Monday, September 22, 2003 10:08 AM

Forcing 1NT - 2NT Rebid

 

PITBULLS:

 

          The sequence one of a major-forcing 1NT and then a 2NT rebid by opener should be discussed by established partnerships. Essentially you want to be clear on which sequence shows the limit raise and which sequence shows the weak preference. You also want to be able to play at the 3 level or show a good hand at the 3 level. I would go as far as saying that a 2NT rebid should be a  game force after a 1NT response as it shows balanced hands in the 18-19 HCP range. You pre-empt partner by leaping to 3NT with these hands. Alternative games or slams would have to be investigated starting at the 4 level ! You would never pass 2NT but you might relay out of it to a partial. This makes a 3NT bid directly after 1NT as impossible or a “picture bid”. Regardless of the 5 card major , most balanced 15-17 HCP hands have already been opened 1NT.

 

           If you play Wolff relays over a jump 2NT rebid , the same concepts should also be played here. The 3♣ bid should be sacrificed as a relay. When partner accepts the relay , 3♦ can be passed as well as a “rescue” bid of 3♥/3♠ after the relay which includes preference of partners major. Now all the direct bids can show values . A direct major preference shows the limit raise , a jump to game in partners major is obviously to play . A direct 3♦ bid and the other major bid is forward going.

 

           To show a weak club hand is a problem . The good club hand is no problem as you would bid a non forcing 2/1 in the first place. With the weak club hand you are forced to the 4 level which is probably better than 3NT –300. After you force partner to relay to 3♦ , a 4♣ bid by you is to play . A good club hand is just included in the range of hands that you would bid 3NT or bid a non forcing 2/1 club bid initially .

 

           Q bidding or retreating to 3NT is the only action that can be taken by the 2NT bidder after responder shows a good hand. The 2NT rebid is mainly bid on 5-3-3-2 hands but can be bid on 5-2-4-2 hands and some times on 5-1-4-3 hands with points in the short suits. These hands are 18-19 HCP as the 15-17 hands are usually opened 1NT.

 

♠AKxxx ♥Qx ♦K10xx ♣AQ      is a 2NT rebid after a forcing 1NT

 

17 point hands with a 5 card major are too strong to open 1NT so 2NT is rebid with all those hands.

 

♠AQ10xx ♥Ax ♦KQx ♣Kxx           ♠xx ♥KJ10xxx ♦xxx ♣Qx            1♠-P-1NT-P

                                                                                                       2NT-P-3♣-P

                                                                                                       3♦-P-3♥-P

 

          3♥ is the place to play this hand but the 2NT bidder can still drive a weak sequence to game with the appropriate hand.

 

           ♠x ♥A ♦Q109xxx ♣QJ10xx     How do we show minor two suiters after 2NT invitational ?  

 

          If the auction went 1♥-P-1NT-P

                                        2NT-P-3♠         should show both minors.

 

          After a spade opening we use the power of the relay to describe this hand.

           

                                        1♠-P-1NT-P

                                         2NT-P-3♣-P

                                         3♦-P-3NT-P

 

So why are we relaying instead of bidding 3NT directly ? It can not be quantitative slam try as we would just bid 4NT. It can not be a strong minor hand as we would have made a non forcing 2/1 . How about that sequence showing a constructive two suiter in the minors ? If all your cards are in the majors , you pass 3NT anyway and if you have a minor , it can be KCB on the way to some minor strain.

 

Since 1♠/♥-P-1NT-P  2NT shows 17+ to 19- it is a game force unless dropped by a relay sequence. OK what does a jump to 3NT show ? It can be a “picture” bid. After a spade opener it shows a flat maximum hand with no more than 2 cards in the other major ( hearts ). After a heart opener and a forcing NT it shows no more than a doubleton in the other major ( spades) . It is a warning to partner that spades might be wide open so start scrambling !

 

The relay assists us in the impossible heart hands and the “obligatory” heart raise by the forcing 1NT bidder. You have ♠AKxxx ♥AKxx ♦KJx ♣x  and you open 1♠ . Partner bids 1NT so I feel bidding 2♥ or a strong jump shift is sick bidding. We are 1 heart short for an invitational 3♥ bid so what is the solution ? I would rebid 2NT and if partner has 4♥ she should bid the 3♣ checkback. With 4♥ , opener breaks the relay with a 3♥ bid. Problem solved. You show a 2NT range hand with 4 hearts thanks to the relay.