Thursday, January 12, 2006 1:19 PM

Hand Evaluation  - Forcing 1NT ( Raises )

PITBULLS:

            Playing 2/1 forcing to game comes with a cost. The cost is the forcing 1NT bid with all the problems that bid creates. An entire HCP range for opener becomes a problem after the forcing NT i.e. the invitational HCP range just under a strong jump shift ( 15-18 HCP).  A number of problems have been bypassed by opening a strong NT in the first place with a 5 card major. Some partnerships just make a simple 2♥, 2♦ or 2♣ rebid with this huge invitational HCP range  after a 1NT response. Responder is supposed to come up with some courtesy or obligatory raises just to keep the bidding open. This suposedly is to allow opener to describe the “real hand” by the 3rd round of bidding. This is nonsense,  as responder must over bid by necessity so partials are blown to compensate for opener underbidding her hand initially. This bidding style begs the question of what should responder do with a real invitational raise instead of obligatory. This approach is completely unworkable , in my opinion. A better approach is to have the opener describe her invitational HCP range immediately.

            We feel a simple rebid of a new suit by opener at the two level should have an upper ceiling of 16 HCP’s. If your hand is better than that , you make an invitational jump , SJS of 3♣  or a 2NT bid. This understanding relieves the pressure of responder having  to make “obligatory or courtesy”  raises with any hand & HCP range after a 2 level rebid by opener . This understanding allows an invitational raise by responder to be well uh  invitational !  Responder is allowed to pass a simple rebid at the two level without worrying that opener has a 17 ,18 or even 19 HCP hand.

            With a simple minor rebid at the two level after a 1NT response , we have some gadgets to show strong raises in the minors. With a heart opener , we have a 2♠ bid to show all strong minor suit raises. A simple raise of the minor should still be invitational but with values under a 2♠ bid. With a spade opener and a 2♣ rebid , we have the handy BART 2♦ bid since forcing 1 round ,  which can show all strong club raises. With a simple 2♦ rebid by opener , we have a 2♥ bid by responder as forcing 1 round . Diamond support after this action shows the strong diamond raises. This means that a direct diamond raise by responder is lighter than standard.

            The last class of hands involves the heart suit after a 1♠-P-1NT response. A 2♥ rebid is limited to hand 16 HCP’s & under . The 2♥ bid is weak or if 5-5 a very weak hand . If invitational 5-5 , a 3♥ jump would be in order. A 3♥ raise by responder is invitational so not an “obligatory” or a “courtesy” raise. The bid means if opener has 15-16 HCP,  we have a shot at game. We expect that a 5-4-2-2 or 5-4-3-1 with 17-19 HCP have already been rebid with 2NT but not 2♥. We will “check back” for the heart fit with a relay if we have hearts. 

♠AKxxx ♥KQ10xx ♦xx ♣x   will be the strongest 2♥ rebid opener can hold with a 5-5 distribution. Add the heart jack and we have a 3♥ invitational bid. Responder does not have to stretch thereby bidding  openers hand for her. A raise of partners heart suit is invitational just as Charles Goren would have bid it !  The pass is a legal bid by responder when she has no more than her original response. I call it the “obligatory” pass :(.

            Part of the solution is to have a multi tasking 3♣ jump shift to show the very strong hands so that jumps in a new suit ( except ♦’s ) shows the invitational range hands ( 5-5) . The 3♣ bid forces a relay to 3♦ so a number of strong hands  are shown. This leaves natural jump shifts into hearts to be invitational. A leap to 3NT directly shows specifically a picture bid of a balanced hand with a doubleton in the other major. Another solution is to have a 2NT raise as virtually forcing to game with 17+ to 19 HCP with balanced hands but including  5-4-2-2 or 5-4-3-1 distributions . This treatment allows you bidding room at the 3 level to find your best spot with a 3♣ relay built into the structure or transfer bids if you wish . Another helpful solution is to open 1♣ with weak 5-5’s in the blacks so these hands do not enter the forcing NT structure.

            I have seen a simple 2♥ rebid by an expert after a forcing NT , with this hand ♠AJxxx ♥AQxx ♦AKx ♣x . This is “sick bidding” , in my opinion , putting way too much pressure on responder to keep the auction alive. A forcing to game strong jump shift with this hand does not feel right either. A 2NT raise seems to be the best alternative. At least we have a chance at finding a heart fit from responder’s side but if not at least our strength is described. Pick the best lie.

            With a heart opener , you have a luxury with the big 5-4-3-1 hands under a strong jump shift. You have the idle spade suit that you did not reverse into. ♠x ♥AKxxx ♦KQx ♣AJ10x you open 1♥ , partner bids 1NT . You are too strong for a simple 2♣ rebid but not strong enough for a 3♣ strong jump shift. You make the 2NT rebid so partner bids a 3♣ relay. You break the relay to 3♠ which shows your shortness. Partner has ♠xxx ♥xx ♦Axx ♣Kxxxx is now warned that a minor contract is best so you end up in 5♣.

Lets try a few auctions . ♠AKxxx ♥AJxx ♦xx ♣xx        opposite   ♠xxx ♥KQxx ♦Qx ♣Q10xx

1♠-P-1NT-P
2♥-P-P-P

2♥ makes exactly two as there was no need for an “obligatory raise”

        Beef up opener’s hand to ♠AKxxx ♥AJxx ♦Ax ♣Qx . I would bid 2NT after the 1NT response. Partner bids 3♣ as a relay to check back so I accept the relay to 3♦ , hopefully getting to 4♥ from responders side rather than a 2♥ partial.

♠AKxxx ♥AJ10xx ♦Kx ♣x

1♠-P-1NT-P 
 3♥-P-4♥-P    you get to your game without responder “stretching”.

Opener,  bid your own hand , so responder can just bid her hand !!