2/1 Weak NT Advantages

[helene_t]

What do you gain by playing 2/1? When you bid 2/1, you gain a simple raise or simple rebid as forcing... but you are forced to make up bids if opener has whatever NT range you don't open 1NT. You tend to lose on auctions where 2/1 is not bid.

 

Yes, it is simple, so it is an easy system to agree when playing with an unfamiliar partner, but is it a sensible system to play with regular partners who are willing to work on system with you?

The problems with notrump ranges after 1♦-2♣ are caused by the agreement that this particular 2/1 response is not a GF.

 

More generally, playing 2/1 means that you don't have to make a distinction between minimum hands and almost-minimum hands that are just worth a GF. This frees up loads of sequences that can be used for other purposes.

 

Maybe the downsides of the wide range for the 1NT response are big enough to cancel out those advantages. But even so, it is important to keep the system simple. Not having to spend mental resources on figuring out whether a 3M or 4m bid in some convoluted and/or contested auction is forcing or not is something I really appreciate when playing 2/1.

[helene_t]

That [referring to helene_t's comment that responder having bid 2♣ has denied a hand that would sign off opposite a weak NT] doesn't mean that it would be useless to show a weak NT rather than have to make up an inaccurate bid.

Agree, but if you want a rebid that shows 12-14 balanced that would have to be artificial since responder would not know what to do over a 2NT rebid showing this. You could probably play a 2♥ rebid as showing 12-14 balanced and a 2NT rebid as showing a reverse with hearts. Or something like that.