This Week in Bridge
(624) 2/1 GF Discussion Template
© AIB Robert S. Todd
Level: 6 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
When we agree to play 2/1 GF as our bidding system, then that is not the end of our decision-making process. We need to discuss our follow-up bidding and other initial agreements. The goal is this article is to give you a list of questions to discuss with your partners, to make sure that you are getting the most out of your 2/1 GF system. Let’s start out with a list of the question and then we’ll do some discussions of options below.
2/1 GF Questions
Here are some questions you should discuss with your partner?
1NT Forcing or Semi-Forcing?
1♦ - 2♣: Does this deny a 4-card Major?
1♥ - 2-minor: Does this deny a 4-card ♠ suit?
What length do we promise with our 2/1 GF responses (5-4-3 vs 5-5-2)? [Do we play a short 2♣?]
Opener’s Rebids – 2-Major waiting or everything natural?
Opener’s Rebids – Jump to 3NT, extra values?
Opener’s Rebids – Jump rebid suit shows what?
Opener’s Rebids – Jump to 4-Major shows what?
Opener’s Rebid – Jump shift?
Responder’s Rebids – Jump to 3NT, extra values?
Options of these 2/1 GF Questions
Let’s look at our options and what the pros / cons are of different styles.
1. 1NT Forcing or Semi-Forcing?
Most people play 1NT Semi-Forcing these days. It is a superior treatment!
2. 1♦ - 2♣: Does this deny a 4-card Major?
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.
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♣ 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.
2♣ denies a 4-card Major.
Pros and Cons of Each Approach
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.
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.
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.
3. 1♥ - 2-minor: Does this deny a 4-card ♠ suit?
With a 5+card minor and a 4-card ♠ suit, then Responder usually creates the game forcing auction. With a 4-card minor and a 4-card ♠ suit, most bid 1♠, but it can often be simpler to create the game-forcing auction. If Responder does choose to bypass a 4-card ♠ suit, then it is their responsibility to come back and bid the suit.
Responder does not bypass a 5-card ♠ suit unless they are 5-6. If responder
4. What Length to we promise with our 2/1 GF Responses (543 vs 552)? [Do we play a short 2♣?]
After a 1♠ opening bid, then a 2♥ response always shows a 5-card suit. But we can have different agreements about the length of our minor suit responses (4+card ♦ and a 3+card ♣) or (5+card ♦ and a 2+card ♣). Playing the later method, we can raise partner’s ♦ suit with only 3-card support versus in the first method we raise either of partner’s suits with 4-card support.
5. Opener’s Rebids – 2-Major Waiting or Everything Natural?
There are two significant styles of Rebids by the Opener. There one where we make a natural bid (bidding 2NT, even without a stopper) and just bidding our 2nd suit no matter our values, if we have ones. The other is the slightly more complex and sophisticated approach. This uses a 2-Major rebid as a waiting bid and allows us to avoid rebidding 2NT when we do not have stopper in the opponent’s suit. This method also allows us to show some additional values when we have additional distribution. I prefer the “2-Major Waiting” style (it is especially effective in slam bidding auctions), but I recognize that the natural style is simpler on many auctions.
6. Opener’s Rebids – Jump to 3NT, extra values?
Yes. This jump to 3NT shows 15-17 points and usually a hand like 5431, with a singleton in partner’s suit.
7. Opener’s Rebids – Jump rebid suit shows what?
This shows a great suit. A 1-loser suit (or better) even if partner has a void. This jump does not promise significant extra values.
8. Opener’s Rebids – Jump to 4-Major shows what?
This jump to 4-Major denies a 1-loser suit. It is usually an 8-card Major suit and one that has very few extra values. I prefer for this to not have 2 keycards with the trump Queen.
Conclusion
There are a lot of options to choose from when you play 2/1 GF. You can see that some auctions have one “modern meaning”, but others have partnership agreement options. Take the time to discuss things with your partner and make sure you have good agreements!