OPENER’S SECOND BID AFTER GAME-FORCE (GF)
After a major (1♠/1♥)
opening in first or second position if Responder bids GF in 2♣
or 2♦
or 2♥
there are two polemic approaches for Opener's second bid:
A- The most popular way is to show the shape of the hand:
Opener bids his second suit with 54xx or rebids his major suit with
63xx or bids 2nt with 5332. This is normal to show a minimum open
with less than 16 hcp. The problem is when Opener makes a reverse
bid to show his shape (45xx) without a real strong (16+ hcp) like:
a) Opener =>
♠AQ54
♥AQ765
♦xx
♣xx
Opener Responder
1♥
2♣
2♠
<= Opener argument is: I am showing where are mine extra values and
there are no more reverse because we are in a GF process.
Question: How Responder may know Opener's strength?
In fact, the information of strength is dubious for a partnership
that don't have rules to show the strength of Opener's hand in his
second bid. This last sequence is a traditional reverse bidding and
shows 16-21 hcp.
b) Opener =>
♠A10754
♥Q5
♦x
♣AQ743
Opener Responder
1♠
2♦
3♣
<= again Responder makes a reverse bid showing 16+ hcp bidding his
second suit at level 3. The correct open since 1930 is 1♣
when Culbertson teach us that with 5♠
and 5♣+
and minimum hand we should bid first 1♣
and rebid twice Spades. Of course, within a competitive auction this
is difficult, but the information of the strength is more important
and should not be distorted.
So, the shape sometimes doesn't clarify Opener's hand strength in
his second bid and prioritize the distribution ignoring the
importance in give a reliable information of the hand’s strength.
This will be a problem to Responder decide in bid or not bid a slam.
B- Another way, most used by expert’s players, is prioritize the
information of hand's strength and then try to limit the Opener's
hand in his second bid even rebidding his major with only 5 cards or
waiting to bid his second suit in appropriated moment. They use the
2nt bid to show 16+ hcp and also the second suit bided at level 3.
Thus, lets establish rules to disciplinary the information of Opener
strength.
RULE#1: When a partnership is in GF
process each player with a minimum hand (12-15 hcp) should use, if
possible, in his second bid the Principle of FAST ARRIVE bidding
game as soon as possible.
Opener Responder
1♠
2♥
4♥
<= minimum without splinter (♠KQ10xx
♥10xxx
♦K9
♣Ax)
Opener Responder
1♠
2♦
3nt <= minimum without splinter (♠KJ109x
♥AQx
♦92
♣K109)
Both examples shows the use of Fast Arrive
RULE#2: After 1♠/1♥
opening and a response GF the rules are:
a) Opener bidding 2nt shows 16+ hcp, even with 6 card major:
Opener Responder
1♠/1♥
2♣
2ST => 16+ hcp with stopper in unbid suits - if
Opener's suit has 6 cards then at level 3 Opener bids again his
major (2nt denies support of 4♣+).
example1
Opener:
♠KQ109xx
♥AQ10
♦K9
♣Qx
or
♠KQ109x
♥AQ10
♦K9
♣Qxx
Opener Responder
1♠
2♦
2ST => 16+ hcp with stopper in unbid
♥
and
♣
- if Opener has 6♠
cards that will be bided at level 3
- denies 4♥+
cards or
4♦
cards or 4♣
cards, so distribution should be 5332 or 6322 because denies
singleton when bided nt.
exanple2
Opener:
♠AQx
♥AQJ9x
♦x
♣KJ10x
Opener Responder
1♥
2♦
3♣
=> 16+ hcp
- If Opener has less than 16 hcp Hearts should be rebid even with 5
cards
b) Opener bids 3nt with 5332 having stopper in the unbid suits with
12-15 hcp:
Opener:
♠K109xx
♥Jx
♦KJ9
♣AQ9
example3
Opener Responder
1♠
2♥
3nt => Fast Arrive 13-15 hcp promises stoppers in unbid suits and
shows balanced distribution
example4
Opener:
♠KQx
♥QJ10xx
♦xx
♣KQ10
Opener Responder
1♥
2♦
3nt
=> Fast Arrive 13-15 hcp with stoppers in unbid suits and balance
hand
c) rebidding his 5 cards suit just to limit his hand within 12-15
hcp:
example5
Opener's hand:
♠AKJ109
♥J9x
♦x
♣QJ10x
Opener Responder
1♠
2♦
2♠
=> minimum (12-15 hcp) can have only 5♠
cards or 6♠+
cards
Fast Arrive was not applied because:
- no stopper in unbid
♥;
- has singleton in Responder suit bided
♦
can't bid his second suit
- have 4 cards in
♣
but no 16+ hcp, so no reverse bid.
example6
Opener:
♠AJ109x
♥J2
♦AJ10x
♣Qx
Opener Responder
1♠
2♥
2♠
=> minimum 12-15 hcp and no support can't bid 3♦
with 12-14 hcp – no sure stopper in unbid suits (♣)
- need shows his limited strength rebind Spades
d) Opener rebids his major in jumps to shows solid suit: AKQJxx or
AKQxxxx 14-15 hcp if more strong then should bid 2nt to show 16-20
hcp
example7
Opener:
♠AKQJxxx
♥93♦A10
♣xx
Opener Responder
1♠
2♥
3♠ =>
this jump in 3♠
ensures 6/7 tricks in Spades and may have additional 1 ace or 2
Kings in case of 7 cards (our Namyats do not allow another ace or 2
Kings)
example8
Opener:
♠x
♥AKQxxx
♦K108
♣Jxx
Opener Responder
1♥
2♣
3♥ =>
shows solid 6/7♥
cards up to 15 hcp – Responder now decides final contract
e) Opener bids his second suit up the line in level 3 only with 16+
hcp
example9
Opener:
♠KQ10xx
♥Q3♦10
♣AKQ10x
Opener Responder
1♠
2♥
3♣
=> shows
16+ points and denies 3 cards support in
♥ having
a 5-5 hand we must add 2 points for distribution so Opener’s has 18
points
example10
Opener:
♠x
♥AKQxxx
♦K108
♣AJ9x
Opener Responder
1♥
2♦
3♣ =>
shows
16+ points
f) Opener bids his second suit up the line in level 2 with 12-15 hcp
example11
Opener:
♠Qxxx
♥AQxxx
♦K108
♣x
Opener Responder
1♥
2♣
2♦
=> 12-15+ hcp and must bid 3♦
cards suit avoiding false Spades reverse
example12
Opener:
♠108543
♥AKQJx
♦Q8
♣x
Opener Responder
1♠
2♣
2♥
=> 12-15+ hcp and shows 5♠+-4♥+
(can’t opening in Hearts)
g) Opener support to Hearts using Fast Arrive versus slow arrive
example13
Opener:
♠KQ109xx
♥Q10x
♦K9
♣Qx
Opener Responder
1♠
2♥
4♥
=> minimum (12-14 hcp) Fast Arrive support with 3/4 cards
example14
Opener:
♠KQ109xx
♥AQ10
♦K9
♣Qx
Opener Responder
1♠
2♥
3♥
=> slow arrive means 16+ hcp and slam interest
4♥
=> no cuebid - so minimum response hand
h) Opener supports Responder's minor at level 3 with 4+ cards and
12-15 hcp
Opener Responder
1♠/1♥
2♣
3♣
=> minimum - 4 cards support (exception 3 cards with 2 top honors)
example15
Opener:
♠Q109xx
♥A10x
♦J9
♣KQx
Opener Responder
1♠
2♣
3♣
=> minimum 12-15 hcp
example16
Opener:
♠Kx
♥AJ10xx
♦J9
♣K983
Opener Responder
1♥
2♣
3♣
=> minimum 12-15 hcp
i) Opener supports Responder's minor in jump to level 4 showing 4+
cards support with a top honor and 16+ hcp – slam interest
example17
Opener:
♠A10
♥AK109x
♦Q9
♣KJxx
Opener Responder
1♥
2♣
4♣
=> strong 4♣+
support with 16+ hcp – Responder should cuebid or RKB
example18
Opener:
♠AKJ109
♥Kx
♦KJ93
♣Kx
Opener Responder
1♠
2♦
4♦
=> strong 4♦+
support with 16+ hcp – Responder should cuebid or RKB
example19
Opener:
♠x
♥AK10xx
♦KQ943
♣K3
Opener Responder
1♥
2♦
4♦
=> strong support 16+ hcp – Responder bidding 4♥
is to play denying 2 aces and bidding
5♦
is sign-off denying aces in unbid suits else Responder must cuebid
J) Opener jumping after GF is splinter not showing strong 2 suits
example20
Opener:
♠AKJ109
♥x
♦KJ93
♣Kxx
Opener Responder
1♠
2♦
3♥
=> splinter singleton
♥
with support 4♦+
cards - 12+ hcp
example21
Opener:
♠KJx
♥AK10xx
♦3
♣K1093
Opener Responder
1♥
2♣
3♦
=> splinter singleton/void in
♦
12+ hcp
example22
Opener:
♠KQJxx
♥K10xx
♦3
♣A109
Opener Responder
1♠
2♥
4♦
=> splinter singleton/void in
♦
12+ hcp
Negative example23
Some players after a 2/1 GF in this difficult sequence “1♦
response 2♣”
looking for show their suits do wrong reverse bid with 12-15 hcp
Opener Responder
1♦
2♣
2♠/2♥
<= in fact this bid needs 16+ hcp for all partnership
that play reverse
We emphasize that the information of Opener's strength defined by
his second bid is vital to Responder take decision in stop at game
or try slam.
Reinforcing:
- in 2/1 the Principle of FAST ARRIVE is a useful tool to show
hand's strength, so after a GF established, Opener and Responder
should go to game as soon as possible or bid slowly to show a good
hand (16+ hcp);
- One common rule to limit Opener's hand is the rebid of his major
5 cards at level 2 showing a minimum hand 12-15 hcp;
- After 1♥
opening and responses 2♣
or 2♦
Opener's bids in 2♠
shows a reverse hand with 16+ hcp;
- If Opener's first bid is 1♠
then after a response in 2♥
a second bid in 3♣
or 3♦
promises 16+ points, so Opener with 54xx and less than 16 hcp must
rebid 2♠
waiting that Responder bids his minor to then maybe supports
partner’s minor;
- Opener's second bid in 2nt promises 16+ hcp with distribution
5332 or 6322 and stoppers in unbid suits;
- Responder's second bid follow also FAST ARRIVE Principle and a
support in a major opening bided at level 3 is more strong than
bided at level 4.
example24
Opener Responder
1♠
2♦
2♥
?
3♥
=> 16+ hcp
4♣
=> splinter singleton Clubs 12+ hcp
4♥
=> 12-15 hcp without splinter
- When Responder has 16+ hcp he may not use Jacoby 2nt or splinter,
but just bid another suit before support Opener even with 3 cards:
example25
Opener Responder
1♠
2♣
2♥/2♦
?
2♠
<=
♠KJxx
♥Kxx
♦AKx
♣AJx
good hand and 3♠+
support
...................... slow bidding - shows 16+ hcp
4♠
<=
♠K9x
♥xx
♦xx
♣AKQxxx
minimum Just Clubs and 3♠
support
...................... Fast Arrive 12-15 hcp
example26
Opener Responder
1♠
2♣
2♥
?
3♥
<=
♠Kx
♥KJxx
♦Kx
♣AKJxx
4♥
cards and 16+ hcp
...................... slow bidding - shows 16+ hcp
4♥
<=
♠K9
♥Qxxx
♦Ax
♣KQxxx
4♥
minimum 12-15 hcp
...................... Fast Arrive - shows 12-15 hcp
example27
Opener Responder
1♥
2♣
2♦
2♥
4♥
<= minimum open hand 12-14 hcp
Opener:
♠Kx
♥KJxxx
♦KQJ9
♣xx
Responder:
♠Q9
♥AQxx
♦xx
♣AKJxx
example28
Opener Responder when splinter fits hands
1♥
2♣
2♥
4♦
<= splinter - singleton Diamonds - invitation to Slam
4nt 5♠
<= 2 key cards and the Queen of trump
6♥
pass
Opener:
♠AKx
♥AJxxxx
♦8xx
♣x
Responder:
♠J9
♥KQxx
♦x
♣AKQxxx
When Opener has no way to explain his strength
Suppose Opener has a strong 2 suits like:
Opener: :
♠AKQxx
♥AKQxx
♦8x
♣x
example29
Opener Responder
1♠
2♣
<= GF
?
now responder can’t jump to 3♥
because it is a splinter 3♥
can’t bid 2nt with 5♠-5♥
or 5♠-4♥
So, Opener must bid only 2♥
with his 18 hcp
Conclusion this 2♥
bid should be interpreted by Responder as a weak hand 12-15 hcp but
could be a middle hand with 16-17 hcp or a strong hand with 18-20
points like this hand has: 18 hcp + 2 points for length = 20 points.
Opener should obtain from Responder a support to try slam without
explanation.
Finally there are rare misfit situations when GF should be aborted
due to misfit hand conditions for a successful contract - as Terence
Reese once a time said "when misfit is found drop the bid as soon as
possible".
example30
Opener Response
♠AKJxx
♥KJxxx
♦x
♣xx
♠-
♥xx
♦KQ9432
♣AQJxx
1♠
2♦
2♥
3♣
3♥
?
Analyses: this is a misfit hand - Responder need luck to make game
in a minor at level 5 - also 4♥
will be difficult to make - 3nt without good communication is out
of question - so PASS is possible here!
Corollary: The recommendation is
for not use the shape way to show the opener hand but to use the
rules that prioritize the information of strength of Opener's hand
that assure conditions to better try a Slam.
Conclusion: 2/1 system can't allow bad decisions based in dubious
auctions and the Principle of Fast Arrive Principle help us to avoid
dubious decision.
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