Bridge bidding systems are defined by the
engine that drives them along. The most complex of these are relay systems (e.g.,
Panama Relay, Valentines, Relay Precision,
etc.), where the forcing partner (Responder, usually) makes meaningless forcing
bids (similar to a Stayman 2
♣)
usually in the cheapest step in an
effort to derive information from partner. Typically,
1
♥:2
♣ would be
natural and NON-Forcing in such systems, as would any response
other than an artificial relay response of
1
♠ to the
1
♥ opening bid.
A second family of bridge languages is the level forcing systems
(e.g.,
Canadian Club, 1/1 Non-Forcing, etc.), where the
level
of Responder's first bid determines whether or not the auction is a game-forcing one
or not. Typically,
in such systems a 1-over-1 response (e.g.,
1
♦:1
♠)
is NOT forcing, while any 2-level response in a new suit
(e.g., 1
♥:2
♣,
1
♥:2
♦ or 1
♥:2
♠) is
game-forcing.
In
SAYC,
we saw an "approach force" system.
These are characterized by the forcing partner (i.e., Responder, unless Opener has started
with 2
♣)
rarely defining the auction as game-forcing with hir
first response. Yes,
SAYC
does have some game-forcing responses (e.g.,
jump shifts,
2NT responses to
1-of-a suit,
etc.), but for the most part forcing partner relies on rebidding in new suits to
sustain the auction. 1
♠:2
♦:2
♠:
2NT, then, is
not forcing in
SAYC.
In
2-Over-1 Game-Forcing,
("
2/1 GF") we have a Hybrid system. If Responder begins with
a 1-over-1 reply (e.g., 1
♣:1
♥),
2/1 GF operates as an approach force system,
identical to SAYC in almost every respect.
But, if Responder begins with a 2-over-1 reply (e.g., 1
♦:2
♣),
the auction becomes GAME FORCING.
Hence, 1
♦:2
♦:2
♠:
2NT
is forcing here — as it would be in
a LEVEL FORCING system.
Throughout these notes, you will see mention of
"
2/1-K", Kaltica's approach;
Shep's "
2/1-Shep"; and
"
2/1-Spectrum ", as a suggested standard for Spectrum students
only. This does
not
imply that this is the standard approach for others — or that
such a standard exists !
Questions
| #1
|
Consider the auction:
1♦:1♠.
State whether this auction is Game Forcing,
One-Round-Forcing, or Non-Forcing in the following system types:
|
|
#1a
| A typical relay system.
|
|
#1b
| A level forcing system.
|
|
#1c
| An approach forcing system, such as SAYC.
|
|
#1d
| A Hybrid system, such as 2/1 GF.
|
| #2
|
Consider the auction:
1♠:2♣.
Is this auction Game Forcing,
One-Round-Forcing, or Non-Forcing in the following system types:
|
|
#2a
| A typical relay system.
|
|
#2b
| A level forcing system.
|
|
#2c
| An approach forcing system, such as SAYC.
|
|
#2d
| A Hybrid system, such as 2/1 GF.
|
| #3
|
Consider the auction: 1♠:2♥:2♠:3♥.
State whether this auction is Game Forcing, One-Round-Forcing, or
Non-Forcing in...
|
|
#3a
| ... SAYC ?
|
|
#3b
| ... 2/1 GF ?
|
Opening Bids
The requirements for and
structure of opening bids in
2/1 GF are identical to
SAYC except in
one respect: instead of a 25-27 HCP
flat
3NT opening bid,
2/1 GF employs a Gambling
3NT.
Such a bid will be made on a 6+card
solid minor suit with no Ace, King or void outside.
The hand
may have a Queen outside the long
suit, if not vulnerable. Vulnerable, the hand will usually have at least one
outside Queen.
| Hand A
| ♠ x x
| ♥ J x 7
| ♦ A K Q x x x
| ♣ x x x
|
Open 3NT, if not vulnerable.
| Hand B
| ♠ x x
| ♥ Q J x
| ♦ x
| ♣ A K Q x x x x
|
Start with 3NT regardless of vulnerability.
In response to the Gambling
3NT, any Club bid by Responder is a sign-off, asking Opener to PASS or
correct to Diamonds, if that is hir long suit. If, after opening
3NT,
Opener A (above) hears partner bid 4
♣, we will see Opener retreat to 4
♦.
Responder's only forcing response to
3NT is 4
♦,
asking for a singleton. Opener will rebid 4
♥
or 4
♠ if short in that suit,
4NT with
no singleton or void, and 5
♣
or 5
♦ with
length in the bid minor and
shortness in the
other Minor.
| Opener
| Responder
| Explanation
|
| 3NT
| 4♦
| "Do you have a short suit ?"
|
| 5♣
| --
| Long Clubs, short Diamonds, as in Hand B above.
|
A raise to 4NT is
"quantitative", asking Opener to bid at the 6-level
only with a seventh card in the long suit.
| ♠ K Q x x
| ♥ A K x x
| ♦ x x
| ♣ A K x
|
Raise partner's non-vulnerable 3NT bid to 4NT, in case
3NT Opener has a 7-th Diamond.
The Gambling 3NT opening bid and the above
conventional responses must be alerted and explained. To do this on OKBridge,
hit "ENTER + ALERT" instead of "ENTER"
when you make your bid. Then hit "="
to address both opponents and explain your
call without being asked.
The question arises: "What does Opener do with a flat 25-27
HCP hand ?" Opener begins with 2♣ and then
rebids 3NT.
The Two-Over-One Game-Forcing Response
It is in the area of
responses to opening bids that
2-Over-1 Game-Forcing
differs from
SAYC.
The heart of the
2-Over-1 Game-Forcing system
lies in the fact that a 2-level response in a lower ranked suit is
GAME-FORCING. This will
have a
profound effect on Opener's and Responder's rebids.
We have already seen
one example of this, where
Responder can rebid
2NT over 1
♠:2
♦:2
♠, in order to check for more distributional information
from Opener
without worrying
about Opener passing.
| Opener
| Responder
| Explanation
|
| 1♠
| 2♦
| 2-over-1 natural Game Force.
|
| 2♠
| 2NT
| "Tell me more."
|
| 3♣
| ---
| Natural, 4+ ♣ and 5+ ♠, 13-15 points.
|
1
♠:2
♦:3
♣,
then, is still a High-Level Reverse, showing 16+ points in Opener's hand. But what about
two level reverses ? For
example, after 1
♦:2
♣ does a 2
♥ or
2
♠ reverse promise 16+ points, as it did in
SAYC ?
After all, we no longer
need such a device to force
game !
The answer to this question depends on partnership agreement and
reflects the various "flavours" of
2/1 GF.
Some retain the
SAYC approach (i.e., that
2-level reverses here
do show
16+ points and an unbalanced hand, with the original suit longer). These pairs
we will call "
strong reversers".
Others allow Opener to reverse into any 4-card
major suit — even with a flat minimal hand ! This group we will call
"weak reversers".
A
third group
will allow such a reverse on a minimal hand, but
only if Opener has an
unbalanced
hand (3-suited or with 5+ Diamonds). We will refer to these partnerships as "
distributional reversers".
For simplicity, we will employ the
SAYC
model of strong reverses, and reverse
only with 16+ point unbalanced hands after a 2-over-1
response.
Because Responder has agreed not to pass below game, a flat
Opener can
always rebid
2NT over a 2-over-1 response.
In SAYC, 1
♥:2
♣:
2NT
promised 15 points; in
2/1 GF, it shows a minimum opening 5-3-3-2 type hand.
Do this mean that 1
♥:2
♦:2
♥ always
promises 6+ Hearts ?
Not quite. Opener
might have a 4-card Club suit and
be too weak (13-15 points) to make a high-level reverse rebid of 3
♣. It might also mean that Opener has 4 Spades and
lacks the wherewithal for a reverse into 2
♠.
1
♥:2
♦:2
♥ does,
however, show an
unbalanced opening hand.
In other versions of
2/1-K,
1
♠:2
♣:2
♠ *will* promise 6+ Spades, since Opener could rebid in
No Trump with any 5-3-3-2 type, and could bid any 4-card suit: 2
♦ with 4+ Diamonds, 2
♥ with 4+ Hearts and 3
♣ (raising Responder's suit) with 4+ Clubs.
In
2/1-K, 2
♠
promises
either 6+ Spades OR
a minimum hand with 5 Spades and 4+ Clubs.
1
♠:2
♣:3
♣ shows 16-18 points in
2/1-K.
Questions
| You hold:
| ♠ A Q x x
| ♥ x x
| ♦ K J x x x
| ♣ K x
|
| #1
| After 1♦:2♣,
what should Opener rebid, if part of...
|
| #1a
| ... a strong reversing pair.
|
| #1b
| ... a weak reversing pair.
|
| #1c
| ... a distributional reversing pair.
|
| #2
|
After: 1♥:2♦:2♥
does a 2NT
rebid by Responder promise a balanced hand ?
|
The Jump Shift Response
The most stark contrast between
SAYC
and
2/1 GF comes,
when Responder rebids a suit after making a 2-over-1 response.
In
SAYC, 1
♠:2
♦:2
♠:3
♦ showed
8-10 HCPs and 6+ Diamonds.
In
2/1 GF, this
sequence is game-forcing.
Whereas in
SAYC, we needed to Jump Shift,
to show a good hand and solid suit, in
2/1 GF we can just bid and rebid our suit,
secure that partner will keep the auction open.
This allows us to use Weak Jump
Shifts. Typically, a Weak Jump Shift should be a hand that is not strong enough
to respond to the opening bid, but has a seven card suit, for
example:
After 1
♠, bid 3
♦ with:
| Hand A
| ♠ x
| ♥ Q x
| ♦ Q J x x x x x
| ♣ x x x
|
| Hand B
| ♠ x
| ♥ x x
| ♦ J x x x x x x
| ♣ x x
|
Now, you might say these bids are not going to happen very
often, or with great success. We agree, and so did Marty Bergen, when he
introduced us to "Bergen Raises". He uses the Jump Shifts from a Major-suit
opener to Three of a Minor as artificial bids, raising the Major. Thus:
|
These show 11-12 points in support and 4+ trump, nothing about
Clubs (a Limit Raise).
|
|
These show 8-10 points in support and 4+ trump, nothing about
Diamonds (a Mixed Raise).
|
|
These jump raises show 3-7 points in support and 4+ trump, (a
Pre-emptive Raise).
|
Bergen presented these raises in 1985 in the reverse order
(3♣ weaker than 3♦), but
since then has switched how he plays them, since it provides a little more
bidding room over the stronger sequence, where you are more likely to want to
make a slam try. Be sure to ask your partners: "Which Bergen ?".
Shep's 2/1 GF goes one step further. Shep has reclaimed
the 2NT Response, which SAYC and 2/1 GF use
as Jacoby 2NT a Forcing Raise), to be used as
a natural bid, 13-15 HCP with a balanced hand and two or three cards in opener's
suit. Instead, Shep's 2/1 GF uses ALL the
Jump Shifts as artificial raises of the Major suit Opening. Thus:
|
These jumps show 13+ points in support and 4+ trump, saying
nothing about the bid suit.
|
|
These jumps show 10-12 points in support and 4+ trump, saying
nothing about the bid suit.
|
|
These jumps show 6-9 points in support and 4+ trump, saying
nothing about the bid suit.
|
| These jump raises show 0-6 points in support and 4+ trump, (a
Pre-emptive Raise).
|
The supporting theory behind this aggressive bidding to the
three level is based on "The Law of Total Tricks", which assures us that we can
afford to compete to the 3-level, if we have 9 trumps between the two
hands. By getting there as quickly as possible, we prove to be difficult
opponents.
In response to a MAJOR-suit opening, then, we have the Shep
approach, the Bergen raise, the weak jump shift (employed by 2/1-Spectrum) and the strong jump shift (embraced
by 2/1-K). But what about MINOR suit
openings? MOST pairs play these as pre-emptive. Only 2/1-K uses a strong jump shift response
throughout.
The Argument for a Natural
2NT Responder to 1♥ or 1♠
Whether you want to
play these artificial raises or not, you might give some consideration to
reclaiming the natural 2NT response to the
Major Suit Opening. The main advantage of doing so is that your 2/1 responses
will now almost always have a five-card suit. This will help the partnership
judge the number of tricks they can take, and help greatly with slam
bidding.
Fourth Suit Forcing to Game
Like
SAYC,
2/1 GF
relies on the 4th suit as a forcing mechanism — but only after a 1-level response
to 1-of-a-suit. Unlike SAYC, though, a bid of the 4th suit by Responder is
forcing to GAME. 1
♦:1
♠:2
♣:2
♥, then, is game-forcing. It follows that with
a weakish hand and length in the fourth suit, Responder must JUMP in the 4th suit
to AVOID forcing. 1
♦:1
♠:2
♣:3
♥, then, is natural and NON-forcing in
2/1 GF.
The Principles of Fast and Slow Arrival
Because auctions are more quickly defined as game-forcing in
2/1 GF, we see the Principles of Fast versus Slow Arrival FAR more
often than in
SAYC. Simply put, when we
have a GOOD hand, we try to AVOID rushing to game in order to make maximum use of
bidding space. With a weaker hand, we tend to return to the trump suit — often at
the game level — to suggest weakness.
| Hand A
| ♠ K J x x x
| ♥ A J x
| ♦ x x
| ♣ K x x
|
After 1♠:2♥, JUMP to
4♥ to deny any slam interest.
|
| Hand B
| ♠ A K x x x
| ♥ K Q x
| ♦ A x x
| ♣ x x
|
|
After 1♠:2♥, raise
to 3♥ ONLY, suggesting slam.
|
Reverse Drury
This interesting convention, first
developed by Douglas Drury, is a method of checking to see if partner has opened
1
♥ or 1
♠
LIGHT in 3rd or 4th seat. Here, a 2
♣
response to any 1
♥ or 1
♠ opening bid made in 3rd or 4th seat asks Opener if
hirs is a legitimate opening bid. If not, Opener will rebid an artificial 2
♦ (e.g., Pass:1
♥:2
♣:2
♦ or Pass:1
♠:2
♣:2
♦). Any
OTHER rebid by Opener will show a solid opening bid, 14+
points.
"Reverse" Drury is a modern variant on the original version of
Drury, where Opener would rebid hir major over the 2
♣ response to show the minimal opening bid. Many feel
that the original version of Drury is superior, but Reverse Drury has become the
norm for 2/1 Game-Forcers.
Regardless of which version you employ, the
problem arises as to what to do with a good passed hand that has a lot of Clubs.
Some will agree with their partner that a jump to 3
♣ is natural and "not quite forcing", 10-12 points and
6+ Clubs. Other pairs will bid 2
♣ (which
*promises* 3-card support for Opener's major) and then rebid 3
♣, thereby "breaking" the promise of 3+card support for
partner's major. Neither approach is standard, though. The solution for most is
a forcing
1NT followed by 3
♣.
| Responder
| ♠ x x
| ♥ x x
| ♦ K J x
| ♣ A Q J x x x
|
Opposite partner's 1♥
or 1♠ opening bid, any CLUB reply will FORCE.
Reply 1NT, then 3♣.
Roman Key Card Blackwood
| Opener A
| ♠ A K Q x x
| ♥ x x x
| ♦ A x x x
| ♣ x
|
| Opener B
| ♠ A x x x x
| ♥ x x x
| ♦ A K Q x
| ♣ x
|
| Responder
| ♠ J x x
| ♥ A K Q x
| ♦ x
| ♣ A K Q x x
|
This Responder can make 7♠ opposite Opener A.
Switch the ♠KQ into the DIAMOND suit, though, and
even SIX Spades could be difficult opposite
Opener B. The difference lies in the strength of
the trump suit (or, if you like, the amount of
DUPLICATION in the Diamond suit).
To address the issue of trump strength AND Aces,
Key Card Blackwood has been developed.
We start by "elevating" the King of trumps to the status of a "Key Card", along with the four Aces.
The responses to Roman
Key Card Blackwood are:
| Bid
| Explanation
|
| 5♣
| Zero or 3 Key Cards.
|
| 5♦
| 1 or 4 Key Card(s).
|
| 5♥
| 2 or 5 Key Cards, lacking the Queen of trumps.
|
| 5♠
| 2 or 5 Key Cards, with the Queen of trumps.
|
A VOID can be shown via 5NT (with an EVEN number
of Key Cards) or, if holding an ODD number of Key cards,
by a descriptive 6-level SUIT bid which does NOT go beyond
the trump suit at that level.
| RKC Blackwood Responder
| ♠ Q J x x
| ♥ A x x x
| ♦ —
| ♣ Q x x x x
|
Over 4NT, jump to 6♦,
if a MAJOR suit is trump, but
only 6♣, if Clubs are trump.
If trump is a MAJOR, after a 5♣ or 5♦ response
to 4NT, Blackwooder may bid the cheapest non-trump suit
to ask for the Queen of trumps. To DENY the trump Queen
in such an instance, one simply rebids 5NT or the agreed
trump suit, whichever is CHEAPER. Any OTHER rebid will
promise the Queen of trumps — and the King of the bid
suit (if not trump).
| Opener
| Responder
| Explanation
|
| 1♥
| 4NT
| Roman Key Card Blackwood, with Hearts trumps.
|
| 5♦
| 5♠
| "Do you have ♥Q ?"
|
| 5NT
| --
| No.
|
| Opener
| Responder
| Explanation
|
| 1♥
| 4NT
| Roman Key Card Blackwood, with Hearts trumps.
|
| 5♣
| 5♦
| "Do you have ♥Q ?"
|
| 5♥
| --
| No.
|
| Opener
| Responder
| Explanation
|
| 1♠
| 4NT
| Roman Key Card Blackwood, with Spades trumps.
|
| 5♦
| 5♥
| "Do you have ♠Q ?"
|
| 6♣
| --
| Yes, and ♣K.
|
In SAYC, a 5NT rebid after bidding 4NT asked for Kings.
In 2/1 GF, it asks for SPECIFIC Kings.
Partner will Cuebid any King at the SIX level.
| Opener
| Responder
| Explanation
|
| 1♠
| 4NT
| Roman Key Card Blackwood, with Spades trumps.
|
| 5♦
| 5NT
| "Do you have King to cuebid?"
|
| 6♦
| --
| Yes, and ♦K.
|
Some pairs prefer to switch the 5♣ and 5♦ responses
to 4NT, Roman Key Card Blackwood, giving us:
| Bid
| Explanation
|
| 5♣
| 1 or 4 Key Card(s).
|
| 5♦
| Zero or 3 Key Cards.
|
| 5♥
| 2 or 5 Key Cards, lacking the Queen of trumps.
|
| 5♠
| 2 or 5 Key Cards, with the Queen of trumps.
|
This is called "1403", after the number
of Key cards shown by the 1st (1 or 4) and 2nd (0 or 3)
steps respectively. The "0314" approach is the standard,
though.
Sometimes, the "agreed" trump suit is not so clear.
1
♥:3
♥:
4NT is simple enough,
but what about an auction
like 1
♠:2
♥:2
♠:3
♥:3
♠:
4NT ?
In cases where a suit has NOT been bid and raised, the last bid suit is assumed to be
trumps. Hence,
1NT:2
♣:2
♥:
4NT
is "RKCB" (Roman Key Card Blackwood), with HEARTS the assumed trump suit ... for now,
at the very least.
The question arises: "How do I know whether partner has
zero or three Key Cards ? Or 1 or 4 ?"
The auction may be a hint. Otherwise, if
the response is LOWER than the trump suit, Roman Key Card
Blackwooder can simply bid the agreed trump suit at the
five level. If partner has the higher number of Aces
(i.e., THREE after showing 0 or 3, FOUR after promising
1 or 4) partner MUST bid again.
1♥:4NT:5♣:5♥:Pass, then,
shows ZERO Aces; with THREE, Opener MUST bid
again — cuebidding a non-trump KING, if Opener has one.
| #1
|
After 1♥:2♦:2♥:4NT:5NT ...
|
| #1a
| ... what is trump ?
|
| #1b
| ... how many Key Cards does Opener have ?
|
| #1c
| ... which void does Opener most likely have ?
|
| #2
| You hold:
| ♠ A K x x x
| ♥ A x x
| ♦ K x x
| ♣ x x
|
| Question:
| What is Opener's rebid after 1♠:4NT:5♣:5♠ ?
|
| #3
| After 1♠:4NT:5♣,
what would 5♦
by Responder mean ?
|
Discusion Points with a New 2/1 GF Partner
- Does 1♦:2♣:2♥ show extra strength ? Does it guarantee
an UNBALANCED hand?
- Does 1♠:2♣:2♠ promise 6+ Spades, or could Opener be
TEMPORIZING with 4-card Club support to show a minimum?
- Do we use a Jacoby 2NT response to 1♥ and 1♠, to PROMISE 4+card
support ?
If so, we will TEMPORIZE with a 2-over-1 response
and THEN raise the major to show 3-card support and
13+ points.
If not, we will use the Jacoby 2NT ONLY with 16+ points
(3+ card support) and use the 2-over-1 temporizing
approach before raising the major to show PRECISELY
13-15 points (and 3+ card support), as in SAYC.
- Do you prefer "0314" or "1403" Roman Key Card Blackwood?
- After a Blackwood 4NT, will a 5NT rebid ask for
partner's TOTAL number of Kings, or for partner
to CUEBID a specific King?
- Do you play Reverse Drury opposite FOURTH seat Openers ?
Final Quiz
| Question #1
| In first seat, what would you open with:
|
| #1a
| ♠ A K x
| ♥ A K Q x
| ♦ K x
| ♣ A K x x
|
| #1b
| ♠ x x
| ♥ x x
| ♦ x x
| ♣ A K Q 10 x x x
|
| #1c
| ♠ A K Q J x x x
| ♥ x x
| ♦ x x
| ♣ Q x
|
| #1d
| ♠ —
| ♥ x x x
| ♦ Q J x
| ♣ A K Q 10 x x x
|
| Question #2
| How do you respond to Partner's 1♠ opening bid with:
|
| #2a
| ♠ x
| ♥ A K Q J x x
| ♦ A x x
| ♣ K x x
|
| #2b
| ♠ K x
| ♥ A Q x
| ♦ A Q x x x x
| ♣ K x
|
| #2c
| ♠ A x x x
| ♥ x x
| ♦ A Q x x
| ♣ Q J x
|
| #2d
| ♠ A K x
| ♥ A Q x x
| ♦ A Q x x
| ♣ x x
|
| Question #3
| What should Responder rebid
after 1♠:2♥:2♠ holding:
|
| #3a
| ♠ A Q x
| ♥ A K x x x
| ♦ K Q x
| ♣ x x
|
| #3b
| ♠ A Q x
| ♥ K Q x x x
| ♦ x x
| ♣ Q J x
|
| #3c
| ♠ x
| ♥ A Q J x x x x
| ♦ K Q x
| ♣ A x
|
| #3d
| ♠ x x
| ♥ A Q J x x x x
| ♦ K x
| ♣ Q x
|
#1a.
ANSWER:
Non-forcing. A typical RELAY system would
use 1♥, the cheapest step, as its only forcing response.
#1b.
ANSWER:
Non-forcing. In a level forcing system,
one level responses are non-forcing.
#1c.
ANSWER:
Forcing. New suit bids are FORCING, in general.
#1d.
ANSWER:
Forcing for one round, same as SAYC.
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