have no sensible meaning. In these situations the raise of partner's minor is a slightly weaker hand, and the 2 bid is a 'power' raise to opener's minor, usually based on five or more of partners minor and invitational values. Semi-forcing notrump As a variation, some partnerships choose to play their 1NT response as semi-forcing. The rebids and subsequent auctions are the same as with the forcing notrump, except that the opener is allowed to pass with a 5-3-3-2 minimum and no interest in game opposite a limit raise (including three-card support for opener's major). This changes follow-up auctions in that opener is assumed to either have four or more cards in any new suit bid, or some extra values when holding only three cards in a newly bid minor. Forcing next step With this approach, the next step bid over the major open is forcing and unspecified. "Forcing next step," also known as the "Kaplan Inversion", is a mid-chart convention in the ACBL. 1 - 1NT is forcing, unspecified 1 - 1 is forcing, with responder having 0-4 spades 1 - 1NT is forcing with responder showing 5+ spades. One immediate benefit of this is that the correct major fit can be found. In standard forcing notrump, responder with five spades bids 1 over opener's 1 but if she also has 2 hearts she does not then know whether to rebid 2 or 2. In forcing next step, opener will raise 1 - 1NT to 2 if she has support, so if she makes another bid, responder can happily give preference to 2. The forcing next step approach has the further benefit over the classic forcing notrump of allowing an opener with a balanced hand to define his point count range more tightly. Here is a simple approach. Assuming the use of strong 1NT openings, the sequence 1 - 1 - 1NT would show a balanced 12-14 HCP with five hearts and 1 - 1 - 2NT would show 18-19 HCP with five hearts. Here is a more complex approach: Over a sequence of 1 - 1NT, opener rebids: 2 = 12-16, four clubs, or balanced. (2 from responder finds out which, as well as the strength range.) 2/ = 12-16, four-card suit 2 = 12-16, six-card or longer suit 2NT = 17-18 balanced 3 any = 17+ natural If responder wishes to know further about the 2 bid,