Monday, May 19, 2003 2:23 AM
Up the line Bidding
PITBULLS:
2 Way New Minor Forcing is not just a convention but
a new way of thinking . It is based on pure Bridge logic that all balanced hands should be rebid with some number of NT . Identifying a
class of hands in that manner leads to more accurate bidding . It also does not
reveal much information to the opponents so it causes them lead problems. Flat
hands do not play as well as distributional hands so keeping them separate in
bidding is just common sense .
With flat hand opposite flat , you generally need the full 33 HCP to make a
slam and 25 HCP to make a game . With distribution in the equation , slam and
game thresholds are much lower.
This
means up the line bidding by opener implies a
distributional hand . This again is an advantage . 1♣ 1♥ and a rebid of 1♠ promises 5 clubs as all the flat hands are taken out
of the equation . The only hurdle to overcome is make sure you find your 4-4
major fits if they exist. This is done in two ways . One is that with weak or invitational hands you bypass the
diamond suit and bid a major if partner opens 1♣. You find your fit immediately
that way .
The
2Nd way your fit is found is by playing
2-way NMF over a 1NT rebid and something like Wolff realy over a 2NT
rebid. This ensures that a major fit will be found if there is one. The 2 way
NMF uses the power of a relay and uses both
minors. 2♦ is
forcing to game NMF and that’s easy to handle . The 2♣ relay handles all the
invitational hands . The 2♣ bid forces partner to bid 2♦ which can be passed as a decent partial whether she
opened 1♦ or not . Bidding over the relay shows the
invitational hands . 2♠
in this auction shows specifically 4-4 in the majors so you have found your 4-4
spade fit . 2NT is invitational after the relay so this makes the direct 2NT
bid redundant.
A
direct 2NT raise is an either or bid .
It is a relay to 3♣ which can be passed . If you bid after the club relay you are showing a singleton and those
impossible to describe 4-4-4-1 hands . With the relay can you show all the
invitational major invites at various levels. A jump in a major is still
invitational after 2♣ but even more encouraging then at the two level .
Bidding
all flat hands with a NT rebid , unleashes
the power of the weak NT . Since the 1NT rebidder does not map out
her major suit holding to the
opponents, leads are blind .
Since flat hands are identified right away , it prevents over competing as these hands do not play very well
. It could also induce some unwary
balancers to get into trouble by
bidding one of the 1NT bidders majors . There are only advantages in adopting this way of thinking . It makes
you tougher to play against and
makes your bidding more accurate .
That is quite a combination !! Bidding up the line should be thrown out
sometime in your Bridge development.