Download 1NT opening with a five-card major by Sally Brock

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1NT opening with a five-card major
by Sally Brock
Question
I have seen Andrew Robson recommending opening 1NT with a 5-3-3-2 distribution
even when the five-card suit is a strong major.
We've got into real difficulties with this, often ending in a 3NT contract when
everyone else ends up correctly in four-of-a-major. Please could you elaborate?
Answer
This is a difficult area of the game. Most people the world over play that a 1NT rebid
shows the opposite range to an opening 1NT, so if you have a 5-3-3-2 distribution and
a hand in the range for your opening 1NT, you cannot open one-of-a-suit and rebid in
no-trumps: you have to find an alternative action.
Personally, I agree with Andrew Robson: I like to open 1NT even when I hold a fivecard major. However, I like to play Five-Card Stayman in preference to ordinary
Stayman, so I can find out about 5-3 major-suit fits.
If you play a weak no-trump, your alternative, with a 5-3-3-2 distribution, is to open
in your five-card suit and rebid it on the next round. This risks partner leaving you in
a 5-1 (or worse.) fit. If you play a strong no-trump, your rebid problems are even
worse: you will have to invent a three-card minor at your second turn to bid.
To my way of thinking, opening 1NT in the first place is by far the better option particularly if you then play five-card Stayman. You may lose out sometimes to those
playing in four-of-a major, but you would be surprised at how often it is better to play
the 5-3 fit in no-trumps, and then you will gain over the rest of the field.