Development after 2
or 2
opening
Remember that these two openings show 5 or 6 losers with 5 or 6 of the opened major and 4 or 5 
s. Responders first bid is as follows:
3
is a sign off
3
is natural, not forcing, opener can raise gently
raise is invitational
raise to game is to play
4 other major is to play
4
is natural force
4
is forcing unbalanced
raise
3N is forcing unbalanced raise of major opened (denies a
control if 2
3N)
After 2
2N shows a 6
+ card
suit (forcing)
2
is a relay
3
is a
raise with a
control Agreed —
John Kinn 2017/05/18 15:43
After 2
2N is a relay
3
shows a 6
+ card
suit (forcing)
To make a forcing raise, either make an immediate 4 or 3N bid (or 3 if 2 opened) or make 2 relays. Sequences that bid one of opener's suits after one relay are not forcing.
After making two relays, then responder shows the suit he wants to play in by bidding the suit naturally at the game level (a signoff), or by bidding it below game (if possible).
If there are two bids to agree opener's suits below game, then the cheaper one is used to agree that suit and other bids agree the second suit.
If there is one suit that can be bid below game naturally, then that bid agrees that suit and other calls agree the second suit.
If there is no suit that can be bid below game naturally, then the lower outside suit agrees the major and the higher outside suit agrees
s.
If there is no suit that can be agreed naturally below game and there is only one call between the last bid and game in one of the suits (e.g. 4
was just bid and opener opened 2
), then that one bid is used to agree the major and the higher bid is used for
s.
The relay auctions develop as described in the following text.
2 Spades - 2N (relay)
-
-
3
6
4
2-1 in the side suits
-
3N 5
5
2-1 in the side suits
4
6
5
2-0 or 1-1 in the side suits
2Spades - 2N - 3Clubs
| 3 relay | | |
| | 3 | 5 3 1 4 |
| | | 3 forcing, are trump |
| | | 3N to play |
| | | 4 forcing, are trump |
| | | 4 to play |
| | | 4 to play |
| | 3 | 6 3 0 4 |
| | | 3N to play |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump |
| | | 4 control (presumably A), s are trump |
| | | 4 control, s are trump |
| | | 4 to play |
| | 3N | 5 3 0 5 |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump |
| | | 4 control (presumably A), s are trump |
| | | 4 control, s are trump |
| | | 4 to play |
| | 4 | 5 4 0 4 |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump |
| | | 4 to play |
| 3 force setting s as trumps | | |
3 invitational (probably
wasted values) | | |
| 3N final | | |
| 4 invitational | | |
| 4 or 4 to play | | |
2Spades - 2N - 3Diamonds
| 3 relay | | |
| | 3 | 5 1 3 4 |
| | | 3N to play |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump |
| | | 4 control, s are trump |
| | | 4 control, s are trump |
| | | 4 to play |
| | 3N | 6 -0 3 4 |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump |
| | | 4 control, s are trump |
| | | 4 control (presumably A), s are trump |
| | | 4 to play |
| | 4 | 5 0 3 5 |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump |
| | | 4 forcing (presumably A), s are trump |
| | | 4 to play |
| | 4 | 5 0 4 4 |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump |
| | | !! There is no forcing raise |
3 invitational
(probably wasted Heart values) | | |
| 3N to play | | |
| 4 invitational | | |
4 force setting
as trumps | | |
| 4 to play | | |
2Spades - 2N - 3Hearts
| 3 invitational |
| 3N to play |
2Spades - 2N - 3Hearts or 3N
| 4 | invitational |
| 4 | forcing s are trump |
| 4 | forcing s are trump |
| 4 | to play |
2Spades - 2N - 3Spades
| 3N | to play |
| 4 | invitational |
| 4 | are trump |
| 4 | are trump |
| 4 | to play |
2Hearts - 2Spades (relay)
| 2N | short with 3+ s |
| 3 | short with 3+ s |
| 3 | 6 4 2-1 in side suits |
| 3 | 5 4 22 |
| 3 | undefined |
| 3N | 5 5 2-1 in side suits |
| 4 | 6 5 1-1 or 2-0 in side suits |
2Hearts - 2Spades - 2N
| 3 | relay | | |
| | 3 | 1 5 3 4 | |
| | | 3 | forcing, s are trump |
| | | 3 control, s are trump | |
| | | 3N to play | |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump no control | |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump (has control) | |
| | 3 | 0 6 3 4 | |
| | | 3 control, s are trump  is showing a control smart? | |
| | | 3N to play | |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump | |
| | | 4 control, no control s are trump same question as above | |
| | | 4 to play | |
| | 3 | 0 5 3 5 | |
| | | 3N to play | |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump | |
| | | 4 control, s are trump | |
| | | 4 control, s are trump | |
| | 3N | 0 5 4 4 | |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump | |
| | | 4 control, s are trump | |
| | | 4 to play | |
| | | 4 control, are trump | |
| 3 force setting s as trumps | | | |
3 invitational (probably
wasted values) | | | |
| 3 undefined | | | |
| 3N to play | | | |
| 4 invitational | | | |
2Hearts - 2Spades - 3Clubs
| 3 | relay | | |
| | 3 | 3 \5 1 4 | |
| | | 3 | control, s are trump |
| | | 3N | final |
| | | 4 | forcing, s are trump |
| | | 4 | control, no control are trump |
| | | 4 to play | |
| | 3 | 3 6 0 4 | |
| | | 3N | final |
| | | 4 | forcing, s are trump |
| | | 4 | control, s are trump (limited usefulness since opener is void, should be used to show control, but will never remember) |
| | | 4 | to play |
| | | 4 | control, /hs are trump |
| | 3N | 3 5 0 5\ | |
| | | 4 forcing, s are trump | |
| | | 4 control, s are trump (limited usefulness since opener is void) | |
| | | 4 | to play |
| | | 4 control, s are trump | |
| | 4 | 4 5 0 4 | |
| | | 4 s are trump | |
| | | 4 | to play |
| | | 4 | s are trump |
| 3 | invitational (probably wasted values) | | |
| 3 | force, setting as the trump suit | | |
| 3N | final | | |
| 4 | invitational | | |
2Hearts - 2Spades - 3Diamonds or 3N
| 3 | invitational |
| 3 | s are trump (forcing) |
| 3 | s are trump (forcing) |
| 3N | final |
| 4 | invitational |
| 4 | are trump |
| 4 | s are trump |
| 4 | final |
2Hearts - 2Spades - 3Hearts
| 3 | s are trump |
| 3 | s are trump |
| 3N | final |
| \4 | invitational |
| 4 | s are trump |
| 4 | s are trump |
2Hearts - 2N (Spade suit 6+ cards)
| 3 | s |
| 3 | 3 s |
| 3 | 6 s |
| 3 | 2 or 3 s not forcing |
| 3N | no Spade fit |
| 4 | 6 s 5s |
| 4 | fit, artificial slam try |
| 4 | 2 or 3 Spades not forcing |
2Spade - 3Heart
| 3 | 6 s |
| 3N | no fit |
| 4 | 5 |
| 4 | fit, artificial slam try |
| 4 | fit, not forcing |
2Heart - 2Spade - 4Club
| 4 | s are trump |
| 4 | s are trump |
2Spade - 2N - 4Club
| 4 | s are trump |
| 4 | s are trump |
2 Major - 4Club or 2 Major - 3N
Cue bidding commences in the partnership's methods. Neither partner can call blackwood.
Competitive auctions after 2Heart or 2Spade opening bid
Directly over 2Heart or 2Spade
They double
They bid a suit (
or other major)
After relay response