Sunday, October 01, 2006 11:38 PM
Hand Evaluation -
2/1 ( Three Level )
PITBULLS:
My partners & I have an
understanding that weak 5-5’s in
spades & clubs are opened 1♣ . This
treatment effects our 2/1 understandings.
This is due to the low ranking club suit
being bid at the 3 level after a 2/1, you show extra. We also treat 5-4-3-1 hands as
“semi-balanced” so we can bid NT
with a stiff in partners suit. This leads to an
understanding that any bid at the 3 level after a 2/1 shows extra . Extra
in HCP or extra length
, with a 5-5 or better.
I hate the so called default understanding
that you rebid a 5 card major with difficult hands after a 2/1. No , no & no as that bid shows a 6 card suit. The default understanding is that you will rebid 2NT with
difficult to bid hands which includes the 5-4-3-1 hand types. ♠AJxxx ♥x ♦Qxx ♣AJ109 is a 2NT rebid after 1♠-P-2♥-P . If your hand were stronger
, ♠AJxxx
♥x ♦AQx ♣AJ109 this would be a 3NT rebid
after 2♥. What if you had a good hand
in clubs & spades with nothing in diamonds ? Enter
the 3♣ bid at the 3 level to
show extra . ♠AJxxx ♥x ♦Jxx ♣AKQx is a 3♣ bid after a 2♥ response by
partner.
The only time we will rebid a 5 card suit on these 2/1 auctions
, is if our hand is too weak to go to the 3 level & I do not have a stopper in
the 3rd suit. Luckily , this means that most of my HCP’s are in my major suit so I am actually promoting my 5 card suit to a 6 card suit. ♠AKJxx ♥x ♦xxx
♣KJxx These 12 HCP’s are not strong enough to bid 3♣ so the very rare 2♠ bid. Rebidding a 5 card major is a very rare bid that we avoid
at almost all costs. Improvising with
a 2NT bid instead to show a minimum is a standard 2/1 understanding when you
follow this bidding philosophy.
1♠-P-2♥-P
3♦ also shows
extra HCP or extra diamond length by virtue of the 3 level.
You manufacture a 2NT bid which
is always the either/or bid of a
minimum or the 18-19 HCP .. Kiz
Fung at the Toronto NABC bid a hand well by not bidding her minimum soft values
at the 3 level. She held a fairly
soft 14 HCP ♠AK10xx ♥Qx ♦KJxx ♣J10 & opened 1♠ . I bid 2♥ so she
improvised with a 2NT rebid so as not to overstate her values with a 3♦ bid . If she bid 3♦ , I would drive the hand to slam holding ♠Jx
♥AKxxxxx ♦Qx ♣Ax . After the expected
♣ lead , 6♥ is a poor
contract & goes down on the lay of the cards. Keeping the same 14 HCP but
switching the ♦KJ to the ♦A , Kiz has a 3♦ bid due to the ♥Q . 7♥ is lay down
with that holding ( 3-3 ♠ break ).
Over a 2/1 is the only time we buy
into the “standard” bidding of 6-4’s.
If by bidding the 4 card suit , we are forced to the 3
level with a minimum hand , I will
rebid the 6 card major first. When
I have a strong hand , I will show it by bidding my 4 card suit at the 3 level & bid my 6
card major later. This is the so
called standard way of showing different
strength 6-4’s
♠AKxxxx ♥x ♦AKQx ♣xx 1♠-P-2♥-P 3♦ to show the extra
HCP’s.
A reverse by opener does not necessarily show extra in a 2/1 auction , however it may. A 1♦-P-2♣
auction has special sequences designed by Kokish so this particular 2/1 is well defined. 2/1 understandings are
simply partnership agreement but
very important understandings nevertheless
Raising partner’s 2/1 suit to the 3 level shows extra. ♠AKxxx
♥Kxx ♦Jx ♣Qxx is a 2NT rebid over a 2♣
2/1 . Add an Ace , I would
choose 3♣. When you have a 4 card fit , a raise
is mandatory regardless of strength. When you are playing 2/1 over non forcing
to game , you are forced to game when the 2/1 suit is
raised. This is another reason for having extra for an immediate raise.
.