This is the crown jewel of the system. 2/1 (read Two-over-One) refers to responder’s first bid of a new suit on the two-level.
In Standard American it shows 11+ points (or a good 10). Now, most of the bridge world plays it as a game-forcing bid, at least 13+ points (or a good 12).
The advantage is simple: by telling the opener immediately that the hand is good enough for game, the partnership has plenty of room to explore the best contract without jumping needlessly.
Note: Game level is defined as 3 NT or 4 of a suit. If your trump suit is a minor, you are not forced all the way to 5♣ or 5♦. Even if you've made a 2-over-1 response, your auction can end at 4♣ or 4♦ if that's your agreed suit.
All 2/1 responses are forcing to game:
(See definition of "game" above)
1. 2. 3.
West East West East West East
1♦ 2♣ 1♥ 2♦ 1♠ 2♥
Forcing to game Forcing to game Forcing to game
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
East:
♠ 7 4 West East
♥ 8 1♥ 2♦
♦ A K Q J 6 4 3 2 NT 3♦*
♣ A 7 6
* Shows a 6+ card suit.
Without the game-forcing 2♦ bid, East would have a difficult problem describing his hand without excessive jumping.
As discussed in the prior blog on Major Raises, we use the 2/1 Game Force to distinguish between 3-card and 4+ card support:
North:
♠ A 4 South North
♥ K Q 5 1♥ 2♣
♦ Q J 8 7 2 NT 3♥
♣ Q 9 8 7
North’s "raise" shows exactly 3-card support with 13 to 16 points. Of course South must go to game, but perhaps 3 NT would be better.
For South to consider a slam, he would need something extra: either a solid 33 points in the partnership (not a wishy-washy 31) or a good distributional hand.
All 2/1 responses show 4+ card suits except for a response of 2♥ which shows 5+ hearts:
North South
1♠ ?
South 1. South 2.
♠ K 4 ♠ 4
♥ A 9 7 6 3 ♥ A Q 7 6
♦ A Q 7 3 ♦ K 9 3 2
♣ 8 6 ♣ K Q 4 3
South 1: Bid 2♥. You have just promised 5+ hearts and 13+ points.
South 2: Bid 2♣. You have just promised 4+ clubs and 13+ points.
Note: With 4+ spades, responder should first bid 1♠ after a 1♥ opener unless he has a longer minor suit.
