The purpose of playing that a 2/1 response to an opening bid is a game force is to allow both partners to proceed slowly toward the best game contract without fear that partner will pass prematurely. Neither partner has to make a jump bid to show strength, since the bidding must proceed to at least 3NT or 4 of a minor. As Andover Standard currently plays, the following 2 rules apply:
1. Opener's immediate rebid of his suit promises a 6 card suit.
2. Opener's minimum rebid at the 3 level ( or a "reverse" at the 2 level) is merely descriptive and does not show extra values.
Many experts, however, do not play this way. They require extra values to make a reverse, and will rebid even a bad 5 card suit with a minimum opener. I believe that their reasoning for doing this is not to make bidding game any easier but to make bidding slam in a minor suit easier.
Bidding slam in a minor suit after a major suit opening can be difficult because slam exploration in this case is nearly impossible without by-passing 3NT. Most match point players prefer to play even a risky 3NT instead of a minor suit game, and will sign off at 3NT if there is a good minor suit fit. So investigating a minor suit slam and stopping at game in a minor will nearly always be a bad result. And with minimum strength a minor suit game may be down 1 when 3NT makes (a disaster even at MPs). So I offer the following suggested ground rules.
1. Opening a major suit and rebidding 3C or 3D after partner's 2/1 response should indeed show extra values - either in HCP or distribution. The bid strongly implies 5-5 (or a strong 5-4) in Opener's suits, strength concentrated in the 2 suits, enough playing strength to make game in the minor if partner has a fit and a minimum hand, and cautions that 3NT might be dangerous. In terms of Losers, the hand should be a 6 loser hand or better. Responder can then decide whether or not to pursue a minor suit slam, taking comfort that if they have to stop at 5 of the minor 3NT may not make.
2. Opener should strain to rebid 2NT with 5-4-2-2 or 5-4-1-3 (singleton in Responder's suit) with fewer than 15 HCP.
3. If Opener holding a minimum hand cannot rebid 2NT, he may rebid a strong 5 card suit, good enough to play opposite a doubleton if necessary (KJ10xx, AQJxx, etc.). Responder should avoid an immediate jump to game in the major holding a worthless doubleton.
Examples:
| S - AQxxx H - x D - KJxxx C - xx Open 1S and rebid 3D over partner's 2H response. If there is a diamond fit, this is a 6 loser hand and there should be a play for 5D opposite a minimum hand. Partner may hold: S - x H - AKJxx D - Axxx C - xxx Partner should bid an immediate 5D. 4D would be a slam invitation. |
S - AQxxx H - x D - KJxx C - Qxx Open 1S and rebid 2N over Partner's 2H response. |
S - AKQxx H - x D - KJxx C - Kxx Open 1S and rebid 3D over Partner's 2H response. |
S - AQJxx H - x D - KJxx C - xxx Open 1S and rebid 2S over Partner's 2H response. |
| S - AKxxx H - xxx D - KJxx C - x Open 1S and rebid 4H over Partner's 2H response (fast arrival to show a minimum hand). |
S - AKxxx H - Kxx D - KJxx C - x Open 1S and rebid 3H over Partner's 2H response (slow arrival to show extra values). |
S - AQJxxx H - x D - KQx C - AQx Open 1S and rebid 2S over Partner's 2H response. The 2S rebid does not deny a better than minimum hand. |
S - AKxxx H - x D - KJxx C - xxx Open 1S and rebid 2N or 2S over Partner's 2H response. |
| Next | Previous Tip | Return to Home Page |
