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ONE DIAMONDS RESPONSE TWO CLUBS This is a difficult topic in 2/1 Game Forcing (GF) because there are different agreements (or no agreements by a partnership) and it is not clear what is more useful, so here we will propose an approach that can be used by a partnership. Considerations: Different of SAYC in 2/1 we have the 1NT forcing after 1♠/1♥ opening, so Responder after 1NT bids his long suit. This was a great improvement of 2/1 over the SAYC. On the other hand after 1♦ opening if Responder has 6♣+ and 8-9 hcp his bid in 1nt allows Opener to pass and then Responder may have problems in hand's entry to make 5th and 6th good tricks in Clubs. One adapted solutions is not consider all responses in 2♣ having 12+ hcp as Two Over One determines as GF, so if Responder next bid is 3♣ this shows 8-10 hcp with 6♣ + and it is a not forcing bid. Another approach possible is consider after 1♦ opening is the response in 2♣ as normal GF with 12+ hcp and the response of 3♣ showing long Clubs with 8-11 points (not hcp) where each card additional after the fourth card is one point plus. Thus after 1♦ if Responder has ♠xx ♥xx ♦xx ♣KQ109xxx that is: 5 hcp + 3 card points = 8 points - he has a valid response for 3♣. Of course, 3♣ should have honors concentrated in Clubs, thus it is excluded possible two top honors (A/K/Q) in others suit - just one is permitted. After 1♦ opening follow the response in 3♣, Opener must consider that a success in game depends on Clubs support - sometimes fit is more important than hcp. If Opener has: a) ♠AQxx ♥AKxx ♦KQxx ♣x he must pass - it is a misfit hand - b) ♠KQ10 ♥AJ10 ♦J109x ♣Kxx he should bid 3NT x) ♠8 ♥Ax ♦AKxxxx ♣A9xx he should bid 6♣. Note1: After Opener bids 1♦ response in 2NT shows exactly 11 hcp with good middle cards like 10/9 having distribution 3♠3♥3♦4♣ or 3♠3♥2♦5♣ with stoppers or semi-stopper (Q10x or J10x) in the majors. So, with two blank cards in a major it is not recommended to bid 2nt. However, with 3 blank cards in a major, even if partner's hand has no stopper in this suit, the chances that the major suit is divided 4-4 is significant in balanced distributions. If Responder has 4432 with both minors and 11 hcp he may bid 2♦ for inverted minors but having strategic stoppers in the majors like: ♠Kx ♥KJ5 ♦Q108x ♣K109x Responder should prefer 2NT. Thus, sometimes Responder must be creative to find the better response with 11 hcp: ============================================= RULE#1 : After 1♦ opening the response of 2♣ shows 12+ hcp and denies support of 4♦+ cards but can have another 4 cards major suit if Clubs suit have 5♣+ cards as should be more frequent in 1♦ response 2♣ . Opener Responder 1♦ 2♣ <= GF with 4♣+ and 12+ hcp - denies 4♦+ RULE#2 : After 1♦ opening the response of 3♣ shows 8-11 points (not hcp) with 6♣+ cards and denies other 4+ cards suit. Opener Responder 1♦ 3♣ <= invitation with 6♣+ cards and 8-11 points ============================================= Now let’s analyze the problem in Opener's second bid because Opener priority it is inform his strength to Responder and so we need here separate Opener's hand in 3 categories: 1- Opener has up to 15 hcp; 2- Opener has 16+ hcp; 3- Opener has undefined range but has a solid suit 6+ cards: AKQJ32 or AKQ5432 or AKJ65432 then bid 3♦ after 2♣. Opener Responder 1♦ 2♣ <= ♠Q108 ♥AJ10 ♦K8 ♣KJxxx GF 1♦ 2♣ <= ♠Q1082 ♥A10 ♦K8 ♣KJxxx GF 1♦ 3♣ <= ♠108 ♥J103 ♦K8 ♣KQJxxx invitation 1♦ 3♣ <= ♠8 ♥843 ♦A8 ♣QJ9xxxx invitation 1♦ 1NT <= ♠Q108 ♥Ax ♦xx ♣QJ10xxx not forcing 1♦ 2♣ <= ♠xx ♥Qx ♦xx ♣AKQJxxx GF 1♦ 2NT <= ♠AQ ♥Kx ♦109xx ♣Q10xxx invitation 1♦ 2♦ <= ♠Ax ♥Kx ♦109xxx ♣K10xx one-round force 1♦ 2NT <= ♠J108 ♥AQ9 ♦K109 ♣J10xx invitation 1♦ 1♠ <= ♠J1082 ♥Q9 ♦K109 ♣AKQJ undefined 1♦ 2♣ <= ♠Q108 ♥AQ9 ♦A109 ♣J543 GF Our propose to Opener second bid with minimum hand (1) is: - with balanced hand 12-14 hcp and stopper in both majors Opener should bid 2NT even having a 4 cards major - waiting to Responder's bidding his major in level 3 for then support Responder at level 4: ♠K108 ♥AJ10 ♦KJ1086 ♣Jx or ♠AJ82 ♥AJ103 ♦Q106 ♣xx - with 4441 and singleton Clubs rebids Diamonds even with stoppers in both majors because the 2NT bid promise 2 cards in Clubs: ♠K1082 ♥AJ102 ♦KJ108 ♣x or ♠AJ82 ♥KJ103 ♦AJ106 ♣x - with balanced hand but missing a stopper => bids 2♦ even with 4♦ : ♠J8 ♥AK10 ♦KJ1086 ♣Jxx or ♠J82 ♥AJ103 ♦AQ106 ♣Qx - with unbalanced hand up to 15 hcp, even with a major, bids 2♦ because a reverse bid need 16+ hcp to be bid: ♠AK108 ♥10 ♦AJ1086 ♣Jxx or ♠A2 ♥QJ104 ♦KQ10632 ♣x - with 4♣ cards support - 12-15 hcp and no singleton, bids 3♣: ♠K108 ♥A7 ♦KQ108 ♣J1085 or ♠AJ8 ♥J3 ♦AQ106 ♣Q876 - with 4♣ cards support and singleton ♥ bids 3♥ splinter up to 15 hcp: ♠AK8 ♥10 ♦AJ1086 ♣Jxxx or ♠AJ82 ♥3 ♦KQJ2 ♣Kxxx - with 4♣ cards support and singleton ♠ bids 3♠ splinter up to 15 hcp: ♠8 ♥Q10x ♦AK1086 ♣Kxxx or ♠2 ♥A3 ♦KQJ1096 ♣QJxx - with weak 6♦/5♥ bids the major at level 4 in second bid: ♠- ♥KQ874 ♦AQJ886 ♣xx or ♠2 ♥KQJ93 ♦AK8642 ♣x - with weak 6♦/5♠ bids the major at level 4 in second bid: ♠AQJ82 ♥- ♦AQJ886 ♣xx or ♠KQJ93 ♥x ♦KQ10842 ♣x Our propose to Opener second bid with maximum (2) hand is: -with balanced hand 18-19 hcp without 4 cards major and without support of 4♣ cards Opener bids 3NT: ♠KQ8 ♥A107 ♦AK108 ♣Kxx or ♠AJ9 ♥AJ9 ♦KQJ106 ♣Qx -with 4♥ and 16+ hcp Opener bids 2♥ - denying 4♣ cards: ♠K8 ♥AQ107 ♦AK108 ♣Kxx or ♠AJ9 ♥AJ109 ♦AQJ106 ♣x -with 4♠ and 16+ hcp Opener bids 2♠ - denying 4♥ and 4♣; ♠KQ108 ♥Q7 ♦AK108 ♣Axx or ♠A1092 ♥AK9 ♦AKJ106 ♣x -with 4♣+ having A or K in Clubs support and 16+ hcp Opener bids 4♣; ♠8 ♥QJ7 ♦AKQ102 ♣AQ43 or ♠AK2 ♥9 ♦AQJ1076 ♣K10xx Opener with solid suit and unknow strength (3): -with solid Diamonds suit AKQxxxx/AKQJxx Opener bids 3♦ even with 14 hcp: ♠K8 ♥Q7 ♦AKQ10852 ♣Jx or ♠A102 ♥9 ♦AKQJ106 ♣xxx Thus, after Opener rebids 2♦, Responder having 4 cards major must bid his major suit to show 5♣+-4major and that no means any strong reverse just 12+ hcp: Opener Responder 1♦ 2♣ <= GF 2♦ 2♥ <= 5♣+-4♥-x-x Opener Responder 1♦ 2♣ <= GF 2♦ 2♠ <= 5♣+-4♠-x-x After Opener rebids 2♦, Responder having 5332 or 4333 bids: a) 3nt with 12-15 hcp and stoppers in both majors denying possible interest in Slam - fast arrive principle; b) 2nt with 16+ and stoppers in both majors, waiting possible cuebid from Opener to try Slam: Opener Responder 1♦ 2♣ <= GF 2♦ 3NT <= 5332 or 4333 with 12-15 hcp (fast arrive) Opener Responder 1♦ 2♣ <= GF 2♦ 2NT <= 5332 or 4333 with 16+ hcp After Opener rebids 2♦, Responder with no stopper in one major rebids 3♣ waiting to know where Opener has stopper: Opener Responder 1♦ 2♣ <= GF 2♦ 3♣ <= waiting to know in what major Opener has stopper ? 3♥ <= stopper in ♥ and denies stopper in ♠; 3♠ <= stopper in ♠ and denies stopper in ♥; 3NT <= hand 4♠4♥4♦1♣ or 4♠4♥5♦0♣ 4♣ <= 5♦+ and no stoppers in majors with ♣Hxx RULE#3 - If Opener's second bid is a major in 2♥ or 2♠ this is a reverse bid showing 16-20 hcp and then Responder bids; - after 2♥ with 4♠ cards bids 2♠ to show 4♠5♣+; - 3NT with stopper in the other major and 12-14 hcp - fast arrive; - 2nt with stopper in the other major and 15+ hcp; - 3♣ denying stopper in the other major, showing 5♣+ cards and minimum hand 12-14 hcp without ♦Hxx probable ♥Hx ♥Hxx ; - 3♦ showing ♦Hxx and no interesting in NT - probable 6♣+ 12-14 hcp; - support at level 3 to Opener major with 4 cards and 15+ hcp; - support at level 4 to Opener major with 4 cards and 12-14 hcp; - 4♣ shows solid Clubs suit 6♣+ cards in limited hand up to 15 hcp - jump to level 4 in the other major is a splinter showing 12-15 hcp. RULE#4 - If Opener's second bid is 3♥ or 3♠ this shows splinter with 4♣ + cards support and up to 15 hcp - Responder bids are: a) 5♣ showing minimum and honors waste in the singleton; b) another suit - cuebid - try to Slam; c) 3NT showing 1,5 stopper in Opener's singleton; RULE#5- If Opener's second bid is 2NT this shows 12-14 hcp in 4333 or 5332 or 4432 with stoppers in both majors - Responder decides: a) 3NT conclusive; b) 3♦ shows ♦Hxx in Diamonds and may be shorter in a major ; c) 3♥ showing 5♣+-4♥ - then Opener decides; d) 3♠ showing 5♣+-4♠ - then Opener decides; e) 4♣ showing solid suit and interest in Slam - Opener must bid his first ace control or sign-off in 5♣ even with singleton; f) 4NT asking for aces RULE#6- If Opener's second bid is 3nt this shows exactly 18-19 hcp in 4333 or 5332 with stopper in both majors and no major 4 cards - Responder decides: a) pass; b) 4NT is RKB1430 for Clubs; c) 5♣ or 6♣ or 6nt to play. RULE#7- If Opener's raises to 3♣ this is a normal 12-14 hcp, but if Opener raises to 4♣ this is a strong Clubs support like 5♣ cards with A or K or 4♣ cards with 2 top honors in a hand with 15+ hcp where Opener is interested in Slam and is asking to Responder cuebid in sequence - Opener can have singleton/void in a major - Responder decides: a) cuebid up the line: 4♦ with Hxx support (A or K) / 4♥ ace / 4♠ ace; b) 4NT asking aces b) 5♣ denies aces in others suits; RULE#8- If Opener opens 1♦ and Response bids 2♣, Opener jumping to 3♦ shows a solid 6♦+ cards type: ♦AKQxxxx or AKQJxx and not a strong hand, the importance of this bid is to show 6/7 tricks in ♦. Responder then decide: a) 3♥/3♠ shows A or K in the suit bided - interested in Slam; b) 3NT is to play showing stopper in both majors and 12-14 hcp; c) 4NT is RKB1430 for Clubs not for Diamonds; d) 5♦ to play - denies cuebid in majors RULE#9- If Opener's second bid is 4♥ or 4♠ this shows a distributional weak 6/5 hand up to 5 losers: ♠8 ♥AJ1093 ♦KQ109xx ♣x or ♠AQJ84 ♥Q10 ♦AQJ97x ♣- Responder must consider that only aces are important for Slam at this level and with 3 cards in the major bided he can pass or try Slam with RKB1430 for the last suit bid. RULE#10- Finally, if Opener's second bid is 2♦ this is a weak undefined hand so it is a waiting bid to decide what to bid after Responder's second bid. Responder bids are: a) 2♥ showing 5♣+-4♥ b) 2♠ showing 5♣+-4♠ c) 2NT showing stopper in both majors and 15-17 hcp; d) 3♣ asking for Opener bid his stopper in major - promise 1 stopper; e) 3♦ Hxx support in Diamonds - deny A or K stopper in major; f) 3♥ splinter - singleton Hearts - waiting for Opener to decide; g) 3♠ splinter - singleton Spades - waiting for Opener to decide; h) 3NT to play with stopper in both majors - 12-14 hcp; Note2: There are situations where playing 2/1 game force the bidding can stop at level 4 in a minor suit due to a misfit situations or without stopper in a specific major; |
 QJ54 105
 AQJ9
 A64 |
Opener Responder 1
22 *
33
4pass |
* waiting | |
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10832AQJ32
43108 |
N W E S |
K7K74108769532 |
the Hearts lead defeat any game contract |
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A84986K52KQJ7 |