2/1 Game Force: Responder's Second Bid – Part 6

If Opener rebid a new suit:

After a 2/1 response, opener can bid a new 4+ card suit (not 3 cards) on the 2-level, so responder should raise the new suit with 4-card support. With less support, try NT, or rebid a 6+ card suit, or bid the fourth suit (artificial – called "Fourth Suit Forcing") to get more information from opener.

2/1 Game Force: Responder's Second Bid – Part 5

Responder’s Second Bid After a 2/1 

Your partner opened the bidding and you gave him a game-forcing 2/1 response. Now it is your second bid and you are responsible for placing the final contract. You have all the information (two bids from opener), so you decide.

If you have 3-card support for opener's major, now is the time to show it.

North:

♠ A 3                          South            North

♥ K J 4                       1♥                 2♦

♦ K Q 9 8 6                2 NT             3♥

♣ 9 7 6  

2/1 Game Force: Opener's Second Bid – Part 4

Opener rebids his 6+ card suit:

South:

♠ A K 10 9 8 7              South            North

♥ 8 5                             1♠                 2♣

♦ A Q 7                         2♠

♣ 5 2  

South’s 2♠ bid after the 2/1 response shows a 6+ card suit.

However, if opener jumps in his original suit, it shows a solid 6+ card suit.

2/1 Game Force: Opener's Second Bid – Part 3

Opener’s Second Bid After a 2/1 

You have opened the bidding and your beautiful partner bid a new suit on the two-level. This 2/1 response is forcing to game. Opener describes the shape of his hand. Extra strength can be shown later. Your options are as follows:

2/1 Game Force: The Exceptions – Part 2

The Exceptions

If responder is a passed hand, the game force is off:

South:
♠ A J 4                     South            West            North            East
♥ 9 8                        Pass               Pass            1♥                  Pass
♦ K Q J 7 6              2♦
♣ 9 8 7

South’s 2♦ bid is not a game-forcing bid. It shows 11-12 points. 

2-Over-1: Major Suit Raises – Part Four

With 13-16 Points and 4-Card Support

Many advocates of the 2/1 system use the "Jacoby 2 NT Forcing Raise" and "Splinter Raises". 

Jacoby 2 NT Forcing Raise:
• 4+ card support
• 13+ support points
• no void, no singleton

2-Over-1: Major Suit Raises – Part Three

With 13 to 16 points and 3-card support, first bid 2 in a new suit, then support opener’s major:

North:
♠ Q J 8                  South       North
♥ A 3                    1♠             2♦
♦ K Q 5 3 2           2 NT        3♠
♣ J 7 6 

2-Over-1: Major Suit Raises – Part Two

Responder Has 3- or 4-Card Support

With 11-12 points and 3-card support, first bid 1 NT then jump in opener’s major:

North:
♠ A 6 4              South         North
♥ K 8                1♠               1 NT
♦ 8 4 3 2            2♦               3♠
♣ K J 7 6

2-Over-1: Major Suit Raises – Part One

Responder Has 3- or 4-Card Support

If you use 1 NT Forcing, you now have a superb method of pinpointing your major suit support for opener. 
With weak responses you can show raises that are "very weak" (5 to 7 points) or "constructive" (8 to 10 points). With 11+ points, you can pinpoint 3-card or 4-card support.

These goodies are available to responder by bidding according to these guides:

With 5 to 7 points, first bid 1 NT then bid two in opener’s major:

North:
♠ A J 9               South        North
♥ 8 7 3               1♥             1 NT
♦ 9 8 6 5 4          2♣            2♥
♣ 8 5  

North’s "raise" shows either 3-card support with a dreadful point count — 
5 to 7 — or just 2-card support with 6 to 10 points. It doesn’t matter which it is, it is bad news either way:

North:
♠ 8 5                  South        North
♥ 6 2                  1♠             1 NT
♦ K J 8 7 6         2♥             2♠
♣ K 4 3 2

With 8 to 10 points and 3+ card support, raise opener’s major immediately:
(This is a "Constructive Raise")

North:
♠ 9 7 6                South       North
♥ A J 6               1♥             2♥
♦ 8 5  
♣ Q J 9 8 7

North shows a better point count than bidding 1 NT and then raising. North may have 3 or 4+ card support.

Stay tuned for Part Two!

©2013 Roberta Salob

2-Over-1: Responder’s Second Bid After 1 NT – Part Two

Pass opener in his second suit:

North:
♠ 8                   South         North
♥ A Q 8 7        1♠               1 NT
♦ 6 5 3 2          2♦               Pass
♣ 9 7 6 5

2-Over-1: Responder’s Second Bid After 1 NT – Part One

Responder Has Less Than 3-Card Support

If partner opened in a major and you responded 1 NT, it will be assumed you have less than 3-card support. For exceptions, see upcoming post: Major Suit Raises.

If you have a 6+ card suit, bid it:
(a strong 5+ card suit may be bid on the 2-level)

North:
♠ 3                        South         North
♥ Q J 9 7 6 5       1♠               1 NT
♦ K 7 6                2♦               2♥
♣ 8 5 4                Pass

2-Over-1: Opener’s Second Bid After 1 NT – Part Two

With only a 5-card major and 12-14 points, bid a second suit, even if it is only a 3-card(!) minor:

South
♠ K 8 7                   South      North
♥ K Q 8 5 4           1♥           1 NT
♦ 7 6                      2♣
♣ K Q 4

2-Over-1: Opener’s Second Bid After 1 NT – Part One

After a 1 NT response to a major, opener must bid again:

If you have a 6+ card major, rebid it:

South
♠ A K 9 8 4 2           South             North
♥ 2                           1♠                  1 NT
♦ K 7 6                     2♠
♣ K 9 8

2-Over-1: The Forcing 1NT… Part Four

Don’t Use 1 NT Forcing If …

If you are a passed hand, a 1 NT response is not forcing:

West                              East
♠ 8 7                              ♠ A Q 9 6 4
♥ A Q 6                         ♥ 10 5 4
♦ Q 9 8 7 6                     ♦ J 10
♣ 10 9 8                        ♣ K J 7

West              North              East               South
Pass               Pass                1♠                  Pass
1 NT              Pass                Pass               Pass

2-Over-1: The Forcing 1NT… Part Three

Don’t Use 1 NT Forcing if …

If opener bids 1♥, then responder, holding 4+ spades, should bid 1♠:

South
♠ Q 9 8 2            North            South
♥ 7 6                  1♥                  ??
♦ A K J 10
♣ 9 8 6

2-Over-1: The Forcing 1NT… Part Two

How To Use 1 NT Forcing

Use it only after a major opening bid. 1 NT is not forcing after a minor opening:

1.                                                     2.
North         South                           North            South
1♥             1 NT                             1♦                1 NT
 *                                                  *
*North must make                          *North may pass with a
  another bid.                                   balanced minimum hand.

2-Over-1: The Forcing 1 NT…Part One

While you weren’t looking, Standard American became a dinosaur. 4-card major openings were replaced with 
5-cards; 1 NT can now be opened holding a 5-card major and a worthless doubleton; weak 2’s replaced strong 2’s, and on and on. But the loudest crash is the fall of the non-forcing 1 NT response to a major and its kissing cousin, 2-over-1 (2/1) as forcing only one round. Now, 1 NT is forcing and 2/1 is forcing to game.