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TWO-WAY CHECKBACK
Opener Responder
1minor 1major
1NT ?
How to search Openers hand also telling to Opener if the Responders
bid is a sign-off or an invitation bid or a GF bid?
Since The Complete Book of Bridge by Reese and Dormer (1984/5)
followed by Philip Cowan in Bridge World 1988 and with improvements by
Kit Woolsey in Bridge Today 1990 the discussion of how to sign-off, how
to invite and how to impose game force have been tested by many
partnerships. In Autumn 1994 was published in European Bridge pp 62-66
the XY no-trump by Lars Blakset & Soren Christiansen with mention of
Crowhurst. The present scenario is for the use of 2-way checkback wrote
by Kit Woolsey.
This convention resolves the problems of NMF vs Walsh 2♦
sign-off and CBS vs 4♣
sign-off. The solutions are to search Openers hand inside two
modalities. Game Forcing or sign-off/invitation. The asking bid in 2♣
is for sign-off or invitations and the asking bid in 2♦
is for GF sequences - like 2/1 GF:
Opener Responder
1minor 1major
1NT 2♦
<= GF
? <= have you 3 cards support?
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but the sequence
Opener Responder
1minor 1major
1NT 2♣
<= not GF
is a forcing relay to Opener bid 2♦
to start a sign-off or an invitation
and if hand fits may try game
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Rule#1:
After the sequence 1 minor response 1 major then 1NT the bid of 2♦
is GF and ask in first priority if Opener has 4 cards in the other major
and in second priority if major has 3 cards support in the major bid.
Rule#2:
After the sequence 1minor response 1major then 1NT the bid of 2♣
is a force relay to Opener bid 2♦
and if Responder next bid is 3♣
this is pure sign-off, and other bids are just invitation.
Rule#3:
After the sequence 1minor response 1major then 1NT any bid in jump by
Responder is GF (not more invitation) and obey the following meaning:
1-Summary of 1♣
response 1♠
Responder Opener
1♣
1♠
1NT
?
2♣
<= force relay to 2♦
2♦
<= GF asks for shape
2♥
<= choose 2♠
or pass
. 5♠-4♥
or 5♠-5♥
5-9 hcp
2♠
<= sign-off 5♠+
cards 6-9 hcp
2NT <= invitation 11 hcp
all next jumps are GF
3♣
<= GF 5♠-5♣
or 4♠-5♣
12+ hcp
3♦
<= GF 5♠-5♦
12+ hcp
3♥
<= GF 5♠-5♥
12+ hcp
3♠
<= GF 6♠+
cards 12+ hcp
this 3♠
jump define trump suit
3NT <= to play balanced 12-17 hcp
4♣
<= RKB1430 for Spades GF 16+ hcp
4NT is quantitative so 4♣
is always RKB
4♦
<= 6♠3♥1♦3♣
splinter 16+ hcp
self splinter defines the major as trump suit
Opener decides: 4♠-sign-off/4NT-RKB
4♥
<= 6♠1♥3♦3♣
splinter 16+ hcp
Opener decides: 4♠-sign-off/4NT-RKB
4♠
<= to play - 6♠+
cards solid suit 12-15 hcp
4NT <= quantitative invitation to 6NT 19 hcp
5♣
<= to play distributional 4♠-6♣
10+ hcp
2-Summary of 1♣
response 1♥
Responder Opener
1♣
1♥
..
1NT
?
2♣
<= force relay to 2♦
2♦
<= GF asks for shape
2♥
<=
sign-off 5♥+
cards 6-9 hcp
2♠
<= 4♠-4♥
11 hcp invitation
2NT <= invitation 11 hcp
all next jumps are GF
3♣
<= GF 5♥-5♣
or 4♥-5♣
12+ hcp
3♦
<= GF 5♥-5♦
12+ hcp
3♥
<= GF 6♥+
cards 12+ hcp
this 3♥
jump define trump suit
3♠
<= GF 1♠6♥3♦3♣
splinter 16+ hcp
splinter Opener decides: 4♥-sign-off/4♣-RKB
3NT <= to play balanced 12-17 hcp
4♣
<= RKB1430 for Hearts GF 16+ hcp
4♦
<= 3♠6♥1♦3♣
splinter 16+ hcp
splinter Opener decides: 4♥-sign-off/4NT-RKB
4♥
<= to play 6♥+
cards solid suit
4NT <= quantitative invitation to 6NT 19 hcp
5♣
<= to play distributional 4♥-6♣
10+ hcp
3-Summary of 1♦
response 1♠
Responder Opener
1♦
1♠
1NT
?
2♣
<= force relay to 2♦
2♦
<= GF asks for shape
2♥
<= choose 2♠
or pass
. 5♠-4♥
or 5♠-5♥
5-9 hcp
2♠
<= sign-off 5♠+
cards 6-9 hcp
2NT <= invitation to 3NT 11 hcp
all next jumps GF
3♣
<= GF 5♠-5♣
12+ hcp
3♦
<= GF 5♠-5♦
or 4♠-5♦
12+ hcp
3♥
<= GF 5♠-5♥
12+ hcp
3♠
<= GF 6♠+
cards 12+ hcp
this jump define trump suit
3NT <= to play balanced 12-17 hcp
4♣
<= RKB1430 for Spades GF 16+ hcp
4♦
<= 6♠3♥3♦1♣
splinter 16+ hcp
splinter in 4♦
is in other minor not support
the splinter defines the major as trump suit
Opener decides: 4♠-sign-off/4NT-RKB
4♥
<= 6♠1♥3♦3♣
splinter 16+ hcp
splinter Opener decides: 4♠-sign-off/4NT-RKB
4♠
<= to play - 6♠+
cards solid suit 12-15 hcp
4NT <= quantitative invitation to 6NT 19 hcp
5♦
<= to play distributional 4♠-6♦
10+ hcp
4-Summary of 1♦
response 1♥
Responder Opener
1♦
1♥
1NT
?
2♣
<= force relay to 2♦
2♦
<= GF asks for shape
2♥
<=
sign-off 5♥+
cards 6-9 hcp
2♠
<= 4♠-4♥
11 hcp invitation
2NT <= invitation 11 hcp
3♣
<= GF 5♥-5♣
12+ hcp
3♦
<= GF 5♥-5♦
or 4♥-5♦
12+ hcp
3♥
<= GF 6♥
cards 12+ hcp
this jump define trump suit
3♠
<= GF 1♠6♥3♦3♣
splinter 16+ hcp
Opener decides: 4♥
sign-of/4NT-RKB
3NT <= to play balanced 12-17 hcp
4♣
<= RKB1430 for Hearts GF 16+ hcp
4♦
<= 3♠6♥3♦1♣
splinter 16+ hcp
the splinter 4♦
is in the other minor
the splinter defines the major as trump suit
Opener decides: 4♥-sign-off/4NT-RKB
4♥
<= to play 6♥+
cards splinter 16+ hcp
4NT <= quantitative invitation to 6NT 19 hcp
5♦
<= to play distributional 4♥-6♦
10+ hcp
5-Summary of responses for 2♣
sequence for sign-off or invitation
after
1♣
response 1♠
Responder Opener
. 1♣
1♠
1NT
2♣*
2♦
? *2♣
force relay to 2♦
pass <= probably 4♠-6♦
up to 10 hcp
2♥
<= 5♠-4♥
or 5♠-5♥
9-11 hcp
2♠
<= 5♠
cards 10-11 hcp invitation
2NT <= shows Clubs 4♠-5♣
/ 5♠-5♣
9-11 hcp
. Opener decides: pass / 3♣
sign-off / 3NT
3♣
<= sign-off 4♠-5♣
6-9 hcp
3♦
<= 5♠-5♦
9-11 hcp invitation
3♥
<= 5♠-5♥
9-11 hcp invitation
3♠
<= 6♠
cards 9-11 hcp invitation
6-Summary of responses for 2♣
sequence for sign-off or invitation
after
1♣
response 1♥
Responder Opener
1♣
1♥
1NT
2♣*
2♦
? *2♣
force relay to 2♦
pass <= probably 4♥-6♦
up to 10 hcp
2♥
<= 5♥
cards 10-11 hcp invitation
2♠
<= 4♠-5♥
or 4♠-4♥
10-11 hcp inv
2NT <= shows Clubs 4♥-5♣
/ 5♥-5♣
9-11 hcp
. Opener decides: pass / 3♣
sign-off / 3NT
3♣
<= sign-off 4♥-5♣
6-9 hcp
3♦
<= 5♥-5♦
9-11 hcp invitation
3♥
<= 6♥
cards
9-11 hcp
invitation
7-Summary of responses for 2♣
sequence for sign-off or invitation
after
1♦
response 1♠
Responder Opener
1♦
1♠
1NT
2♣*
2♦
? *2♣
force relay to 2♦
pass <= probably 4♠-4♦+
up to 10 hcp
2♥
<= 5♠-4♥
or 5♠-5♥
10-11
hcp inv
2♠
<= 5♠
cards 10-11 hcp invitation
2NT <= invitation
11 hcp
3♣
<= 5♠-5♣
9-11 hcp invitation
3♦
<= 5♠-5♦
9-11 hcp invitation
3♥
<= 5♠-5♥
9-11 hcp invitation
3♠
<= 6♠
cards 9-11 hcp invitation
8-Summary of responses for 2♣
after
1♦
response 1♥
Responder Opener
1♦
1♥
1NT
2♣*
2♦
? *2♣
force relay to 2♦
pass <= probably 4♥-4♦+
up to 10 hcp
2♥
<= 5♥
cards 10-11 hcp invitation
2♠
<= 4♠-5♥
or 4♠-4♥
10-11 hcp inv
2NT <= invitation
11 hcp
3♣
<= 5♥-5♣
9-11 hcp invitation
3♦
<= 5♥-5♦
9-11 hcp invitation
3♥
<= 6♥
cards
9-11 hcp
invitation
Summary for GF
Opener Responder
1minor 1major
1NT 2♦
<= asks for in priorities:
?
- bid 4 of other major
- bid support of 3 cards
- rebid a 6-card suit garbage
- show distribution 2245 or 2254
- rebid 2NT
9-Summary GF 1♣
response 1♠
and Opener explain his hand
Opener Responder
1♣
1♠
1NT 2♦
<= GF checkback
?
2♥
<= 4♥
cards
may have 3♠
cards
2♠
<= 3♠
cards deny 4♥
cards 12-13 hcp
. Responder 3♠
ask for top honor
. So, without Opener must pass
2NT <= denies 3♠
and 4♥
cards 2♠3♥4♦4♣
3♣
<=
denies 3♠
1minor 5♣
2♠3♥3♦5♣
3♦
<= 5♣-4♦
two minors 2♠2♥4♦5♣
3♥
<= 4♥
and 3♠
with 1♠
top honor 14 hcp
3♠
<= 3♠
cards with 1♠+
top honor 14 hcp
3NT <= 15 hcp singleton Spades 1♠3♥4♦5♣
10-Summary GF 1♣
response 1♥
Opener Responder
1♣
1♥
1NT 2♦
<= GF checkback
?
2♥
<= 3♥
cards
12-13 hcp no top honor
2♠
<= 3♥
cards 12-13 hcp 1♥
top honor
. this is not a standard bid but is good
2NT <= denies 3♥
4-4 minors 3♠2♥4♦4♣
3♣
<=
denies 3♥
1minor
5♣
3♠2♥3♦5♣
3♦
<=
denies 3♥
2minors
4♦5♣
2♠2♥4♦5♣
3♥
<= 4♥
with 1♥+
top honor 14 hcp max
3♠
<= partnership agreement
3NT <= 15 hcp singleton Hearts 3♠1♥4♦5♣
11-Summary GF 1♦
response 1♠
Opener Responder
1♦
1♠
1NT 2♦
<= GF checkback
? not support sign-off
2♥
<= 4♥
cards
12-13 hcp
may have 3♠
2♠
<= 3♠
cards no 4♥
cards 12-13 hcp
. Responder 3♠
ask for top honor
. So, without Opener must pass
2NT <= no 3♠/4♥
and 4-4 minors 2♠3♥4♦4♣
3♣
<= no
3♠
and 4♦-5♣
minors 2♠2♥4♦5♣
3♦
<= no
3♠
1minor
5♦
cards in 2♠3♥5♦3♣
3♥
<= partnership agreement
3♠
<= 3♠
cards with 1♠+
top honor 14 hcp
3NT <= 15 hcp singleton Spades 1♠3♥4♦5♣
example Opener:
♠10
♥AQ9
♦AKQ9
♣98643
12-Summary GF 1♦
response 1♥
Opener Responder
1♦
1♥
1NT 2♦
<= GF checkback
? not support sign-off
2♥
<= 3♥
cards
12-13 hcp no top honor
2♠
<= 3♥
cards 12-13 hcp 1♥+
top honor
.. this is not a standard bid but is good
2NT <= no 3♠/4♥
and 4-4 minors 2♠3♥4♦4♣
3♣
<= no
3♥
and
5♦-4♣
minors 2♠2♥5♦4♣
3♦
<= no
3♥
1minor
5♦
cards in 3♠2♥5♦3♣
3♥
<= 4♥-3♠
with 1♠+
top honor 14 hcp
3♠
<= partnership agreement
3NT <= 15 hcp singleton Hearts 3♠1♥4♦5♣
example
Opener:
♠AQ9
♥10
♦AKQ9
♣108643
Bottom Line:
The Two Way Checkback should be played with a regular partnership. When
you play with a new partner it is better to ask him what he plays: NMF
CBS 2WCB. The use of the 4th suit is a fundamental tool to
establish a GF sequence asking for more explanation of partners hand,
but the 4th suit is really GF only when it is bid at level 3.
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