Playing 2/1 system after opening at level 1 a response without jump at level 2 shows 12+ hcp and is Game Force (GF) following the principle that two hands (Opener+Responder) with strength of an opening hand should play at least game (3nt 4
4 5
5) unless misfit
is found and the bidding may stop under game (3
3 4
4) - read
misfit.On the other hand if Responder bids at level 1 and Opener bids another suit at level 1 or bids 1nt we need a convention to start a GF or just to try to start a GF in the follow bidding sequences:
a) Opener Responder
1
/1
1/11nt ? <= what to bid to try GF
b) Opener Responder
1
/1
11
? <= what to bid to try GF c) Opener Response
1
11nt ? <= what to bid to try GF
d) Opener Responder
1
11
/1
? <= what to bid to try GF Here we will explain 3 these conventions that are most popular by bridge players to try GF. They are:
1-Checkback Stayman (CBS)
2-New Minor Forcing (NMF)
3-Fourth Suit Forcing (FSF)
But before explain CBS / NMF / FSF let's establishe some approaches:
Supposing the bidding is without interference:
Opener Responder
1
/1
11nt <= what this means?
First there are 2 classes of approaches:
- some partnerships that have 4
cards but distribution 4333/4432 prefer to inform partner that his
distribution is flat bypassing the possible 1
to permit a view of shape's hand, what is very important;- there are partnerships that prefer to bid 1
even with 4333/4432 hand. So we use the approach that the priority is to find a fit. We should avoid bid 1nt with 4
cards in this sequence because partner could also has 4
cards
and he may pass in 1nt when 2
is a more confortable contract, or worst, opponents may reopen the
bidding and we missed spades fit. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opener Responder
1
1 1nt <= what this means?
Here there are 2 classes of approaches:
- there are partnership that bids up the line and with 4
and a major they
bidding Diamonds before the major suit;- there are partnership that follow Walsh's principle that the priority is to bid the major 4 cards even having 5
+ when
Responder's hand is limited up to 11 hcp,
but with 12+ hcp then Responder bids first his long Diamonds suit and after reverse
bidding the major suit at level 2.So we assume that Walsh's principle is our approach and then 1nt here may have one or two majors or no major.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opener Responder
1
1 1
/1
<= in Walsh principle this means long Clubs <=5-4
or 5-4---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opener Responder
1
1 major1nt 2
<= 4+ with 6-9 hcp
- sign-offOpener Responder
1
1 major1nt 3
<= 4+ with 10-11 -
invitation to gameOpener Responder
1
1 major1nt 2
<= this depends on what convention we play:if checkback then this searches the hand
if NMF this also searches the hand
if Responder is a passed hand this means 5
+
sign-offOpener Responder
1
1 major1nt 2
<= this depends on what convention we play:if checkback then this search the hand
if NMF this is 4
+
cards 6-9 hcp and sign-offOpener Responder
1
1 major1nt 3
<= 4 cards major and 5+ Walsh with
6-9 hcp - sign-offOpener Responder
1
1 major1nt 2
<= checkback2
/2/2/2nt
3 <= sign-off 5+
and 6-9 hcppass this is the way to sign-off in Clubs
Opener Responder
1
1 major1nt 2
<= checkback3
/3/3nt
4 <= sign-off 5+
and 6-9 hcpthis difficult in Clubs's sign-off is the
drawback of checkback to use NMF
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opener Responder
1
1 major1nt 4
<=GF this shows
16+ hcp and strong Clubs supportasking to Opener cuebid his ace up the line or 5
Opener Responder
1
1 major1nt 4
<= this shows
16+ hcp and strong Diamonds supportasking to Opener cuebid his ace up the line or 5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: When Opener supports Responder's suit with 3 cards we will use the notation: Hxx for a top honor (A/K/Q) and xxx for low cards
================================================
1-CheckBack Stayman is a conventions to search Opener's hands after the rebid in 1nt asking for 3-cards support or if Opener has other major.
Most partnerships use simple responses in checkback like:
Opener Responder
1
/1 11nt 2
<= checkback searching for 3
cards or 4 cards ?
2
<= denies 3
support and 4
cards with minimum (12-13 hcp)2
<= 4
cards and denies 3
support2
<= shows 3
support and may also have 4
cards2nt <= shows stoppers in unbid suits with maximum (14 hcp)
So if you will play checkback with a new partner probable this is the way he will use checkback - ask him about his checkback
Checkback convention with extension
If you have a regular partner and want to play a more eficient checkback convention with information about minimum and maximum of Opener's hand and also knowing if Opener has other major or stopper in the other major then read below:
Opener Responder
1
11nt 2
<= search for 3
cards and 4 cards -
must have 10+ hcp?
Opener answers are:
2
<= 4
cards and 3 cards
support - minimum 12-13 hcpResponder may sign-off in 2
or bidding 3
asks for Hxx to 4
Responder bids 3
GF
asking for more explanationOpener bids 3
with A and Hxx,
bids 3 with Hxx or 3nt xxx Responder bids 4
is GF 16+ hcp asking for Diamond cuebid or 4Opener bids 4
with A
or bids 4 and
Responder decide2
<= 4
cards and denies 3
cards - 12-14 hcp Responder may sign-off in 2
or 2nt or 3Responder bidding 3
is GF asking for more explanationOpener bids 3nt with stoppers in Diamonds, bids 3
with Hxand bids 4
with 5
cards Responder bidding 4
is GF 16 hcp asking for cuebid or 5Opener bids 4
with A
or bids 4 and
Responder decide2
<= 3
cards and denies 4
cards - minimum 12-13 hcpResponder may pass or bidding 3
asks for Hxx to 42nt <= denies 4
cards and 3 cards
- shows stopper in Hearts 12-14 hcpResponder may pass or sign-off in 3
or 3
Responder bidding 4
is GF 16+ hcp asking for Ace cuebid or 53
<= 5
cards and denies stopper in Hearts3
<= 4
+ 3 - maximum 14
hcp with Hxx3
<= 3
with Hxx
- maximum 14 hcp - denies 4
cards
3nt <= 14-15 hcp with atoppers in
and
possible singleton's SpadesOpener Responder
1
11nt 2
<= search for 3
cards or 4 cards -
must have 10+ hcp?
Opener answers are:
2
<= 4
cards and 3 cards
support - minimum 12-13 hcpResponder may sign-off in 2
or bidding 3
asks for Hxx for 4Responser bidding 3
is GF asking for more explanationOpener bids 3
with A and Hxx,
bids 3 with Hxx or 3nt xxx Responder bidding 4
is GF 16+ hcp asking for cuebid or 52
<= 4
cards and denies 3
cards - 12-14 hcpResponder may sign-off in 2
or 2nt or 3Responser bidding 3
is GF
asking for more explanationOpener bids 3nt with stoppers in Clubs, bids 3
with Hxand bids 4
with 5
cards Responder bidding 4
is GF 16+ hcp asking for cuebid or 52
<= 3
cards and denies Hearts suit - minimum 12-13 hcpResponder decide and bidding 3
asks for Hxx to 4
2nt <= denies 4
cards and 3 cards
- shows Hearts stopper 12-14 hcpResponder may pass or sign-off in 3
or 3
Responder bidding 4
is GF 16+ hcp asking for Ace cuebid or 53
<= 4
+ 3 - maximum 14
hcp with Hxx3
<= 3
- maximum 14 hcp with Hxx - denies 4
3nt <= 14-15 hcp with stoppers in
and
- possible singleton in Spades Opener Responder
1
11nt 2
<= search 3 cards
- must have 10+ hcp?
Opener answers are:
2
<= 3
cards with Hxx support - minimum 12-13 hcpResponder may sign-off in 2
- any other bid is GF cuebid2
<= 3
cards xxx support
denies top honor - minimum 12-13 hcp Responder may pass with 10-11 hcp - any other bid is GF cuebid
2
<= shows stopper in Spades and denies
Diamonds stopper 12-14 hcpResponder bidding 4
is GF 16+ hcp asking for cuebid or 52nt <= denies 3
cards and 12-14 hcp with Diamonds stopper Responder pass or sign-off in 3
or 3 asking for Hxx
for 4
Responder bidding 4
is GF 16+ hcp asking for Ace cuebid or 53
<= cuebid A
with maximum 14 hcp and Hxx 3
<= cuebid A
with maximum 14 hcp and Hxx
denies A3
<= cuebid A
with maximum 14 hcp and Hxx
denies A and A3nt <= 14-15 hcp with possible singleton in Hearts
Opener Responder
1
11nt 2
<= search 3 cards
- must have 10+ hcp?
Opener answers are:
2
<= 3
cards Hxx support - minimum 12-13 hcpResponder may sign-off in 2
- any other bid is GF cuebid 2
<= 3
cards xxx support no top honor - minimum 12-13 hcp Responser may pass with 10-11 hcpr any other bid is GF cuebid
2
<= shows stopper in Spades and denies
Diamonds stopper 12-14 hcpResponder bidding 4
is GF asking for cuebid or 52nt <= denies 3
cards with 12-14 hcp with shows Diamonds stopper Responder may pass or sign-off in 3
or 3
Responder bidding 4
is GF asking for Ace cuebid or 53
<= cuebid A
with maximum 14 hcp and Hxx 3
<= cuebid A
with maximum 14 hcp and Hxx
denies A3
<= cuebid A
with maximum 14 hcp and Hxx
denies A and A3nt <= 14-15 hcp with possible singleton in Hearts
===============================================
2- New Minor Forcing is a conventions like 2
checkback that asks for support of 3 cards and prioritarilly asks if Opener
has the other major. If the opening is made in 1
then 2 search the
hand and if the opening is made in 1
then 2
search the hand (the other minor search the hand).Most partnerships use simple responses in NMF like:
Opener Responder
1
11nt 2
<= search for 3
cards or 4 cards -
must have 10+ hcp?
2
<= shows 4 cards
and denies 3
cards support2
<= shows 3 cards
support and may also have 4
cards2nt <= denies 4
and 3 cards1
11nt 2
<= search 3 cards
support
- must have 10+ hcp?
2
<= shows 3 cards
support 2nt <= denies 3
supportOpener Responder
1
11nt 2
<= search for 3
cards or 4 cards -
must have 10+ hcp?
2
<= shows 4 cards
and denies 3
cards support 2
<= shows 3 cards
support and may also have 4
cards2nt <= denies 4
and 3Opener Responder
1
11nt 2
<= search 3 cards
- must have 10+ hcp?
2
<= shows 3 cards
support 2nt <= denies 3
supportTo read NMF extension use this link here
==============================================
Note: Considering that Opener in his second bid limited his hand in 12-14 hcp Responder with less than 18 hcp should not think in Slam if also has a balanded hand, so all the bidding is for find a fit to play game but if Responder has 10-11 hcp then the bidding may stop in 2nt.
==============================================
FOURTH SUIT FORCING - FSF
The 4th Suit Forcing is on for sequences where Responder with 11+ hcp bids the 4th suit asking for more explanation:
a) Opener Responder b) Opener Responder
1
1
1
11
2 <= 4th suit
1
2
<= 4th suitc) Opener Responder d) Opener Responder
1
1
1
11
2
<= 4th suit 1
2 <= 4th suitFSF obey the follow priorities:
1- bidding responder's suit with 3 cards support;
2- bidding NT to show stopper in the 4th suit;
3- bidding the 4th suit with 4 cards in that suit/
4- bidding any natural rebid when lacking any of the above priorities.
Let's show some examples based in the bidding sequence above:
a) Opener:
K1074 532
5 AKQ105Responder:
Q4 AK1098
Q1032 84and the bidding is (a), so after 2
(4th suit) Opener bids 2
to show his minimum with 3 cards support and now Responder decide for a
prudent trial bid in 3
and then Opener with singleton in Diamonds bids 4
with great chance in success.b) Opener:
KQ94 102
A1098 KQ10Responder:
104 AK983
KJ2 84and the bidding is (b), so after 2
(4th suit) Opener without support in Responder's suit but having good
stoppers in Clubs and 14 hcp jumps to 3nt. Of course if Opener has 12
hcp with only one black Queen then Opener bids only 2nt that is passable
if Responder is only 11 hcp.c) Opener:
AJ74 2
K85 KQ1052Responder:
Q4 A98
AQJ32 84and the bidding is (c), so after 2
(4th suit) Opener shows 3 cards support in Diamonds. Consider that we
play Walsh convention that says after 1
opening and response 1
a rebid by Opener in a major shows 5
cards the Opener's hand after support in Diamonds should be 5431 with
singleton in Hearts. Conclusion Responder then jumps to 5
with great chances of success.c) Opener:
4 K2
KQ1095 KQ1095Responder:
Q64 A9873
J7 A84and the bidding is (d), so after 2
(4th suit) Opener shows his 5-5 in the minors bidding 3.
Responder make a invitation with 4
that is accepted by Opener valuing this K
in partner suit with great chance of success.The exception: Bidding the 4th suit at level 1, by agreement, many partership do not consider in this sequence a GF bid but a natural bid and just one-round force
Opener:
K1032 KQ72
5 AQ109Responder:
9864 73
AKJ876 4Opener Responder
1
1 1
1
<= natural 2
pass
Here the 4th suit is GF
Opener:
K9 A1092
95 AQ1095Responder:
Q84 73
AKQJ87 84Opener Responder
1
11
2 <= 4th suit
GF2nt <= shows Spades stoppers
3nt
pass
Opener bidding the 4th suit shows a suit
Opener:
94 AJ109
9 AQ10985Responder:
KQJ4 73
AKJ8 J4Opener Responder
1
11
2
<= forcing artificial bid - may have 4because bidding 2
is not forcing2
<= 5+4 3nt
pass
/ / /
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