This Week in Bridge
(587) XYZ
© AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: 9 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
When the auction begins 1X – 1Y – 1NT (where X and Y are different suit bids), the modern treatment is to play Two-Way New Minor Forcing. This approach uses both 2♣* and 2♦* as artificial and forcing bids by Responder. 2♦* is an artificial game forcing bid, while 2♣* is generally used to start invitational bidding sequences.
XYZ is a convention that is an extension of this approach in other auctions that start with three bids at the 1-level. Let’s look at the details of how this can improve our bidding.
Two-Way in New Auctions: XYZ
This extended two-way approach, XYZ, applies to four other auctions:
Opener Responder
1♣ 1♦
1♥ __?
Opener Responder
1♣ 1♦
1♠ __?
Opener Responder
1♣ 1♥
1♠ __?
Opener Responder
1♦ 1♥
1♠ __?
In each of these auctions Responder uses 2♦* as an artificial game forcing bid to find out more about Opener’s hand.
Example 1
Opener Responder
1♦ 1♥
1♠ 2♦*
After Responder makes this 2♦* artificial game forcing bid, Opener further describes the shape and the strength of their hand. The 1♠ rebid showed 4-card ♠, 12-17 points, and usually an unbalanced hand. Opener still has a lot of information to share about their hand.
Responder can make other natural bids or use 2♣ as the start of an invitational sequence. Let’s see how this works by looking at the details of a specific auction.
Example 2
Opener Responder
1♦ 1♥
1♠ __?
1NT 6-10 points, no fit for either of Opener’s suits
2♣* Artificial, relay to 2♦*, usually used to start an invitational sequence
2♦* Artificial and game forcing
2♥ 6+card ♥ suit, 6-9 points
2♠ 4-card ♠ support, 8-9 points, constructive values
2NT 10 to 12 points, no fit for either of Opener’s suits
3♣ To play, 6-9 points, 6+card ♣ suit, usually only 4-card ♥ suit
Other higher bids can be used in a variety of different ways based on the agreements of your partnership.
Invitational Bidding Sequences – Using the 2♣* Relay
After Responder uses 2♣* to relay to 2♦*, they can further describe their hand by ending the auction in 2♦ or making a natural and invitational bid.
Example 3
Opener Responder
1♦ 1♥
1♠ 2♣*
2♦* __?
Pass 4+card ♦, 6-9 points, to play
2♥ 6+card ♥, 10-11 points, invitational
2♠ 4-card ♠, 10-11 points, invitational
2NT Natural and invitational
3♣ 6+card ♣, 10-11 points, invitational
3♦ 4+card ♦, 10-11 points, invitational
Breaking Relay – After the 2♣* Relay
When partner makes a 2♣* bid, asking us to bid 2♦, they are usually starting an invitational bidding sequence.
When we have a normal opening bid, about 12 to bad 15 points, we always accept the relay and see what partner does next. But if we have extra values, a good 15 to 17 points (almost a good enough hand to jump shift on our first rebid), then we do not accept the relay – any bid other than 2♦ is natural and shows a maximum for our previous bidding.
Example 4 – Break Relay
♠ KQ83
♥ A83
♦ AKT73
♣ 5
What do we rebid with this hand after a 2♣ relay?
Opener Responder
1♦ 1♥
1♠ 2♣*
2♥*
Here we show our extra values and our 3-card ♥ suit with this 2♥ rebid.
Breaking relay is an excellent way to show extra values and keep the auction low.
Conclusion
If you play 2-Way NMF, then XYZ is a natural extension of Responder’s bidding on the second round of the auction. Using this approach, Responder can simply and effectively describe constructive, invitational, and game forcing hands. Give it a try!