This Week in Bridge
(602) 2/1 Game Forcing Responses – Alternative Approach
©AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: 8 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
There is not just one version of a 2/1 Game Forcing bidding system. There are a variety of conventional rebids that are additions to a fundamental 2/1 GF system, but there are also some fundamental response agreements that can be adjusted. One of these is the length that we promise when we respond in a minor suit at the 2-level. In the standard 2/1 system, a 2♥ response shows at least a 5-card suit, a 2♦ response shows at least a 4-card suit, and 2♣ usually shows a 4+card suit (occasionally it could be a 3-card suit). Let’s look at these responses in detail as well as an alternative response structure where we require 5-cards to bid 2♦ and then must use 2♣ responses with a large variety of hands.
Standard 2/1 Game-Forcing Response Agreements
Here are the standard agreements for a 2/1 GF bidding system. They follow the Rule of 5-4-3 – that is 5+cards in ♥, 4+cards in ♦, 3+cards in ♣. Remember that we do not usually have 4-card support for partner’s Major suit when we make a 2/1 GF response. If we have GF values and a big fit, we use Jacoby 2NT or a splinter bid.
Example 1
Opener Responder
1♠ __?
2♥ 5+card ♥
2♦ 4+card ♦
2♣ 3+card ♣ (only 3-cards when 3-4-3-3)
Opener Responder
1♥ __?
2♦ 4+card ♦
2♣ 4+card ♣ (with 4-3-3-3 we usually just bid 1♠ first)
Opener Responder
1♦ __?
2♣ 4+card ♣ (usually a 5+card suit)
When we make a 2/1 GF response in a minor suit then we usually have 4+cards in that suit. We are bidding our better minor – similar to when we have a balanced hand and open the bidding with a minor. One thing that is different for responding at the 2-level vs. opening the bidding is when we are 4-4 in the minors. When playing 2/1 GF, we usually respond 2♣ with this hand to leave partner space to rebid 2♦ if they have a 4-card suit (where we would normally open this hand with 1♦).
Alternative 2/1 Game-Forcing Response Agreements
We can adopt an alternative style where we upgrade our 2♦ response to 5+cards as well. When we do so, then we need to use a 2♣ responses as a catchall for any of the hands that do not have a 5-card suit. In this case we use the rule of 5-5-2, which means that a 2♣ response with only a 2-card suit is possible on many of our balanced hands.
Example 2 – Here is what changes
Opener Responder
1♠ __?
2♥ 5+card ♥
2♦ 5+card ♦
2♣* 2+card ♣
Opener Responder
1♥ __?
2♦ 5+card ♦
2♣ 3+card ♣
Using this alternative approach, the type of hands where we change our responses to a 1-Major opening are ones where we have only 4-card ♦ (and often a balanced hand).
Example 3
Opener Responder
1♠ __?
♠ J3
♥ KQ72
♦ A843
♣ K54
If partner opens 1♠, then we respond 2♣ in this alternative style.
Example 4
Opener Responder
1♠ __?
♠ J43
♥ KQ72
♦ A843
♣ K5
We may even need to respond 2♣ with a doubleton when we have this hand.
Example 5 – Responding to 1♥
Opener Responder
1♥ __?
♠ J43
♥ KQ7
♦ A843
♣ K52
Here we respond 2♣ as our GF response – using this alternative style. We do not usually have only 2 cards for making a 2♠ response after a 1♥ opening bid. With 4-3-4-2 shape, we start with a 1♠ response.
Note: If we play this style, a 2♣* response must be alerted as “could be as short as two.”
Conclusion
2/1 Game Forcing is the modern standard bidding system. If you play the standard style of bidding, you make a natural response similar to the way we open the bidding. But there are alternative approaches where we require a 5+card suit for bidding 2♦ and thus must use a 2♣ response with many of the balanced hands where we could have as few as 2 cards. Make sure that you have good bidding agreements with your partner and make sure you understand the opponents’ bidding agreements when they make a 2/1 GF bid against you.