2007-11-20 03:17
Hand Evaluation – 2♣ ( Positive Responses )
PITBULLS:
In the old days after
a 2♣ opener ,
there were positive responses.
These positive responses showed a slam going hand with a good suit typically 2 of the 3 top honours. Over time , these
positive responses fell by the wayside. This was partly due to the improvements
in KCB , which
could describe your suit exactly
but mainly because other methods were deemed more useful.
In
our system , we play 2♣-P-3♣ not as a positive response with clubs but a
weak jump shift sort of hand in clubs without
controls. These hands are far more frequent than positive responses
with clubs & good hands can normally take care of themselves. Also 2♣-P-3♦ is no longer a
positive response with diamonds. This again is a weak jump
shift in diamonds with no
controls. We play the same with jumps in the majors 2♣-P-3♠/3♥ shows a
long major without controls.
Subash Gupta introduced me to a very clever use of relays after
a 2♣ opener to get your two suits described at the lowest possible level in order to find
your fit & investigate slam . These relays also allow you to remain under 3NT to get the job done. Preserving
bidding room is the only purpose of these simple relays. These relays only occur after a 2♣-P-2♦ waiting bid auction .The relays
involve the concept of an “anchor
suit” .
The relays put responder in a
“straight jacket” until opener describes his
two suits. The relay rule is whenever the 2♣ opener bids a major , responder must relay to the next level as a waiting bid .
Relay to ♠’s if ♥’s bid by the opener , relay to NT if ♠’s bid by opener. Pretty simple !!
Playing
controls over 2♣ does away with responder showing a positive response . This is another reason
why I dislike playing
controls after a 2♣ opener. It is sufficient for me to
know that 2♥ is no controls 2♦ is one , two or three & 2NT shows 4 or more.
We prefer relays over a 2♦ response so responder can
show a positive response with a good suit by “breaking the relay” . We
have recovered our positive responses
with this 2♣ structure. This is the 2nd purpose of these
simple relays.
Partner
opens 2♣ , you hold ♦Kx ♥xx ♦xxx ♣KQJ10xx so with our methods we bid 2♦. Partner bids 2♥ or 2♠ which normally demands a relay. You break the relay to 3♣
so you show the old fashioned positive response in clubs. You have turned the
tables with a relay system . You have described your
hand to the 2♣ opener rather than the other way around. Same with a positive diamond hand, instead of taking
the relay you
show a positive diamond
suit. Excellent !! Playing controls , you cannot show a positive response as responder
is just a control showing puppet. KCB
asks for controls later. What’s the hurry ?
How
does responder show a positive major suit
after a 2♣ opener ? Again this is easy as you break the relay.
2♣-P-2♦-P
2♥-P-? this sequence demands a
relay to 2♠ but you hold ♠AKQxxx ♥x ♦Jxx ♣Jxx so you break the relay to 2NT.
2♣-P-2♦-P
2♠-P-?
this sequence demands a relay to 2NT
but you break the relay to 3♥ with ♠Kx ♥KQJ10xx ♦xxx ♣Jx
Showing
a good two suiter by responder is virtually
impossible playing a control based structure. Not so playing relays.
Tom & I had an excellent auction when Tom broke the relay to show a good
two suiter. Tom held ♠x ♥xx ♦KQxxx ♣AJ10xx & I opened 2♣ . Tom bid 2♦ & I bid 2♥ which is a relay.
Tom chose to break the relay to 3♦ & over my 3♥ by bidding 4♣
to describe his 2 suiter. Nice natural bidding got
us to a slam the opponents did not reach & in the correct strain.
Playing
a simple major suit relay structure
after 2♣ is far superior to playing
controls in my opinion. . Controls work nicely on a few
hands but you give up too much
bidding space & remove natural bidding.
Showing controls right away was invented by the forcing 1♣ theorists. I think you give up too much to
play them after 2♣ at the two level. There just is not enough bidding
room under 3NT . If responder bids 2NT showing 4 or more controls , bidding space all of a
sudden becomes plentiful as you can play 4NT as a contract & you are
usually in slam anyway. Do not like a complete control structure though L