Sunday, October 01, 2006 11:38 PM


Hand Evaluation  - 2/1 ( Three  Level )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            My partners & I have an understanding that weak 5-5’s in spades & clubs are opened 1♣ . This treatment effects our 2/1 understandings. This is due to the low ranking club suit being bid at the 3 level after a 2/1, you show extra. We also treat 5-4-3-1 hands as “semi-balanced” so we can bid NT with a stiff in partners suit. This leads to an understanding that any bid at the 3 level after a 2/1 shows extra . Extra in HCP or extra length , with a 5-5 or better.

 

            I hate the so called default understanding that you rebid a 5 card major with difficult hands after a 2/1. No , no & no as that bid shows a 6 card suit. The default understanding is that you will rebid 2NT with difficult to bid hands which includes the 5-4-3-1 hand types. AJxxx x QxxAJ109  is a 2NT rebid after 1♠-P-2-P   . If your hand were stronger , AJxxx x AQx ♣AJ109 this would be a 3NT rebid after 2. What if you had a good hand in clubs & spades with nothing in diamonds ? Enter the 3♣ bid at the 3 level to show extra . AJxxx x JxxAKQx is a 3♣ bid after a 2 response by partner.

 

            The only time we will rebid a 5 card suit on these 2/1 auctions , is if our hand is too weak to go to the 3 level & I do not have a stopper in the 3rd suit. Luckily , this means that most of my HCP’s are in my major suit so I am actually promoting my 5 card suit to a 6 card suit. AKJxx x xxx ♣KJxx  These 12 HCP’s are not strong enough to bid 3♣ so the very rare 2 bid.

 

            1-P-2-P

           3 also shows extra HCP or extra diamond length by virtue of the 3 level. You manufacture a 2NT bid which is always the either/or bid of a minimum or the 18-19 HCP . Rebidding a 5 card major is a very rare bid that we avoid at almost all costs.

 

            Over a 2/1 is the only time we buy into the “standard” bidding of 6-4’s. If by bidding the 4 card suit , we are forced to the 3 level with a minimum hand , I will rebid the 6 card major first. If I have a strong hand , I will show it by bidding my 4 card suit at the 3 level & bid my 6 card major later. This is the so called standard way of showing different strength 6-4’s

 

AKxxxx x AKQx ♣xx    1-P-2-P  3  to show the extra HCP’s.

 

            A reverse by opener does not necessarily show extra in a 2/1 auction , however it may. A 1-P-2♣ auction has special sequences designed by Kokish so this particular 2/1 is well defined. 2/1 understandings are simply partnership agreement but very important understandings nevertheless

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