2/1 Non-Forcing methods over 1M

[rbforster]

Below are some ideas about how to play a 2/1 Non-Forcing system over 1 of a Major openings. The very basic outline is below:

 

1♠-2♦, 1♠-2♥, and 1♥-2♦ 5+ like a weak two bid, non-forcing (weak and/or lacking a fit)

1M-2♣ 3+ natural, invite+ values, forcing 1 round but not promising a rebid

1M-1N forcing as in 2/1 GF, but could include balanced GF's or GF hands with ♦ and/or ♥s

 

Background and Motivation for 2/1 NF

But first, why bother? Previous discussions have touched on the general issues -

 

2/1 theory in a limited bid system, GF, Std, NF, or what?

2/1 bidding in a strong club system, GF, inv (F1 or NF), or NF?

GNAT, Deerfly, Blackfly (some such), A GCC legal MOSCITO variant

 

2/1 GF is simple to play, but especially in a limited and/or light 1M opening context like precision, GF hands are less frequent. Furthermore, with a limited opener and a weak responder, putting pressure on the advancer with a non-forcing 2/1 bid (like a weak two bid) uses up more space than in standard methods (pass or 1N forcing). Additionally, opener is well positioned to make a blocking raise since responder's suit is known earlier in the auction.

 

Another point is to discourage preemption in your GF auctions by having some of them begin with an ambiguous (weak or strong) 1NT forcing. In a 2/1 GF auction advancer can often make a preemptive or leading directing bid (e.g. (1♥)-(2♦)-2♠ on KQJxxx x xxx xxx), secure in the knowledge that his partner won't hang him by exploring for game. If instead the auction facing the same advancer was (1♥)-(1N)-?, responder's hand is most often weakish for his 1N response which puts a higher premium on constructive direct bids by advancer and discourages aggressive preemption on what rates to be a part-score hand. When the 2♦ 2/1 GF hand starts with a forcing NT, advancer's weak spade hand gets shut out.

 

A 2/1 NF System

2/1 NF Continuations:

Over the weak NF responses of 1M-2♦ or 1♠-2♥, uncontested auctions are simple and largely natural. Opener will likely pass, but could make a blocking raise with a fit for responder, or bid 2NT with a forward-going raise. Other suit bids by opener are natural and distributional, scrambling for a better contract with extreme shortness in responder's suit.

 

The natural invitational+ 1M-2♣ bid:

Most of the hands responding 2♣s are GF hands, specifically -

• any normal 2♣ hand in 2/1 GF (including those with 3M support)
  
• a GF hand with two suits including clubs (5/4+ either longer)
  
• a balanced GF hand that would rather have partner declare NT
  
• an invitational hand with 6+ clubs, possibly with a side suit
  

Opener now bids 2♦ to accept the possible invitation (showing extra values), at which point natural GF bidding can proceed at a low level. Opener's other rebids at or below 3♣ are largely natural, minimal, and NF.

 

1M-2♣-?

   2♦ maximum values, establishes GF

   2OM natural 4+, minimum (NF)

   2M natural 6+, minimum (NF)

   2N 4+ ♦s, 1-♣s, minimum (NF)

   3♣ 2+ ♣s, minimum (NF)

   higher distributional maximums

 

With an invitational club hand, responder may pass any minimal response or retreat to 3♣. Any other action establishes the GF, allowing the auction to proceed naturally. Observe that this handles 6♣-4OM invitational hands well, with the option to stop in 2M when opener has 6+ suit and a minimum (in contrast to standard auctions 1♥-1♠-2♥-? or 1♠-1N-2♠-? where opener's wide-ranging values often forces an invitational responder to choose an unpalatable 2N invite with (41)26 shape).

 

Game Forcing hands in 1NT:

In addition to the normal hands included in 1NT forcing, GF hands now included are:

• a single suited GF hand with either ♦s or ♥s
  
• a two-suited GF hand with both ♦s and ♥s
  
• a balanced GF hand happy to declare NT
  
• a GF hand with 3 card support for opener and with less than 3 clubs
  

After an initial forcing NT response, new suit bids up to 3♣ (and 3NT of course) by responder are GF. These bids will largely also be natural, although depending on the auction 3♣ may be the only available such bid. 3♣ is always available as an artificial GF since it not needed for a natural invitation (those hands start with 1M-2♣, while very weak hands with long clubs must pass 1M). For example,

 

1♠-1N-2♣

   2♦ 4+ natural GF

   2♥ 5+ natural GF

   3♣ agrees ♠s (3♠, also implies short clubs)

 

1♠-1N-2♦

   2♥ catchall, hearts or a diamond fit GF

   3♣ agrees ♠s (3♠, also implies short clubs)

 

1♠-1N-2♥

   3♣ catchall GF

 

1♥-1N-2♣

   2♦ 4+ natural GF

   2♠ 4+ natural GF, also 5+♦

   3♣ agrees ♥s (3♥, also implies short clubs)

 

1♥-1N-2♦

1♥-1N-2♥

   2♠ 5+ ♦ GF (could have 4♠)

   3♣ agrees ♥s (3♥, also implies short clubs)

 

The best GF auctions occur when opener rebids 2♣ and there is lots of space at the 2 level for responder to distinguish his various hand types. However, since responder will have either one or both red suits when he holds a GF hand after 1M-1N, it is more likely the opener will have club length and rebid 2♣. This seems like a nice correlation between opener's likely rebid and efficient low-level GF auctions.

 

Suggestions?

I'm sure there are still issues to work out, but I have done at least some practice bidding with these methods which seems promising. The early values inquiry after 1M-2♣ seems nice, making it more clear to responder whether they should be exploring for merely game or possibly slam. I'll probably be around BBO's practice bidding rooms testing this out if anyone's interested. Comments and suggestions are most welcome!

[glen]

What are a few of the sequences where one has a long ♣ suit, less than invite values? Does this hand bid 1M-3♣?

[gwnn]

What are a few of the sequences where one has a long ♣ suit, less than invite values? Does this hand bid 1M-3♣?

or bid forcing nt?

[rbforster]

a long ♣ suit [and] less than invite values?  Does this hand bid 1M-3♣?

Admittedly these hands are not treated well (although they weren't treated well in my 2/1 GF system either). It won't be the first time a minor suit oriented hand got the shaft in a bidding system :). In a limited bid system, it's not as critical to stretch to bid something on misfitting weakish hands since game is rare when partner's hand is limited. Often if you pass 1M, advancer will make some balancing action and you might be able to bid clubs later without any ambiguity. That said,

 

- If you have 1M-3♣ available in your system, you could use that. Personally I prefer Bergen raises over limited 1M openers for their preemptive value, so I don't usually have 1M-3♣ available.

 

- If you have constructive values with long clubs, but some tolerance for opener's major, you can bid 1NT forcing intending to pass a rare 2♣ response or correct to/pass 2M. Admittedly not perfect. Clubs will only be shown if there is competition.

 

- If you just want a drop-dead bid with a very weak hand and long clubs, I normally play 1M-2N as a relay to 3♣, then intending to show a strong jump shift hand. In non-GCC events, one could pass the relay (or rarely psych it in GCC events).

 

- If you're on the top of "constructive" values, you could stretch and bid an invitational 1M-2♣. This will win when partner has a minimum and you can get out in 3♣, but more likely will commit you to game (or 4♣?) on marginal values.

 

It might be possible to include the hands you describe in either the 1M-2♣ response or the forcing NT response more generally, but to do so would complicate the response structure to cater to this one possibility, among other things making it harder to agree opener's major at a low level (with 3M support and a GF).

[NickToll]

I remember reading something similar in "Bridge in the 80s", an old book by Robert Sundby. His Breakthrough system is based on a strong 1♣ with natural responses, four card majors, constructive and forcing 1NT response, non forcing two over one.

 

The general concept of two-over-one in Breakthrough is more or less on your same line: 2♣ over 1♦♥♠ is non forcing too, whereas 1NT is game invitational or better, including any hand unsuited for a strong jump shift or a 2NT Jacoby raise. This kind of two-over-one appears simple and effective.

 

On the other hand, a weak point in this structure is the inability to find a response to 1♦♥♠ with up to 9 points and balanced distribution, with insufficient fit for a single raise and no convenient one-over-one response available. Playing a strong 1♣ it is reasonable to pass these hands (running a small risk to lose a game in another suit): but if you are not playing limited one bids, this can be a serious issue.

[glen]

In the 90s, some friends played 1M-1NT(Forcing)--2X-2NT as forcing.

 

For this structure, you could adjust as follows:

1) Bid 1M-2♣ with flat game invite and 3+♣s (can have longer other suit)

2) Continue to bid 1♠-1NT with flat game invite and 4-4/4-5/5-4 in reds

3) After 1M-1NT, if opener does not rebid 2♣, 2NT rebid by responder is a game force re-ask (2♦ is the re-ask if opener rebids 2♣)

4) After 1M-1MT--2X, 3♣ shows long ♣s [and] less than invite values

[benlessard]

You dont need to play 1Nt as GF. Just play it as relay 6+

 

This is what we play

 

---------1S

???

 

 

1Nt = 6+ relay

2C = C + higher suit 6-10 NF + no tol for S

2D = D + H 6-10 no tol for S

2H = H 9-11 not tol for S

2S = H 9-11 tol for S

rest are transfer nice 6 carder 6-10

 

 

 

1S (12-14 or 18-22) ----1Nt 6 pts+ relay

???

 

2C = 4D

2D = 4H

2H = 6S

2S = 5S+4C (12-14)

2Nt = 5224 (18-22 GF)

3C = 5??5 no void (18-22)

3D = 5314 (18-22)

3H = 5134 (18-22)

3S = 6??4 no void

rest are voids

 

 

 

1S (12-14 or 18-22) -----1Nt relay ?

2C (4D) ----------------- ???

 

here 2D and 2S are preference and 2H is GF relay the rest are GF natural relay breaker.

 

1S ----1Nt

2D ---- ???

 

2H/2S preference

2Nt GF relay

rest are GF nat

 

 

----------1h

???

 

1S 6+ relay

1Nt 6-10 one suiter no h tol

2C = C + other S 6-10

2D = D+S no h tol

2H = S 9-11 + H tolerance

2S = S 9-11 no h tol

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1H -----1S (6+ relay)

???

 

1Nt =(4C still 12-14 or 18-22)

2C = 4D

2D = 6H

2H = H+S (12-14)

2S = 5h/5s 18-22

2Nt = 4522 18-22

3C = 4513 18-22

3D = 4531 18-22

3H = 46??

3S + = voids

 

 

 

The trick is by putting the 2nd rebid by opener in transfer both the jump shift hands and the weak hands are bid in the same manner. Our openenig are 12-14 or 18-22 . So if responder is weak (6-10) he make a preference in opener suits if responder is GF he make the cheapeast GF bid if responder is weak but opener is 18-22 then opener keep the bidding open by continuing after the preference we dont need invitationnal hands because our 15-17 hands with a 5M are opened a 1C strong.

 

These are Non-forcing non-inv relays so its superchart .

 

 

 

[hv=n=saqxxxhaxxdxck8xx&s=skjtxxhktxdaxxcat]133|200|[/hv]

 

 

1S ----1NT ?

2S (S+C 12-14) ----- 2NT GF relay

3D (5314) -----3H S keycard

4H (2+Q+ K♣ no K♥)------6S

 

S & C are the 2 toughest suit for us.

 

The biggest downside are our 1M opener need to be unbalanced so with balanced 5M (12-14) we open a weak Nt.

 

send me a personnal message and ill be glad to send you the full system or play a against you in BBO.

 

If you have any tough 1M hand ill be glad to show you an example.