New Minor Forcing


This convention assumes OPENER opens 1/1/1, RESPONDER responds 1 of a major, and OPENER rebids 1NT to show a balanced hand with 12 to 14 HCP.

OPENER's 1N rebid denied 4 card support for RESPONDER's suit,
but may include 3 card support or 4 of the other major*.

 RESPONDER rebids the New Minor (other minor) (FORCING and ARTIFICIAL) to ask about the MAJORS (&).
Opener LHO Responder RHO
1 Pass 1 Pass
1NT Pass 2?  

    

 


or

Opener LHO Responder RHO
1 Pass 1 Pass
1NT Pass 2?  

    

 


What kind of hand would RESPONDER have for New Minor Forcing?
RESPONDER should be looking for an 8 card major fit and have:
a) 5 of the first suit (spades in the examples above) or
b) 4 of the unbid major (hearts in the examples above) or
c) both (4 hearts and 5 spades in the examples above)

Responder must have at least an invitational hand (10+ points) to use New Minor Forcing.

Examples:
RESPONDER responds 1 and may rebid the New Minor, with:
AQ3 JT765T43 A2 : looking for 3 card heart support from OPENER

RESPONDER responds 1 and rebids the New Minor, with:
AQT85 JT5 T43 A2 : looking for 3 card spade support from OPENER
AQT85 JT54 T2 A2 : looking for either  3 card spade support or  4 card heart support from OPENER

OPENER shows support by bidding the supporting suit.
After a 1 opening and a 1 response:

Opener LHO Responder RHO
1 Pass 1 Pass
1NT Pass 2! Pass

2 shows 4 hearts
AK K654 K43 J874

2 shows 3 spades
AK3 K32 K43 J654

2N denies 4 hearts & denies 3 spades, minimum
AJ K43 K43 J8765

3N denies 4 hearts & denies 3 spades, maximum
AK K43 K43 J8765

     


 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Responder, with an invitational hand, would:
-pass 2N
-with a fit, raise 2 of a major to 3 of a major
-with no fit, bid 2N if not already there

After a 1 opening and a 1 response:

Opener LHO Responder RHO
1 Pass 1 Pass
1NT Pass 2! Pass

2 denies 4 hearts & denies 3 spades, minimum

2 shows 4 hearts (perhaps also 3 spades)
AK K654 K43 J874

2 shows 3 spades
AK3 K32 K43 J654

     

 

 

 

 

 

 


After a 1 opening and a 1 response:

Opener LHO Responder RHO
1 Pass 1 Pass
1NT Pass 2! Pass

2 shows 3 hearts (perhaps also 3 spades)
AK K654 K43 J874

2 perhaps denies a spade stopper

2N denies 3 hearts, minimum
AJ3 K2 K43 J8765

3N denies 3 hearts, maximum
AK3 K2 K43 J8765

     


 

 

 

 

 

 


Responder, with an invitational hand, would:
-pass 2N
-with a fit, raise 2 of a major to 3 of a major
-with no fit, bid 2N if possible

After a 1 opening and a 1 response:

Opener LHO Responder RHO
1 Pass 1 Pass
1NT Pass 2! Pass

2 denies 3 hearts

2 shows 3 hearts
AK K654 K43 J874

      

 

 

 

 

 

Optional:
NMF is usually forcing to 2N or 3 of a minor.
You may decide on an exceptional sequence after a 1 opening, 1 response, for weak 5-5 in the majors:

Opener LHO Responder RHO
1 Pass 1 Pass
1NT Pass 2 Pass

2 denies 4hearts & denies 3 spades
K3 AK2 K43 J8765

Pass 2, to play, 5 hearts

 

 

 

 

*Some partnerships may choose to bypass a 4 card spade suit to bid 1N with a balanced hand.
In such cases, NMF, after RESPONDERS 1 bid, also asks about the possibly bypassed 4 card major:
Opener LHO Responder RHO
1 Pass 1 Pass
1NT*