Opener's Second Bid after
a 2/1 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 start 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
and there are no more reverse because we are in a GF process.
Question: How Responder will know Opener's strength hand?
In fact the information of strength is dubios 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 tradicional reverse bidding and shows 16-21 hcp.
b)
Opener => A10754 Q5 x AQ743
Opener Responder
1
2
3
<= again Responder shows his suits but makes a reverse bidding having a weak
hand. The correct open is 1
since 1930, Culbertson teach us that with 5-5
the
opening is 1
with weak hand and after we rebid and Spades twice, but with
strong hand
we open 1
and then we bid Clubs at level 3 to show 16+ points.
So the shape sometimes doesn't clarify Opener's hand strength in his
second bid and prioritize the distribution
ignoring the importance in have information of Opener's strength hand.
Of course this is a problem to Responder decide in bid or not bid a Slam
B- Another way, most used by experts players, prioritize the information of hand's strength
and then try to limit the Opener's hand in his second bid even rebiding
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.
Thus lets establish rules to disciplinary the information of Opener
strength.
RULE#1: When a partnership are in GF process/sequence each player should use,
if possible,
in
his second bid the FAST
ARRIVE Principle bidding game as soon as possible with 12-15 hcp hand.
RULE#2:
After 1/1 opening and a response GF at level 2 Opener:
a) bids 2nt to show 16+ hcp in any distribution, even with 6 card major:
Opener
Responder
1 2
2ST => 16+ hcp with stopper in
unbid
and
- if
Opener's suit is 6 cards then at level 3 Opener bids 3
(2nt denies support of 4 cards in )
Opener's hand:
KQ109xx
AQ10 K9
Qx
/
KJ109x
AQ10 AK9
Qx
Opener
Responder
1
2
2ST => 16+ hcp with stopper in
unbid
and
-
if 6
cards
that will be bidded at level 3
- denies 4 cards or 4
cards
or 4 cards,
so distribution
should be 5332 or 6322 because denies singleton when bidded nt.
Opener's hand: AQJ10xx AQ J9
K10x
/
KQJ9x
AQ K9x
QJx
b)
bids 3nt with 5332 having stopper in the unbid suits with 12-15 hcp:
Opener Responder
1 2
3nt => minimum (13-15 hcp)
Fast Arrive promise
stop in unbid and
and also promise
2/3 cards in in
a 5332 distribution.
Opener's
hand:
KJ109x AQ KJ9
10xx
/
J109xx AJ10 AQ9
Qx
c) rebids his 5 cards suit just to limit his hand with in 12-15 hcp:
Opener Responder
1
2
2
=>
minimum (12-15 hcp) can have only 5
cards or 6 or 7
Opener's hand: QJ10xx J9 AQ
K10xx /
AKJ109
K10x x
Q10xx
Fast Arrive was not applyed when:
-
no stopper in
unbid
;
- has singleton in
Responder suit bidded
can't bid his second suit
- have 4 cards in
but no 16+ hcp, so no reverse bid.
Opener
Responder
1
2
2 <= KQxxx xx AJ10x Qx
12-15 hcp and no support
can't bid 3
with 12-14 hcp - need shows his limited strength
d) jump in his major shows solid suit: AKQJxx or AKQxxxx 14+ hcp:
Opener
Responder
1
2
3 <= AKQJxx xx AJ10 Qx
14+ hcp and no support
for
suit
this jump
in 3
ensures 6 tricks in Spades suit
e) bids his second suit up the line in level 3 only with 16+ hcp;
Opener
Responder
1 2
3 <= AQ9xxJxAQ108Ax
16+ points (AQ9xxJxAQJ108x)
having a 5-5 hand we must add 2 points for distribution
f) bids his second suit up the line in level 2 with 12-15 hcp;
Opener Responder
1 2
2 =>
12+ hcp and denies 4 cards support to Clubs
Opener's
hand:
KJ109x Ax KJ9x
10x
/
Q109xx Ax AQ9xx
x
g) jump support to game using Fast Arrive when has minimum
Opener
Responder
1
2
4
=> mínimum (12-14 hcp) fast arrrive support with 3/4 cards
Opener's hand: KJ10xx Qxx AK
Jxx
/ KJ10xx xxxx AQ
Qxx
Opener
Responder
1
2
3 => slow arrive means 16+ hcp
and Slam interest
Responder's hand:
AQxxx KJ10x K9 Kx /
AKxxx AQ10 KJ9 xx
4
=> no cuebid - so minimum
response hand
Responder's hand:
Jx AJ10xx KJ9 Kxx /
x AQ10xxx KJ9 Qxx
h) support Responder's minor at level 3 with 4+ cards and 12-15 hcp;
i) support Responder's minor in jump to level 4 with 4+ cards
and a top honor having 16+
hcp;
Negative Example:
Some players after a 2/1 GF looking for show
their
suits do wrong reverse bid with 12-15 hcp
Opener Responder
1
2
2
<= in fact this bid needs
16+ hcp for all partnership that play reverse
Opener:
KQxx KJ109x
Kxx
or
KQxx AJ109x
x
Kxx
We emphasize that the information of Opener's strength bidded in his
second bids is vital for Responder take decision, avoiding
orverbids and underbids, in stop
at game or try Slam.
Reinforcing:
- in 2/1 system the FAST ARRIVE Principle is a usefull tool to show
hand's strength, so after a GF established, Opener and Responder
should go to game
(3nt, 4, 4, 5, 5)
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, so Opener with
12-15 hcp in 45xx
must rebid 2
waiting for
2
from Responder for then bids 4;
- 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 rebid 2
with 12-15 hcp;
- 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.
Opener Responder
1
2
2
?
3
=> 16+ hcp
4
=> 12-15 hcp
-
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:
Opener Responder
1
2
2
?
2
<=
KJxxKxxAKx AJx
good hand and 3+
support
......................
slow bidding - shows 16+ hcp
4
<=
K9xxxAKQxx Qxx
3+
minimum and good Diamonds
......................
Fast Arrive 12-15 hcp
Opener Responder
1
2
2
?
3
<=
KxKJxxQ9 AKJxx
4
and 16+ hcp
......................
slow bidding - shows 16+ hcp
4
<=
K9QxxxAx KQxxx
4
minimum 12-15 hcp
......................
Fast Arrive - shows 12-15 hcp
Opener Responder
1
2
2
2
4 <= minimum open hand
12-14 hcp
Opener:
KxKJxxxKQJ2 xx
Responder:
Q9AQxxx AKQxxx
Opener Responder
1
2
2
4
<= splinter - singleton Diamonds
- invitation to Slam
4nt 5
<= 2 key cards and the Queen of trump
Opener:
AKxAJxxxx852 x
Responder:
J9KQxxx AKQxxx
Finally there are rare
misfit situations that the GF should be abandoned due to
no good conditions for a successeful contract - as Terence Reese once a time said "when misfit is found drop the bid as soon as possible".
Opener Response
AKJxzxKJ75xxxx
-xxKQ9432 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 not use the shape way to show the
opener hand but to use the rules that priorise the
information of strength of Opener's hand that assure conditions to
better try Slam.
Conclusion: 2/1 system can't allows bad decisions
based in dubious auctions and Fast Arrive Principle help to avoid dubious
decision.
/ / /