This Week in Bridge
(603) Opener’s Rebids After 2/1 GF Alternative Responses
©AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: 8 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
When we choose to adopt the alternative approach to our 2/1 GF responses, 2♦ showing a 5+card suit, 2♣ being “could be short as 2 cards”, then this changes our reasonable options for rebids by the Opener. It is important that we have good agreements with partner about how this approach changes our rebid agreements. Let’s look at the hands that are simplified by these agreements and problems that are created.
Opener’s Rebids in Standard 2/1 Game-Forcing Response Agreements – “2-Major Waiting”
When we play the traditional approach to 2/1 GF, using the rule of 3-4-5 (2♣ showing 3+cards, 2♦ showing 4+cards, and 2♥ showing 5+cards) then we raise Responder’s suit when we know we have a fit.
Example 1
Opener Responder
1♠ __?
2♥ 5+card ♥
Raise with 3+card ♥ support.
2♦ 4+card ♦
Raise with 4+card ♦ support.
2♣ 3+card ♣ (only 3 cards when 3-4-3-3)
Raise with 4+card ♣ support (if partner has only 3-card ♣ they will have a ♠ fit and we will survive the auction).
We also can use the idea that rebidding our Major is a “Waiting Bid”, not promising a sixth card. By adding this waiting bid, we get the following additional good agreements:
2NT Rebid Balanced hand with stoppers in the unbid suits.
o If we did not have stoppers, then we could use the 2-Major waiting rebid.
New Suit at 3-Level This now shows extra values.
o If we have a 2-suited hand and minimum values, we can use the 2-Major waiting rebid.
Opener’s Rebids Using the Alternative Approach to 2/1 Game-Forcing
When we play that a 2♦ responses promise a 5-card suit and that a 2♣ response could be short, it changes some of the rebid options for the Opener.
Example 2
Opener Responder
1♠ 2♦
__?
♠ KQ832
♥ A54
♦ A73
♣ 65
When we play the traditional style of 2/1 GF then we would rebid 2♠ with this hand – waiting. But when 2♦ shows a 5+card suit, we have a better rebid with this hand -- 3♦!
We can raise on 3-card support under this style of 2/1 GF. That is an advantage.
But not everything is made easier with these agreements.
Example 3
Opener Responder
1♠ 2♦
__?
♠ KQ732
♥ J42
♦ K
♣ KJ65
When we have this hand, we would like to be able to rebid 2♠ and “slow the auction down,” but instead we are forced to rebid 3♣. This might make partner excited, thinking that we actually have a good hand. This creates some complexity for our side.
Conclusion
When we change some of our agreements, we can affect the bidding decisions (and options) for the rest of the auction. The earlier in the auction we use our agreements the more they affect our bidding. It is important that we discuss the effects of changing our agreements and see how they change our future bidding options and the types of hands we need to describe. If you make changes to your bidding system make sure you discuss the followups and understand how it helps you and how it makes your life more complicated.