values for game and no 4-card major, responder bids at the two level, which forces to game:
• - 2C may be artificial;
• - 2D, H are natural 5-card suits;
• - 2NT is used when responder anticipates a NT contract and wants to declare.

Consecutive Cue Bids

After suit agreement, a precise cue-bidding technique is used to explore slam potential.

In any situation where to raise partner’s suit would be forcing, then that bid and any higher bid is a consecutive cue bid.

Example:

1C - 1NT positive and flat

2D - 3D agrees diamonds and denies 1^st round heart control (it says nothing

• about D controls);

   control;

  3S agrees diamonds, shows 1^st round heart and spade controls.

This method always creates the space to show a missing control.  When a 1^st round control has been shown or denied, then the 2^nd round control becomes the focus.

The A of the trump suit is also shown but only when there is the opportunity below game level. (Do not show the A again in response to a 5NT grand slam force)

After the first cue bid, bids in NT are space bids, denying 1^st round club control and any controls that can be shown at a lower level, except when the agreed suit is a minor, when 3NT may suggest the final contract.

As soon as the limit of the hand is evident to either partner, then bid to that limit rather than make a further cue bid.

Consecutive cue bids were not a part of the original Nottingham Club.  They were invented by David Betts in about 1972 and are so simple and effective that they deserve to be employed more widely.

If you would like more detailed information, contact Peter Fountain or Chris Wiggins

[Home] [News] [Officials] [Results] [Trophy Winners] [Programme] [Contacts] [Links & Sudoku] [Systems and Conventions] [Nottingham Club] [Level 4 Conventions] [How to Find Us] [Wednesday Morning Social Bridge] [Club Constitution] [Thursday Spare] [County Inter-Club Teams] [Club AGM Minutes] [Winter League - NE Division]