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Development after 2Diamonds
Here is where the opening of 1N with 4441 and a singleton A or K comes into play. We never have a singleton A or K when we open 2
. Why is this important? Because it helps responder evaluate his hand.
The 2 opening shows 2 kinds of hands:
- 11 - 16 HCP 4441 or 5440 where the short suit is a minor and the five card suit (if any) is a minor
- 11 - 16 HCP 4441 where the singleton is a major
12+ - 16 HCP 4441 where the short suit is a major
The responses are:
- 2
- relay - 2
- sign-off - 2N - Asks for the short suit to be bid
2N game force (artificial)- 3 suit - force unless opener's singleton (then it is a sign-off)
Opener's rebids after 2 - 2
Opener passes unless he is short in s; in that case he bids 2N.
Opener's rebids after 2 - 2N
Opener bids his short suit. Responder now sets the trump suit.
Opener's rebids after 2 - 3 suit
Opener bids his short suit with a fit; passes with a singleton or void.
Development after 2 - 2 (relay)
| 2 shows a singleton major |
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| 2N asks which major is short | ||
3 Short Now 3 gets two step answer showing strength With maximum strength, zoom into control showing rebid. |
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| 3 Short and a minimum |
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| 3 Short and a maximum |
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| 3/3 signoff |
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| 3/3 not defined |
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| 3N to play | ||
| 2N shows short |
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| 3 Asks size. Step 1 & 2 = min, Step 3 & 4 = max. Steps 2 & 4 show a void |
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| 3/3 signoff |
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| 3 mildly encouraging (didn't bid 2 first) |
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| 3 shows short |
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| 3 Asks size. Step 1 & 2 = min, Step 3 &4 = max. Steps 2 & 4 show a void |
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| 3 Signoff |
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| 3 mildly encouraging (didn't bid 2 first) |
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Further development of 3 suited hands
After opener has shown shape and size, the only forcing bids by responder are bids in the short suit:
The first “cue” bid gets controls by steps
- step 1 = 3 controls
- step 2 = 4 controls
- step 3 = 5 controls
- step 4 = 6 controls
- step 5 = 7 controls
- step 6 = 8 controls
The second “cue” bid gets queens by steps like Blackwood (singleton Q does not count)
- step 1 = 0 queens
- step 2 = 1 queen
- step 3 = 2 queens
- step 4 = 3 queens
The third “cue” bid is to play.
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Competitive auctions after 2
The enemy overcalls 2 directly
- They double
- Pass = poor hand with Diamond tolerance
- Redouble = good hand with Diamond tolerance
- Over either the pass or the redouble, opener is expected to rescue himself by bidding 2 if his short suit is .
- Other calls retain their meaning
- Overcalls of 3 or 3
- Double = conditional penalty i.e. opener passes unless that is his short suit
- 3 major is forcing. As a response opener
- bids next step (3 over 3, 3N over 3) w/ no fit
- raises with a fit and no extras
- all other bids shows fit, extras and shows short suit (3N over 3 shows shortness)
- 3N = to play
- Overcalls of 2 or 2
- Double = conditional penalty i.e. opener passes unless that is his short suit
- 2N asks for short suit
- Overcall of 2N. Double is penalty, other calls are not defined
The enemy overcalls the 2 or 2N relay
- They double
- Re-double = penalty
- Pass is undefined
- Other calls retain meaning
- 3 minor
- Double is penalty
- After this a new suit by responder is forcing (raise with a fit, next step with shortness)
- Suit - 5 cards, void in enemy's suit
- Pass = 4441 singleton in enemy's suit
Over other calls, just do the best you can