2007-11-20 03:17

Hand Evaluation – 2♣ ( Positive Responses )

PITBULLS:

In the old days after a 2♣ opener , there were positive responses. These positive responses showed a slam going hand with a good suit typically 2 of the 3 top honours. Over time , these positive responses fell by the wayside. This was partly due to the improvements in KCB , which could describe your suit exactly but mainly because other methods were deemed more useful.

In our system , we play 2♣-P-3♣ not as a positive response with clubs but a weak jump shift sort of hand in clubs without controls. These hands are far more frequent than positive responses with clubs & good hands can normally take care of themselves. Also 2♣-P-3♦ is no longer a positive response with diamonds. This again is a weak jump shift in diamonds with no controls.

Playing controls over 2♣ does away with responder showing a positive response . This is another reason why I dislike playing controls after a 2♣ opener. It is sufficient for me to know that 2♥ is no controls 2♦ is one , two or three & 2NT shows 4 or more. We prefer relays over a 2♦ response so responder can show a positive response with a good suit by “breaking the relay” . We have recovered our positive responses with this 2♣ structure.

Partner opens 2♣ , you hold ♦Kx ♥xx ♦xxx ♣KQJ10xx so with our methods we bid 2♦. Partner bids 2♥ or 2♠ which normally demands a relay. You break the relay to 3♣ so you show the old fashioned positive response in clubs. You have turned the tables with a relay system . You have described your hand to the 2♣ opener rather than the other way around. Same with a positive diamond hand, instead of taking the relay you show a positive diamond suit. Excellent !! Playing controls , you cannot show a positive response as responder is just a control showing puppet. KCB asks for controls later. What’s the hurry ?

How does responder show a positive major suit after a 2♣ opener ? Again this is easy as you break the relay.

2♣-P-2♦-P

2♥-P-? this sequence demands a relay to 2♠ but you hold ♠AKQxxx ♥x ♦Jxx ♣Jxx so you break the relay to 2NT.

2♣-P-2♦-P

2♠-P-?

this sequence demands a relay to 2NT but you break the relay to 3♥ with ♠Kx ♥KQJ10xx ♦xxx ♣Jx

Showing a good two suiter by responder is virtually impossible playing a control based structure. Not so playing relays. Tom & I had an excellent auction when Tom broke the relay to show a good two suiter. Tom held ♠x ♥xx ♦KQxxx ♣AJ10xx & I opened 2♣ . Tom bid 2♦ & I bid 2♥ which is a relay. Tom chose to break the relay to 3♦ & over my 3♥ by bidding 4♣ to describe his 2 suiter. Nice natural bidding got us to a slam the opponents did not reach & in the correct strain.

Playing a relay structure after 2♣ is far superior to playing controls in my opinion. . Controls work nicely on a few hands but you give up too much bidding space & remove natural bidding. Showing controls right away was invented by the forcing 1♣ theorists. I think you give up too much to play them after 2♣ at the two level. There just is not enough bidding room under 3NT . If responder bids 2NT showing 4 or more controls , bidding space all of a sudden becomes plentiful as you can play 4NT as a contract & you are usually in slam anyway. Do not like a complete control structure though L