New Minor Forcing (NMF), is a contract bridge bidding convention used to find a 5-3 or 4-4 major suit fit after a specific sequence of bids in which opener has rebid one notrump. The convention is triggered by responder at his second turn by an artificial bid of two in an unbid minor; it requires that he hold five cards in the major he has previously bid and an unlimited hand ranging in value from at least game invitational strength (11 or more points) to that sufficient to have interest in slam; he may also hold four cards in the other major. Accordingly, there are six bidding sequences in which the New Minor Forcing bid may be applied:
| width=50% | Responder | |
| 1 | 1 | |
| 1NT | 2! |
| width=50% | Responder | |
| 1 | 1 | |
| 1NT | 2! |
| width=50% | Responder | |
| 1 | 1 | |
| 1NT | 2! |
| width=50% | Responder | |
| 1 | 1 | |
| 1NT | 2! |
| width=50% | Responder | |
| 1 | 1 | |
| 1NT | 2! |
| width=50% | Responder | |
| 1 | 1 | |
| 1NT | 2! |
In sequences 5 and 6, the NMF bid is made in the stronger minor suit. A jump by responder in an unbid minor after a 1NT rebid by opener is weak and to play.
The bid of the new minor must be by opener.
Methods differ on the priority and meaning of opener's response to the NMF asking bid.
According to Seagram and Smith,[1] the priority for responses by opener are:
Others suggest that the first priority is to show three-card support for responder's major. Partnership agreement on this and other continuations is required.
Typical hands suitable for use of the New Minor Forcing convention include the following:
Given the auction:1 - 1; 1NT - 2 (NMF)
Given the auction:1 - 1; 1NT - 2 (NMF)
When playing this convention, jump rebids by responder are typically played as invitational, as NMF can be used with hands wishing to force to game. For example, on the auction above, a 3 bid would be used with a hand such as, to show an interest in game, but only in hearts.
If you're playing New Minor Forcing, the auction:1 - 1; 1NT - 3 shows a 5 card heart suit and at least 5 spades with a game-going hand. Without New Minor Forcing you may bid 3 on something like
Also the auction:1 - 1; 1NT - 2 can show a hand with 5 spades and 4 or 5 hearts with no interest in game
Opener's rebid shows both shape and strength. Although there is variation among partnerships regarding the priority of suits to show, a common agreement is that first priority is to show secondary support for responder's suit, then four cards in the other major, then additional length in a minor, with a jump to show a maximum.
Given the auction:
1 - 1; 1NT - 2 (NMF)
Opener's third bids and their meanings would be:
Bids at the three level show similar hands, but with a maximum. The meanings of the strength ranges are dependent on a partnership's opening-bid style, as well as its notrump range. Assuming a Standard American 15-17 1NT, a minimum would typically be 12-13 HCP and a maximum would be 14 HCP or some very good 13 HCP hands.
A similar scheme can be applied after opener's 2NT rebid, which typically shows 18-19 HCP: bid of a new minor is forcing by responder (although lesser values are required), and the opener shows the distribution in the same manner. The opener should not jump-rebid at the four level in this case, so as to not skip 3NT (responder's NMF doesn't generally guarantee 5-card major or 4–4 in majors).