Opening 2NT

A 2NT opening bid is similar to the 1NT opening, only much stronger you must have 20-22 HCP for this bid.

Overview

This opening bid shows a very strong balanced hand with a point count between 20-22 HCP, no worthless doubletons meaning an honor card of Q or higher and no 5 card majors.

This opening not forcing. The responder normally chooses the final contract immediately.

To open 2NT you should try to ensure that you can control all your suits by having an honor card in each.
Notrump openings show a balanced hand and can be made with a five-card major [glossary-ignore]suit[/glossary-ignore] or a five-card minor [glossary-ignore]suit[/glossary-ignore]. You should also have an honor card of Queen or higher in all of the suits and your hand should not contain a void, a singleton or a worthless doubleton.

Distribution of your hand can be in either of the two following patterns
5, 3, 3, 2 cards in each of the suits
or
4, 3, 3, 3 cards in each of the suit
If your cards are in either of these two patterns your hand is called "balanced" or "flat" and has a "flat" or "balanced" distribution.

Opening 2NT · 20-22 HCP · a balanced hand · No more than 1 doubleton (2 cards) · No worthless doubleton ( having no honour cards) · Your hand may contain a 5 card major suit · Your hand may contain a 5 card minor suit

Instant Progress Quiz - Check all correct answers

Question: What opening bid would you make with this hand? 2NT 2C 2H 1H

What would you open with this hand?

♠ A 9 4
♥ A Q J
♦ K Q J 10
♣ K 4 3

Answer: Open 2NT. Responder simply calculates the total point count and decides whether or not to bid game and also whether to play the hand in a suit contract or NoTrumps.

Practice This Lesson

Open 2NT in this game

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Extra for Experts

A different game on the same subject as this lesson, with questions for community discussion in the comments area below.

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