Wednesday, May 21, 2003 11:02 PM

2/1 Inferences

PITBULLS:

2/1 forcing to game except when suit rebid came about for a good reason . Experts do not buy into new ideas on a whim , there must be payback to alter something as fundamental as 2/1 forcing to game. This style does not mean you revert to Standard American and a 2/1 shows 10 HCP if not forcing to game. No , no and no. You still bid 1NT with 10 HCP’s. A 2/1 shows a suit and a rebid shows just a suit and not a scattered bunch of HCP’s. Bridge is a game of suits so identify the suit by a 2/1 and rebid it to show a lack of HCP’s.

Take this hand , for example , which allows rescuing partner rather then the forced idea that you do not try to “improve partials “. This concept of not improving partials in forcing NT auctions comes from the inadequacy of having 2/1 forcing to game .

x	x	x	K
	x	x	Q
		x	J
		x	10
			9
			x

Partner opens a spade and you bid a forcing 1NT . Partner bids 2♥ and the IMP concept of not “improving partials” comes into play . If you bid 3♣ it shows invitational values or you pass 2♥. Two hearts goes down 3 vul and 3♣ makes for 110 . 10 IMPS thrown away . If you play 2♣ and a rebid of 3♣ non forcing to game then hands like this can be weak “rescue bids” . Bidding a new suit after a forcing NT can never have invitational values or else you would have bid 2/1 in the first place and rebid your suit non forcing.

x	x	x	A
	x	x	K
	x		x
			x
			x
			x
			x

Partner opens 1♦ and with your nice flat hand you bid 1NT . Partner passes and has a singleton club . You get lucky and only go for –200 . Meanwhile 3♣ makes for +110 and another 8 IMP loss. A direct 3♣ non forcing to game gets you out of this predicament.

In forcing NT theory , good single suited hands with invitational values are described by bidding 1NT first and then leaping in your suit . Playing 2/1 with rebid suits not forcing to game , all these bids can be splinters instead. As I have said previously , hearts over spades is very useful to play as a 2/1 non forcing if rebid. Initial identifying of a suit and finding a fit quickly can not be overestimated.

x	A	x	x
	K	x	x
	Q	x
	x	x
	x
	x

You hold AJ109xx xxxx x AK and open a spade. Partner bids 1NT and you rebid 2♠. Partner bids 3♥ and you bid 4. +680 . Our auction is 1♠ 2♥ ( non forcing if suit rebid ) and a 4 diamond splinter bid. Getting to +1430 is easy with a 2/1 .

x	x	A	A
x		x	x
		x	x
		x	x
		x
		x

Partner opens 1♠ and you bid 1NT . Partner rebids 2♦ with AKxxx xxx KQxx x . It is great to have 3♥ as a splinter instead of a suit . You now get to +1370 in diamonds which is totally unbiddable with other methods .

Forcing 1NT and the band aid bids which were invented to compensate for the rigidity of 2/1 being forcing to game do not make any sense. World class experts have already converted to 2/1 non forcing if suit rebid and it is recommended that you do also.

This style is also applicable with 2/1 in competition. All 2/1 bids in competition are forcing to game except if suit rebid. You show suits in competition and not 10 HCP’s. HCP’s can be shown with negative doubles. A 2/1 is either a decent suit or forcing to game. A very nice understanding to have for established partnerships.