[shugart24]

In ACBL world, is there any rule that prohibits my NT range from being 13-15 if my shape is 5332 and the range is 10-13 if my shape is not 5332 ?

[Gerardo]

From ACBL Convention Charts, updated June 2025

----------
"7. "Range": "15-17" is a range of three points (15, 16, and 17). "10-12 or 15-17" is a range
of 8 points. (The difference between the extremes of 10 to 17 inclusive.) If a pair plays
one NT range when Vul. or in certain seats (e.g., 15-17) and another NT range when Not
Vul. or in other seats (e.g., 10-12), those are two distinct ranges of 3 points. It is only
when a bid could be either 10-12 or 15-17 at the time making the bid that the range
would be considered to be 8 points"

Basic, Allowed
4. A Natural NT opening bid, as long as it shows at least 10 HCP and the Range is not
greater than 5 HCP

Basic+, Allowed
4. A Natural NT opening bid, as long as it shows at least 10 HCP and the Range is not
greater than 5 HCP

Open, Disallowed
5. *** A Natural 1NT opening bid that has a Range greater than 5 HCP.

Open+, Disallowed
5. *** A Natural 1NT opening bid that has a Range greater than 5 HCP.
----------

As your proposed 1NT is effectively 10-15, a 6 point range, it is not allowed in any chart.

[mycroft]

...but "11-13, but could be 14 or 15 if 5332" would be fine (but you should explain it, probably even announce it, that way. If you Announce 11-15, if they ask, definitely tell them).

Just don't upgrade even the best 10.

[Shugart23]

Thanks , both of you

[shugart24]

mycroft, on 2026-January-16, 12:25, said:

...but "11-13, but could be 14 or 15 if 5332" would be fine (but you should explain it, probably even announce it, that way. If you Announce 11-15, if they ask, definitely tell them).

Just don't upgrade even the best 10.

So as long as one stays within the 5 HCP range, could one have variation based upon whether the hand being played is a) white vs white or b) white vs red or c) red vs white or d) red vs red ?

[barmar]

shugart24, on 2026-January-18, 08:40, said:

So as long as one stays within the 5 HCP range, could one have variation based upon whether the hand being played is a) white vs white or b) white vs red or c) red vs white or d) red vs red ?

Yes. Playing different ranges based on vulnerability is specifically mentioned in the section of the convention charts quoted above. It's actually pretty common.

[Shugart23]

Yes. I know you can do that by vulnerability. Eg if red. Or if white. We do that currrntly and even vary our range by seat. But I guess I am wondering if you could also have a different range , say, if both white vs us white and them red eg. Both white 10–12. Whilst us white them red—11-15

[mycroft]

Yes, as long as in no single seat/vulnerability combination, the total range of 1NT is more than 5 HCP (and minimum 10).

You can have 16 NT ranges if you want :-). I think I've seen 4 max.

[Shugart23]

How do you get 16 different permutation?

[Shugart23]

Never mind. You were t literally saying 16. I think there’s literally 125 allowable no trump ranges if my math is right

[Gerardo]

Shugart23, on 2026-January-18, 17:29, said:

Never mind. You were t literally saying 16. I think there's literally 125 allowable no trump ranges if my math is right

4 seats, 4 vulnerabilities (white/white, white/red, red/while, red/red).
You can have a different range for each combination.

[shugart24]

Gerardo, on 2026-January-18, 20:23, said:

4 seats, 4 vulnerabilities (white/white, white/red, red/while, red/red).
You can have a different range for each combination.

t

yes and you apparently can have a different range by shape of the hand within the combination, as long as you stay within the 5 point range..eg. one range for if you have a 5 card major and a different range if you dint




....when I said 125 different possible ranges , there's 10-10,10-11,10-12....10-14.....11-11, 11-12....11-15......20-24.......30-33.....and finally 37-37 all of which would be allowed, and almost all not practical

[jillybean]

Gerardo, on 2026-January-18, 20:23, said:

4 seats, 4 vulnerabilities (white/white, white/red, red/while, red/red).
You can have a different range for each combination.

And in ACBL land, no announcement of 1nt range is needed.

[pescetom]

 jillybean, on 2026-January-19, 10:15, said:

And in ACBL land, no announcement of 1nt range is needed.

I take your word for that.
If not, announcing one of sixteen (say) possible ranges might be considered legally troublesome, as you really should be communicating the sixteen way agreement and not your interpretation of it's consequences, both doing the opponents a favour and potentially waking partner up to a miscalculation. I guess it boils down to how complex the agreement is compared to the lucidity of the players.

[blackshoe]

Jilly, I'm afraid that turns out not to be the case, in spite of many people's belief otherwise. Clubs of course can do what they want, but IMO cancelling the requirement to announce NT range is unwise.

Under the Alert Procedure dated 16 June 2025 Announce

2. The HCP Range of any Natural 1NT Opening.

This does not require a pre-alert.