Raptor 1NT

Raptor is an artificial 1NT overcall that shows a two-suited hand. It tends to be preemptive, unlike a traditional strong 1NT overcall.

Over 1 / 1, 1NT shows 5-6 cards in the unbid minor and exactly 4 cards in an unspecified major.

Over 1 / 1, 1NT shows exactly 4 cards in the unbid major and 5-6 cards in an unspecified minor.

The 1NT range is 10-15 HCP. Stronger hands can overcall directly (and reverse, if necessary) or make a takeout_double.

J KQJ5 AT983 532

RHO     1 You     1NT 1 (1) Raptor, showing 5-6 diamonds and a 4-card major.

AJ32 - KT73 AT983

RHO     1 You     1NT 1 (1) Raptor, showing 5-6 clubs and a 4-card major.

AJ43 76 AT953 A5

RHO     1 You     1NT 1 (1) Raptor, showing 4 spades and a 5-6 card minor.

Q32 KQJ5 9 AT983

RHO     1 You     1NT 1 (1) Raptor, showing 4 hearts and a 5-6 card minor.

Response	Meaning
2	Asks for partner's major suit. Partner can bid his major suit to show 4-5 shape, or he can bid 2 to show a 4-6 hand.
2	Signoff in diamonds, nonforcing.
2	Natural, 5+ hearts, nonforcing.
2	Natural, 5+ spades, nonforcing.
2NT	Artificial, asking for partner's major suit. This shows 12+ points and a good hand.

Same as above, except that 2 is the signoff, and 2 asks for partner's major suit.

Response	Meaning
2	Asks partner to pass with clubs, or correct to 2. It shows (near) equal length in the minors, and no interest in spades.
2	Natural, 5+ diamonds, nonforcing.
2	A limit raise or better in spades. 10+ points and 4+ spades. Forcing.
2	Signoff.
2NT	Artificial, asking for partner's minor suit. This shows 12+ points and a good hand.

Same as above, except that 2 is the signoff, and 2 is the limit raise or better in hearts.

A defense to Raptor can be modeled after a defense to Michaels. So after 1-suit - (1NT), Double is penalty-oriented, while a cuebid of the opponents' "known" suit (i.e. anchor suit) is a limit raise or better.

As an example auction:

West     1

North     1NT 1

East     ?

South

(1) Raptor, showing 4 spades and a 5-6 card minor

East has a few conventional responses available:

Bid	Meaning
Double	Penalty oriented.
2	Limit raise or better in hearts, typically 3-4 card support and 10+ points.
3	Constructive heart raise, typically 3-4 card support and 7-10 points.

• Raptor is useful when holding a 4-5 hand with enough values to bid, but the wrong shape for a takeout double. Another subtlety is that a 2 or 2 overcall usually denies a 4-card major, because overcaller failed to use Raptor.

• The drawback to Raptor is that it gives up the strong 15-18 1NT overcall. With this hand you must start with a takeout double and plan to rebid 1NT. This in turn means you can no longer make a takeout double and then rebid 1NT to show 18-20 points... but this hand is rare.

• Raptor is only used as a direct overcall. It is off in balancing position.