Any 1-of-a-suit response to 1♣, 1♦ or 1♥
is natural and forcing.
Responder will rarely bypass
a 5+card suit to bid at the 2-level, and will only
bypass a 4-carder with 13+ points and a 5+ card holding
in a suit lower ranked than Opener's (e.g., 1♦:2♣ may
have a 4-card major with 13+ points) suit.
After any 1-of-a-suit response, the pair will, for the
most part, rebid as they would if playing SAYC.
They will rely on a 4th Suit Force to sustain the
auction later, if Responder is strong enough to
force game.
This game-forcing aspect distinguishes
the 2/1 GF 4th suit from its SAYC counterpart, where
the 4th Suit is only a ONE round force.
One of the most salient differences between SAYC and 2/1 GF after a 1-of-a-major response appears, when Opener rebids 1NT to show a flat hand of 13-14 points.
1 | 1
|
| 1NT | 2
|
| 1 | 1
|
| 1NT | 2
|
| 2
|
| 1 | 1
|
| 1NT | 2
|
| 2
|
Responder must avoid using the new minor with a 6-11 point 2-suiter. Instead, Responder must Jump in the minor.
| Responder | ♠ K Q x x x | ♥ x | ♦ Q 10 9 x x | ♣ x x |
| ||||||
|
| 1 | 1
|
| 1NT | 2
|
| 2
|
|
|
|
|
5 3
Q 10 9 3
K J 10 9 4 2
4
A 3
A Q 10 9
A J 10 9 4 2
4
Walsh's advantages stem from its purpose:
(1)
Getting our 4-card major in quickly lessens
the effect of any pre-empt by Responder's LHO.
(2)
Opener need not rebid a major over 1♣:1♦
unless unbalanced.
Hence, 1♣:1♦:1♥ tends to
promise a 3-suiter or 5+ Clubs.
All balanced
13-14 point Openers rebid 1NT — even those
with one or both majors !
The disadvantages of Walsh are numerous,
among them:
(1)
The Diamond suit is often buried — especially
if the pair plays New Minor Forcing.
(2)
By increasing the number of 4-card major
responses we increase the number of Moysian
(i.e., 4-3) fits that we will experience.
(3)
4-4 major suit fits are often wrong-sided.
1♣:1♦:1♥:2♥ allows Opener to play 2♥ in
SAYC while the Walsh pair sees 1♣:1♥:2♥.
(4)
1♣:1♦:1NT will no longer promise 4-5 Clubs.
(5)
4-4 Spade fits can be lost if Opener rebids
1♣:1♥:1NT with four Spades (as many will).
(6)
6-point Responder cannot temporize with
1♣:1♦, hoping to pass a 1♥ or 1♠ rebid,
with the same chance of success.
1♣ Opener
might not rebid a major even if holding one !
For the most part, responses to 1NT are the
same as in SAYC.
Two differences are the inclusion
of Texas Transfers and, in some partnerships, Minor
Suit Stayman.
A third is the use of Lebensohl
(see Rainbow Lesson #9).
Here, a 4♦ response to 1NT or 2NT shows 6+ Hearts, forcing Opener to rebid 4♥. A 4♥ reply to 1NT or 2NT shows 6+ spades and forces Opener to rebid 4♠.
| Responder | ♠ A J 10 x x x | ♥ x | ♦ x x x x | ♣ Q x |
Note that we could use Jacoby Transfers instead of Texas Transfers. With 1NT:2♦:2♥:4♥ and 1NT:4♦:4♥ available, why have TWO ways to transfer into the same suit ?
The answer is two-fold. First, the Jacoby Transfer, followed by a game bid, invites Opener to slam. 1NT:2♥:2♠:4♠ invites 6♠, then, while 1NT:4♥:4♠ does not. Secondly, the meaning of a 4NT rebid will be different depending on which transfer is used. 4NT after a Texas Transfer is RKC Blackwood. 4NT directly after a Jacoby Transfer is quantitative.
Texas Transfers are ON over any interference
up to 3♣.
1NT-3♣-4♥ transfers to spades.
1NT-3♦-4♦
is an all-purpose Staymanic cuebid.
A Q x
A x x x
A x x
K x x
What do you bid after:
|
|
|
|
Nowhere is there more confusion than in the area of Minor Suit Stayman. First, the 2-over-1 GF notes distributed by OKBridge conflict with the 2/1 GF convention card that OKBridge disseminates. Secondly, the convention card states that a 2NT response to 1NT is a transfer to 3♣, but there is NO mention of this in the notes — and only a small minority of 2/1 GF players use this method.
Most will opt out of this structure, and play 2♠ (or 3♠ in response to 2NT) as a Jacoby minor transfer, as we saw in SAYC. After 1NT:2♠ Opener will simply rebid 2NT (with superior Diamonds) or 3♣. Responder can stop in 3♣ or 3♦ if weak, or bid on as a minor suit slam probe.
If you and your partner DO decide to play Minor Suit Stayman, a 2♠ response to 1NT will promise 9+ points and 5-4 or better in the minors. Opener rebids as follows:
2NT = No minor, minimum. 3♣ or 3♦ stops now.
3♣ or 3♦ = Natural, minimum. A raise invites.
3♥ or 3♠ = Maximum, weak in the other major.
3NT = Maximum, but no minor.
4♣ or 4♦ = Natural, maximum.
When playing Minor-Suit Stayman, a direct 3♣ (1NT:3♣) or 3♦ (1NT:3♦) response is often a weak sign-off. Some will use a 2NT response to 1NT as a transfer to 3♣, but this method loses the very important natural 2NT response. These pairs will typically use 2♣ (Stayman) followed by 2NT to invite 3NT, with the 2♣ response being alerted and explained as NOT promising a major. The problem for these pairs is that if Opener has both majors Opener may jump in the unshown major (e.g., 1NT:2♣:2♥:2NT:4♠) over 2NT. To prevent this, after 1NT:2♦:2♥, Responder must rebid 2♠ with 4 Spades. In this way, 1NT:2♣:2♥:2NT denies a major !
It is strongly recommended that you retain
2NT as a natural raise and that you do NOT employ
Minor Suit Stayman.
The SAYC method of natural 2NT
raises and Jacoby Minor Transfers is not only simpler;
it is superior.
One of the major differences between 2/1 GF and SAYC is that, according to the 2/1 GF convention card, opposite 1♣ Responder WILL bypass 1♦ to show a 4-card major unless Responder wishes to force game. This treatment is NOT recommended. Bidding your suits UP the line is far SUPERIOR, especially when playing New Minor Forcing.
| Responder | ♠ Q x x x | ♥ x x x | ♦ A 10 x x x | ♣ x |
Unlike SAYC, a 2NT response to 1♣ or 1♦ is
only invitational in 2/1 GF, promising 10-12 points
and a flattish hand.
3NT reveals 13-15 points
in response to 1♣ or 1♦.
Often, though, a strong
Responder will take a slower route, beginning with a
Forcing raise of the minor (e.g., 1♣:2♣ or 1♦:2♦).
Such a raise is a one-round force, showing at least 10 HCPs.
In this way, Responder can make a limit
raise by bidding Opener's minor twice, 1♣:2♣:any:3♣
or 1♦:2♦:any:3♦, cancelling the force.
Any other
suit rebid by Responder is forcing to game.
| Responder | ♠ x x | ♥ A J x | ♦ Q 10 9 x x | ♣ K J x |
The 2/1 GF Notes state that, after the inverted raise, Opener will rebid a four card major. This is NOT the norm. MUCH more common is for Opener to rebid a major suit STOPPER, bidding 2NT with a minimal hand that has both majors guarded. 1♦:2♦:3♣, or 1♦:2♦:3♦ then, would suggest NO major suit stoppers in Opener's hand. A jump rebid of 3NT by Opener (e.g., 1♣:2♣:3NT or 1♦:2♦:3NT) shows a flat 18-19 points and says nothing about guards.
With the direct raise (1♣:2♣ and 1♦:2♦) taking care of both the Forcing and the Limit raises in the minors, a Jump raise (1♣:3♣ or 1♦:3♦) becomes PRE-EMPTIVE. Responder would have a weak hand with 5+cards in the raised minor:
| Responder | ♠ J x x | ♥ x x | ♦ Q J x x x x | ♣ 10 x |
Jump raise 1♦ to 3♦.
As in SAYC, any immediate raise of Opener's minor denies a 4+card major. If Opener's minor-suit opening is overcalled, a single raise is still strong (limit or better) and forcing for one round in 2/1-GF-OK. 1♦-1♠-2♦, then, is inverted in 2/1-GF-OK. ALL other versions of 2/1-GF play it as natural and non-forcing, 6-9 points.
Should the opening 1♣ or 1♦ bid be DOUBLED,
any raise of Opener's minor is weak.
1♣-Dble-2♣,
then, is weakish (5-8 points, 5+ Clubs) and NOT
inverted.
A Q x
Q x x x
K x x
K x x
A Q x
x x
K Q J x x
Q x x
x x
Q J x
A x x x x
K J x
x x
K x x
A x x x x
A Q x
2/1-Spectrum = An unshown suit, or 2NT if Opener supported Responder's major.
2/1-K and 2/1-Spectrum = Use 2♠ as a Jacoby, NOT mss.
2/1-K and 2/1-Spectrum = Yes.
2/1-K & 2/1-Spectrum = No and No.
2/1-K and 2/1 Spectrum = No.
2/1-Shep = Yes.
| (1a) | Holding: | A Q x x x
| K x
| x x x
| Q x x
| |
| (1b) | Holding: | K Q J x x x
| x x
| Q x x
| K x
| |
| (1c) | Holding: | Q J x x x
| K x x x
| x x
| x x
| |
| (1d) | Holding: | K J x x x
| x x
| A Q x x x
| x
|
| (2a) | Holding: | K J x
| A Q x
| x x
| J 10 x x x
|
| (2b) | Holding: | K J x
| A Q x
| A x x
| J 10 x x
|
| (2c) | Holding: | x x
| Q x x
| K Q x x x x
| x x
|
| (2d) | Holding: | A x
| A Q x
| A Q x x x
| x x x
|
| (2e) | Holding: | A x x x
| x
| A Q x x x
| K x x
|
| (2f) | Holding: | x x
| K Q x
| J x x
| A J x x x
|
| (2g) | Holding: | A x
| K J x x
| A x
| Q J x x x
|
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