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2OVER1.4CA
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1995-08-28
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TWO-OVER-ONE RESPONSES
Requirements for a two-over-one response cannot be stated simply.
To say that it requires 11 HCP or more is a straitjacket approach
that does not work for natural bidders. In good bidding there are
hands with less points that call for a two-over-one response. These
are the hands with distributional features that make them un-
suitable for a 1NT response. A two-over-one implies at least 1-1/2
defensive tricks, however.
Notrump is a desirable landing spot, especially at match points.
You get more points for a given number of tricks, and game is
scored with fewer tricks. Accordingly, partner will believe you
when you bid notrump, and will tend to leave you in notrump, or
raise you, if at all possible. You must therefore avoid bidding
notrump with hands that are unsuitable for notrump play. Use a
five-card major system with a forcing 1NT response if you want to
bid notrump with suit-oriented hands.
With a hand like S-3 H-732 D-AJ7632 C-K86, respond 2D to a 1S
opening. A two-over-one response does not promise another bid, so
you can pass if partner rebids 2H or 2S.
Avoid bidding notrump with singletons, voids, 5-5 distribution, or
a long suit. These features are desirable for suit play. Long suits
are good for notrump, but only if they can be run. Bid your long
suit and find out if partner fits your hand. A 1NT response is no
help in finding a fit for a long suit.
Stretch a little to bid two-over-one after a 1S opening if your
hand contains four or more hearts. A good heart contract might be
missed if you respond 1NT and partner passes with 4-4 in the
majors. With S-K6 H-J875 D-83 C-KQ1093 respond 2C to a 1S opening.
Partner may rebid 2H, and you can stand a 2S rebid. If your hearts
and diamonds were reversed, a 1NT response would be preferable.
One-Over-One or Two-Over-One?
With two (or more) suits and a choice of bidding at the one or two
level:
-- If the longer suit can be shown at the one level, bid it.
-- If the longer suit must be shown at the two level, bid it only
if the hand is worth a game try--11 points or more. If you will
have to pass a minimum suit rebid by opener, prefer the one level
response.
With S-83 H-KQ84 D-76 C-KJ753 respond 1H to a 1D opening. Add the
ace of diamonds and 2C is the correct bid, planning to bid hearts
on the next round. It is wrong to bid 1H with the stronger hand in
an attempt to "keep the bidding low." If partner rebids 2D, you
would have to bid 3C. Result: the bidding is higher, not lower, and
opener has no information as to the relative length of the two
suits.
-- If the suits are of equal length a one-level response is usually
preferable, but there are exceptions. With S-AQ97 H-73 D-843 C-AK94
a 2C response to 1D is preferable to a 1S response. Suppose partner
rebids 2D--then you bid 2S, aiming at a notrump contract. If
partner then bids 3C, supposing you have five clubs, you can bid
3D (forcing). But suppose you respond 1S to 1D. The bidding might
go:
Opener Responder
1D 1S
2D 3C
3S Now what?
Choice of Suit for Two-Over-One
When a two-over-one response is indicated, and there are two suits
to choose from:
-- Bid the longer suit first, but count a very weak minor suit as
having one card less in length. Treat C-108753 as a four-card suit.
-- With equally long five or six-card suits, bid the higher ranking
first. With touching 5-6 suits, a strong five-carder may be
considered equal in length to a mediocre six-carder, especially
with a weakish hand. Respond 2H to a 1S opening with S-3 H-AQ1097
D-K107642 C-8. With a stronger hand you could bid diamonds, then
bid and rebid hearts, but this hand is not strong enough for that.
-- When choosing between four-card suits, do not choose hearts
unless they are very strong (e.g., AKJ3, AQJ10). In a pinch opener
can raise with three small hearts because you are supposed to have
five. Also, he can jump to 4H with just three-card support. Can
you bid a four-card heart suit with four of partner's spades and
too much for a raise to 2S? Only with a game-going hand. It is true
that the hand will not play in hearts, but don't get trapped into
this auction with a hand of just invitational strength:
Opener Responder
1S 2H
3H 3S is forcing!
With S-986 H-AJ73 D-754 C-AQ9 respond 2C to a 1S opening. Partner
will suppose you have a club suit, but you should be able to handle
any development. If he raises clubs you can bid 3S (forcing)
because he implies five spades and a good hand with that sequence.
In competition it is sometimes necessary to bid two-over-one with
only a fair four-card heart suit when you are not playing negative
doubles. What else can you do when partner opens 1S, next hand bids
2D, and you hold S-J3 H-AJ87 D-873 C-KJ97?
-- With two four-card minors it is often wise to bid the suit in
which it would be undesirable for partner to have a singleton, when
you don't plan to show both suits. Reason: partner will tend to
devalue his hand when he has a singleton in your suit. Partner
opens 1S and you have S-J43 H-Q5 D-A1087 C-KJ83. You have too much
for 2S or 1NT, so you must bid a minor. Which? Bid 2C, because that
is the suit where a singleton would be undesirable in partner's
hand. For instance, she could have S-KQ9652 H-A43 D-Q65 C-7. When
you eventually raise her 2S rebid to 3S, she will bid 4S if you
responded 2D originally, and pass if you answered 2C. This is an
example of how natural bidders can help each other in hand
evaluation.
Of course with a hand like this you have no choice: S-J3 H-765
D-AKJ5 C-KJ87. You must respond 2D to a 1S opening, to prepare for
a rebid (3C) if opener rebids 2S. You would not want to reverse
with a 4-4 holding in touching suits. It is only when you have a
real choice that you can use judicial suit selection to assist
partner.
When RHO Overcalls in Notrump
-- If the notrump overcall is artificial, showing two suits (e.g.,
unusual notrump), see chapter DEFENSE VS TWO-SUITED CONVENTIONS in
the book "Countermeasures."
-- If the overcall is natural, a two-over-one response is not
forcing, a double is for business, all raises are preemptive, a
jump to three of a minor is preemptive, a jump to three of a new
major is invitational. A cue bid in notrump is unusual notrump,
asking opener to choose between the lower two unbid suits:
South West North
1D 1NT Dbl - business
2C/2H/2S - not forcing
2D/3D - weak, preemptive
2NT - unusual notrump
3C - preemptive
3H/3S - invitational
The 2NT bid shows something like S- void H-Q107632 D-J C-A108432.
Fourth hand is going to bid some big amount of spades, so opener
will have the information he needs for his next call. The jumps to
three in a major imply a very long suit and a distributional hand,
one that cannot double the overcall with assurance: S-KJ98763 H-K4
D-Q87 C-2
When RHO Overcalls in a Suit
Free bids at the two level in a suit lower than opener's requires
no more strength than non-free bids. When the suit is higher than
partner's, however, and he may be forced to the three level,
responder must have a good enough hand to provide a measure of
safety at that level:
South West North
1D 1S 2C - may be light
2H - promises a better hand
Unless 2H is a non-forcing "negative free bid" (when playing
negative doubles) or North is a passed hand, the nominal minimum
for bidding 2H is 11 points. Neither North response promises
another bid, so he may pass a minimum rebid by South.
The doubling of suit overcalls is covered in chapter BUSINESS
DOUBLES OF OVERCALLS and in the book "Conventional Doubles."