Thursday, January 12, 2006 3:09 PM

Forcing NT Problems II

PITBULLS:

I feel a simple rebid of a new suit at the two level should have an upper ceiling of 16 HCP’s. If your hand is better than that , you make an invitational jump , SJS of 3♣ or a 2NT bid. This understanding relieves the pressure of responder having to make “obligatory or courtesy” raises with any hand & HCP range after a 2 level rebid by opener . This understanding allows an invitational raise by responder to be well uh invitational . Responder is allowed to pass a simple rebid at the two level without worrying that opener has a 17 ,18 or even 19 HCP hand.

With a simple minor rebid at the two level after a 1NT response , we have some gadgets to show strong raises in the minors. With a heart opener , we have a 2♠ bid to show all strong minor suit raises. A simple raise of the minor should still be invitational but with values under a 2♠ bid. With a spade opener and a 2♣ rebid , we have the handy 2♦ bid since forcing 1 round , which can show all strong club raises. With a simple 2♦ rebid by opener , we have a 2♥ bid by responder as forcing 1 round and a relay to 2♠. Diamond support after this action shows the strong diamond raises. This means that a direct diamond raise is invitational.

The last class of hands involves the heart suit after a 1♠-P-1NT response. A 2♥ rebid is limited to hand 16 HCP’s and under and if 5-5 a very weak hand or a 3♥ jump would be in order. A 3♥ raise by responder is invitational and not “obligatory” or a “courtesy” raise. The bid means if you have 15-16 HCP we have a shot at game. We expect that a 5-4-2-2 or 5-4-3-1 with 17-19 HCP have already been rebid with 2NT and not 2♥. We will “check back” for the heart fit with a relay if we have hearts.

AKxxx KQ10xx xx x will be the strongest 2♥ rebid opener can hold with a 5-5 distribution. Add the heart jack and we have a 3♥ invitational bid. Responder does not have to stretch and bid openers hand for her. A raise of partners heart suit is invitational just as Charles Goren would have bid it ! The pass is a legal bid by responder when she has no more than her original response. I call it the “obligatory” pass J.