Wednesday, February 21, 2007 9:09 PM

Hand Evaluation - 2/1 ( 3 strikes )

PITBULLS:

2/1 is forcing to game unless responder rebids her suit. This 2/1 agreement is standard among expert players as the forcing NT is overburdened with too many hand types. In my opinion , there is one other situation where a 2/1 is not forcing to game. This sequence occurs where opener rebids her suit 3 times in succession. In this specific auction , responder may pass even though the 2/1 was originally forcing to game. 3 strikes & you are out so to speak.

` ♠AQ98xx ♥xx ♦Ax ♣Qxx opposite ♠x ♥Jxx ♦KQxxx ♣AKxx

1♠-P-2♦-P

2♠-P-3♣-P

3♠-P-? 3NT with no heart stopper or 4♠ on a stiff are your options. How about pass with the 3 strikes you are out rule.

♠Qx ♥xxx ♦AKQJ10x ♣xx opposite ♠Kxxx ♥Jx ♦xx ♣AKQxx

1♦-P-2♣-P

2♦-P-2♠-P

3♦-P-?

These hands come up quite often. A 2/1 where we have no fit with openers suit & the bidding has identified a glaring fault for 3NT. Your options are to bid 3NT without a stopper or play in an identified misfit. I think 2/1 should be allowed one escape hatch with opener bidding her suit 3 times .

Some players have the understanding that 4 of a minor is a “pseudo game” so 2/1 auctions can end there also. I do not buy into this though. 4 of a minor quite often is KCB let alone not forcing to game. With a minor agreed fit , 4 of either partners or responder’s major is a choice of contracts though , when you are afraid that 5 of a minor is just too high. All other 2/1 auctions are a game force , as per the “book”.

Rules are made to be broken. 2/1 forcing to game needs care when you break that understanding. When in doubt , passing a forcing bid is not the way to go. Have clear cut understandings with partner when you are allowed to bail out of a forcing to game auction.