Wednesday, May 21, 2003 11:02 PM

Hand Evaluation - 2/1 Non forcing ( suits )

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 so 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 , a rebid shows just a suit so not a scattered bunch of HCP’s. Bridge is a game of suits , so identify the suit by a 2/1 & rebid it to show a lack of HCP’s. Identifying suits is a fundamental hand evaluation skill. This concept only comes about after a major suit opener as we have the dreaded forcing 1NT bid to contend with.

Take this hand , for example , which allows rescuing partner rather than 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 so you bid a forcing 1NT . Partner bids 2♥ so the IMP concept of not “improving partials” comes into play . If you bid 3♣ , it shows invitational values or you just pass 2♥. Two hearts goes down 3 vul & 3♣ makes for 110 . 10 IMPS thrown away . If you play 2♣ with a rebid of 3♣ non forcing to game, 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 & rebid your suit non forcing.

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

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

In forcing NT theory , good single suited hands with invitational values are described by bidding 1NT first followed by leaping in your suit . Playing 2/1 with rebid suits not forcing to game , all these bids can be fit showing jumps 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 & finding a fit quickly can not be overestimated in order to reach close games or slams.

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

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

x	x	A	A
x		x	J
		x	10
		x	x
		x
		x

Partner opens 1♠ , you bid 1NT . Partner rebids 2♦ with ♠AKxxx ♥xxx ♦KQxx ♣x . It is great to have 4♣ as a fit showing jump instead of a suit . You now get to +1370 in diamonds , which is totally unbiddable with other methods .

Forcing 1NT with 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 so 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 , not 10 HCP’s. HCP’s can be shown with negative doubles & other means. A 2/1 is either a decent suit or forcing to game. A very nice understanding to have , for established partnerships.