Sunday, July 23, 2006 12:45 AM

Hand Evaluation - 2/1 bidding ( Kickback )

PITBULLS:

An established partnership should have a number of 2/1 understandings. One understanding is when opener shows a two suiter & the 2/1 bidder accepts one of partners suits via a Q bid. This only happens in Bridge ( 2/1 ) when the opener showing a major/minor combination. ♠ AK1098x ♥ K ♦ x ♣KJ1098 .

1♠-P-2♦-P

3♣-P-3NT-P

4♣

You should not pull 3NT to a minor from a position of weakness so this is a slam try. Partner accepts clubs as trump by bidding 4♦ as Kickback & accepts spades with 4♥ as Kickback. 4♠ or 5♣ or 4NT is to play. Same scenario with hearts opened with a two suiter, so 4♠ is Kickback for hearts.

In case of misfits , we need 4NT to play as a contract. Another example , where we cannot waste 4NT as an ace asking tool.

If opener’s two suits are both minors , there is no 2/1 so the two suiter combination must always have a major involved. XYZ or 4^th suit forcing concepts enter the picture.

If opener has a major two suiter , slow arrival is a slam try, so fast arrival shows a minimum.

1♠-P-2♦/♣-P

2♥-P-2NT-P

3♥ 4♥ is fast arrival after 2NT so 3♥ is a slam try.

A 3♠ preference agrees spades so a Q bid implies hearts. 4NT is KCB with hearts as the agreed suit. Major two suiters are easier to handle than major/minor combinations. The ranks of the suits cause complications with a minor involved. J.