2/1 Default Agreements

  • Is 2/1 100% forcing to game? – YES
  • Does the Forcing NT response deny opening-bid values? - YES
  • Does opener’s rebid of his suit guarantee a 6+-card suit? - NO
  • Does opener’s raise of responder’s suit show extra values? -

NO over 2D or 2H response / YESover art. 2C response

Note: “Extra values” should be around 16+ playing points with 4+-card support.

we can raise with 3+ support if that is best description – similarly we may

splinter with only 3 cd. support, though it usually shows 4 card support.

  • Does opener’s 2-level reverse rebid show extra values? (1H-2C-2S)-

YES if the Opening was 1H

NO over a response of 2C or 2D (If Opener has extra values he will have to disclose them by later bidding).

  • Does opener’s high-level reverse rebid (3 of a new suit) show extra values? - YES
  • If responder rebids his suit, is it forcing? - YES

"Game forcing" is usually 12+ points, but it should be interpreted as any hand that you would have opened or that's worth 12+ pts. because of a fit for partner's suit.

After partner opens 1 of a major suit:

A 2C response – see special agreement

A 2D response shows a 5+ card suit.

A 2H response (1S-2H) PROMISES a 5+-card suit.

Fast Arrival indicates min. hand for the bidding so far, no interestin slam and suggests a

final contract.

Opener’s second bid:

In most 2-over-1 auctions, responder is the "captain" because he has more information about opener's hand than opener has about his. When responder has a strong hand, he chooses forcing, low-level rebids to give opener maximum room to provide information. Responder tends to be the "asker" and opener is the "teller".

The general guideline is that responder does not jump with strong hands, but opener does.

  • Rebid of Openers major = Minimum (12-14 pts.). This may be only 5-card suit if your hand is unsuitable for 2NT (weakness in an unbid suit) or a new-suit rebid.

While Resp. should initially bid on the assumption that it represents a minimum with only 5 cd. length, this rebid does not deny extra values and/or extra length.

2NT = Balanced minimum (12-13 pts.) with stoppers in unbid suits OR 18-19 balanced.

  • 3NT = exactly 17 hcps. with balanced distribution and stoppers.
  • 2 new suit = 4-card suit, does not promise extras even if a reverse at 2 level/

But 1H / 2 any / 2S is a true reverse 16+

  • Non-jump bid of 3 of a new suit = Extra values (16+ pts.) and a 4+-card suit.
  • Raise of Resp.’s suit = may have only minimum values, 3+ support
  • 3 of Opener’s major = Extra values (15-16+ pts.) and a strong 6+ suit.
  • Jump to game in Opener’s major = Minimum (11-13 pts.) with a strong 6+ suit
  • Jump in a new suit = Extra values, good support for Resp. (usually 4+) and a singleton in the suit bid (splinter). Jump raise to 4 level of Resp.’s minor suit = Minorwood (RKC)

With regard to NT rebids by Opener:

2NT shows min. bal. hand with stoppers in both unbid suits. It is important to right side NT contracts; neither partner should be in a hurry to bid NT without good positional values/stoppers.

3NT shows exactly 17 hcps.

2NT followed by 4NT shows 18-19 hcps. – non-forcing

Responder’s second bid:

Responder goes "slow" when he has extra values; he uses Fast arrival bids with a minimum. A low-level rebid in opener's suit (slow -- 1S-2D-2NT-3S) suggests extra values (15+ pts.) and gives opener more room to describe his hand. A jump to game in opener's suit (fast -- 1S-2D-2NT-4S) shows a minimum (12-13 pts.) with no interest in slam

  • Jump raise of Opener’s major to 3 level = 3 card support with extra values.
  • Jump to game (3NT or 4 major) = Minimum (12-13 pts.)
  • 2NT = Unlimited; tends to be balanced with stoppers; asks for more information.
  • Rebid of Resp.’s suit = 6+-card suit, unlimited and forcing.
  • New suit = Unlimited; could be stopper; asks opener for more information.
  • Jump in a new suit / Rebid of 2 Opener’s major = Splinter raise - usually 3 cards in Opener’s suit and a singleton in the suit bid.
  • Jump in a new suit / Opener has rebid a new suit = Splinter raise for Opener’s second suit - 4 cd. support
  • Raise of Opener’s second suit = 4 cd. support – (sets up Ask-tell if at 4 level)
  • 4NT = Quantitative if opener's rebid was 2NT or 3NT/ otherwise Roman Key card Blackwood for Opener’s last bid suit (unlikely seq.)

Note:a)1S2Cb)1S2C

2 D2S2D3S

Both sequences show balanced hand with 3 trumps with some extras and slam interest.

Seq. b) shows a min. of 16+ points and is stronger than seq. a). However Resp. may not always be able to show the distinction when Opener’s rebids 2 of his maj. or 2NT.

Opener’s third bid:

If responder has not immediately raised Opener’s Major at his second turn, he denies 3 card support for Opener’s suit. He often needs to know more about your hand to choose the contract. To provide this information, you can:

  • Rebid your major if you have a 6-card suit (since Opener’s2 level rebid of his major did not guarantee 6 cards).
  • Jump to game in original major to show a strong (but usually not solid) 7+-card suit.
  • Show 3+ card support for partner’s minor
  • Bid 3NT with a balanced minimum.
  • Bid notrump (over partner’s new-suit bid) if you have a stopper in the unbid suit.
  • Bid the fourth suit if you have 4+ cards in the suit and do not have a suitable hand for notrump.

If partner's second bid was a low-level raise of your suit he's showing a "good" 2-over-1 with 3-card support and at least mild interest in a slam. Opener can now:

Bid game with a dead minimum. Partner’s raise does not “demand” a cuebid from you.

  • Cuebid a new suit to show a control and at least mild interest in slam.
  • Bid partner’s suit to show a moderate fit and/or a high honor and interest in slam.

2 Hearts/ 1 Spade: at least 5+ hearts / with 3 card Heart support Opener will almost always supports Hearts. This sets up Hearts as trumps.

1 Diamond/2 Clubs: See specific agreement.

As a Rule Splinter raises do not promise extra values.

Guidelines for cuebidding and Ace-asking

Responder’s “low raise” shows at least moderate extra values, but it does not demand a cuebid. Opener should make a cuebid only if he has more than a dead minimum.

If opener makes an early cuebid in responder’s 2-over-1 suit (1H-2D-2NT-3H- 4D), it should show a fitting card (ace, king or queen), usually with moderate support (doubleton or better). It does not necessarily promise a first-round control.

In auctions where there is not yet confirmed a fit, a 3-level bid of a new suit is not an ace-showing cuebid. Instead, it should be interpreted as a search for the right game. In the auction 1H-2D-2H-3C-3S, a trump suit, has not been agreed, 3S cannot be a cuebid. If spade values were held, one would have bid 3NT here, so the 3S bid is asking partner for a spade stopper for notrump.

Q-bid cheapest first. or second round control. We Q-bid shortness, A or K (Italian style)

Bypassing a suit to Q-bid a higher suit denies first or second round control in the bypassed suit.

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