Weekly Hand Analysis - Vic Johnson - September 20, 2021 - New Minor Forcing - not this hand!

Question:  

Would this be a good hand for the new minor forcing convention?

[Editor's Note:  New Minor Forcing is a convention used after responder bids 1/ and hears a 1NT rebid by opener. A 2 or 2 bid is artificial, showing at least game-invitational values and usually a 5-card major. So this hand does not meet those requirements.]

Vic:

No it would not. A thoughtful study of how the New Minor Forcing Convention works should lead to the conclusion that NMF is not applicable to the hands in this auction. 

It looks to me as if EW can take 9 tricks (game) in NT, but ONLY if Declarer plays the diamond suit incorrectly (that is, they play for the diamond Queen to drop, rather than finessing). If Declarer plays the diamond suit correctly, it looks to me like they only deserve 8 tricks. So unless I am missing something, a part score NT contract is right where EW belong.   

Holding 11 HCPs plus two Quick Tricks, West could opt to invite game by bidding 2NT instead of 1NT. With 8 losers, however, I would expect East to Pass 2NT. If I was Declarer playing below level of game, I would much rather be in 1NT than 2NT. 

This is a board where poor Declarer play might earn you a top board. Who said bridge was fair?