after 1M-2x-2M

[raist]

playing a 2/1 style where:

1. 2x can be on 4

2. 2M rebids is the catchall bid (does not promise 6)

3. 1M-2x-3x promises 3 card with extras

4. 1M-2x-3y also promises extras

 

in this style, after 1M-2x-2M, the 2N bid is usually used as a sort of "asking bid", trying to find out more about opener's hand shape, since 2M is a catchall bid.

 

very often, if the bidding goes, eg, 1S-2D-2S-3D, and opener holds, say:

AKxxx xxx Kx AQx, he does not know whether to rebid 3N or raise to 4D

3N could be the last making spot, or 5/6D could be where you should be, and responder may not be able to make a move over 3N if opener chooses to rebid that over 3D

 

i like to play that if RESPONDER bypasses 2N (after 1M-2x-2M) as the asking bid to either rebid 3x, or show a 2 suiter by bidding 3y, it should signal to opener that it is safe to bypass 3N and raise either 3x to 4x or 3y to 4y.

 

so in the above example, opener would not need to agonise, but instead feel free to raise to 4D.

 

this means that with ordinary 6332s, or 54xx, responder would not bother to show the 2nd suit immediately after 1M-2x-2M, but instead rebid 2N "asking".

by bypassing 2N, responder is showing an unbalanced/strong hand that is prepared to go beyond 3N

 

sometimes you may wrongside the 3N, but i think it is a minimal price to pay (and in any event, you already run that risk anyway)

 

any thoughts?

[mich-b]

This fits our agreements , and in particular after

1M - 2m

2any - 3m

Opener is encouraged to support and bypass 3NT , unless his hand is minimum with poor controls.

[hanp]

Having forgotten to open 1NT, I would definitely bid 4C with this hand. It's a great hand for diamonds!

 

Still, you will sometimes want to investigate 3NT with only one stopper. Can you do both? If you are willing to put in a little more effort you can:

 

After 1M - 2D - 2M - 3D play that:

 

3H shows either a stopper in the other major or a hand that would have rebid 3M. Responder can bid 3S to ask which.

3S shows a club stopper but no heart stopper.

3NT shows both.

[aguahombre]

Having forgotten to open 1NT, I would definitely bid 4C with this hand. It's a great hand for diamonds!

Yeh, exactly. Unfortunately, not being able to open 1NT with AKXXX XXX KX AQX, or similar, puts a burden on the follow-up bids. Getting balanced 15-17's out of the possibilities for opener when 1M is opened is a good thing.

[peachy]

playing a 2/1 style where:

1. 2x can be on 4

2. 2M rebids is the catchall bid (does not promise 6)

3. 1M-2x-3x promises 3 card with extras

4. 1M-2x-3y also promises extras

 

in this style, after 1M-2x-2M, the 2N bid is usually used as a sort of "asking bid", trying to find out more about opener's hand shape, since 2M is a catchall bid.

This "2NT usually used as an asking bid" IMO is not true. It is usually played as natural just like bids normally are in 2/1 so 2NT denies 3-card support for opener's major, tends to deny extra length in the 2x suit, and shows ability to play NT as strain because it has the unbids stopped, but it also leaves open the possibility of slam and of other strains. Next round will reveal, or will continue to describe because neither side has limited their hand yet, except that opener has virtually denied 15-17 NT hand.

 

Anything beyond this about the 2NT bid requires detailed agreements that are not standard and not understood by a pickup.