This Week in Bridge
(605) Options for 1♦ - 2♣ 2/1 GF Auctions
© AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: 8 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
The most complicated 2/1 GF auctions are the ones that start 1♦ – 2♣. Actually, these can be some of the most difficult auctions in all of bridge. These auctions can lead to lots of complexity and confusion about the meaning of bids on the second and third round of the bidding. Many pairs have played in 3-3 Major suit fits after the auction began with 1♦ - 2♣, thinking they were headed to a much better fit. Let’s look at what agreements we need to make with partner and then see how these affect our follow-up bidding.
Three Styles of 1♦ - 2♣ Auctions
We need to have an agreement with partner about what type of hands we can have when we respond 2♣ to partner’s 1♦ opening. Assuming we are playing 2/1 GF there are three bidding approaches to consider.
1. 2♣ shows GF values and could have a 4-card Major. It will always have long ♣ than the Major (at least 5/4 shape).
2. 2♣ will usually not have a 4-card Major. It will only have a 4-card Major when we have a strong enough hand to have slam interest and a longer ♣ suit.
3. 2♣ denies a 4-card Major.
Pros and Cons of Each Approach
1. The first of these options is the “old fashioned” way to play. It is natural bidding, which can seem simple, but it often helps the opponents and makes the auction overly complicated for our side.
2. This option keeps the focus on the Major suit unless we have a huge hand. It creates some complexities where we cannot tell if the auction is looking for a Major suit fit or it we are looking for 3NT, but it is playable.
3. Playing that 2♣ denies a 4-card Major keeps the auction clean and makes it clear that we are focused on 3NT, 5-minor, or 6-minor when the auction begins 1♦ - 2♣.
The approach I prefer is that we do not have a 4-card Major (#3) when we respond 2♣ to a 1♦ opening. (My second choice would be to rarely have a 4-card Major -- #2). Let’s take a look at these 1♦ – 2♣ auctions and see how they generally proceed assuming we agree that we have no Major -- #3 approach.
Opener’s Rebids
Opener’s rebid is largely used to communicate to partner the “nature” or type of hand Opener holds, but it is also used to potentially right-side the most common game contract, 3NT.
Here are some general principles we will adopt:
In order to preserve space and to describe our hand, we rebid 2♦ with most hands that have a decent 5+card ♦ suit.
Without a 5-card ♦ suit, we show our stoppers in the Majors. Bidding a Major shows a stopper in that suit and implies a problem in the other Major – similar to an Inverted Minors auction.
Rebidding 2NT implies stoppers in both Majors – either a balanced 12-14 or 18-19 point hand.
Jumping to 3NT shows extra values (usually 15-17 HCP) with singleton ♣ (usually 4-4-4-1).
Example 1
Opener Responder
1♦ 2♣
2♦
♠ 93
♥ AQ4
♦ KJT84
♣ K43
Here we rebid 2♦ to show a decent 5+card ♦ suit. If partner shows ♠, we will head towards 3NT.
Here are the details of what Opener’s rebids show:
Opener Responder
1♦ 2♣
__?
2♦ Any hand with decent 5+card ♦
2♥ Usually not 5-card ♦, ♥ stopper, no ♠ stopper
2♠ Usually not 5-card ♦, ♠ stopper, no ♥ stopper
2NT Usually not 5-card ♦, stoppers in both Majors (12-14 pts OR 18-19 pts)
3♣ Usually 4-card ♣ support for partner
3♦ Great ♦, 6+c suit and a good hand
3♥ Splinter, 4+card ♣, Singleton or Void in ♥, at least a decent opening hand
3♠ Splinter, 4+card ♣, Singleton or Void in ♠, at least a decent opening hand
3NT Usually 4-4-4-1 (singleton ♣) with 15-17 pts (mild slam try)
Responder’s NT Rebids
Once Opener has described their hand, Responder has one primary responsibility - to right-side a NT contract if we have a stopper in the unbid suits. This is particular true if these stoppers are positional and need to be led into and not put down on the dummy.
Example 2
Opener Responder
1♦ 2♣
2♠ 2NT
Responder’s rebid shows a ♥ stopper.
Example 3
Opener Responder
1♦ 2♣
2♥ 2NT
Responder’s rebid shows a ♠ stopper.
Unlike in the 2/1 GF auctions that begin 1-Major – 2-minor, where we might have a Major suit fit, in the auctions that start 1♦ - 2♣ we are primarily interested in whether we have stoppers in both Majors and from which side we should declare 3NT.
Since the general rule is that we don’t have a Major suit fit when the auction starts 1♦ - 2♣ (which will be true most of the time), then subsequent bids of a Major tend to show a stopper, not necessarily a 4-card suit. This is an important to have a good agreement with partner that these Major suit bids show a stopper, not length, and can then be used to get us to play 3NT from the proper side (if we can play it at all).
Other Responder’s Rebids
Later calls in these types of auctions are natural and shape-showing. They tend to be used for bidding out the pattern of Responder’s hand and often show interest in playing in a contract other than 3NT. This can either be because we don’t have a stopper in one of the Major suits or because we have interest in exploring a slam.
Example 4
Opener Responder
1♦ 2♣
2♠ 3♦
4+card ♦, usually a longer ♣ suit, often slam interest in ♦, and frequently no ♥ stopper.
Conclusion
The auctions that begin 1♦ – 2♣ can lead to some complicated and difficult bidding situations. It is important for you and partner to have good agreements about when your bids are looking for a Major suit fit and when they are used to show a stopper for notrump. Therefore, I recommend playing that 1♦ – 2♣ denies a 4-card Major suit most of time. Make sure that you discuss this auction with your regular partners and come to an agreement on the follow-up bidding and what to expect from these auctions. Do not have a bidding disaster in these “simple” auctions!