2007-07-17 05:04

Hand Evaluation – Godfather 2NT ( Escaping ) 

 

PITBULLS:

 

    Most experts now play the godfather 2NT by responder which is defined as invitational or better. This new “either/or” understanding eliminates some bad 4^th suit forcing auctions & allows natural bidding & “patterning out” by opener  to occur under 3NT. Prevents pre-empting opener by leaping to 3NT with responders 13-15  HCP .  When opener has opened a flat hand , there is no escape as you cannot pass 2NT. When you have a minimum 5-4-3-1 with your 5 card suit not that robust, you must bid 3NT as patterning out is forcing to game anyway. You bid 3NT with all other balanced hands so when responder was invitational , you are in a Meckwell 3NT.  So partner play it well J . 2NT as a contract to play a hand is not possible. This is the “limit raise or better; concept made popular by Q bids.

 

      How can you escape into a partial after the godfather  2NT by responder ? The answer is hand pattern dependent. There are only a few hand patterns to consider after a response & a 2 level rebid by opener. Grannovetter recommends the standard 6-4 rule with those 6-4 hand patterns. Opener bids non forcing to game 6-4’s , by rebidding the  6 card suit first. Forcing to game 6-4’s bid your 4 card suit first after opening your 6 card suit. OK , That’s easy.

 

            Rebidding your suit by opener for the 3^rd time is of course a standard escape. Showing a 5-5 after a godfather 2NT response should also be non forcing if the 2NT bid was invitational. . A forcing to game 5-5 by opener , should be shown by jumping in your 2^nd suit. Patterning out with 5-4-3-1 hands are forcing to game & show extra. All other bids are forcing to game.

 

1♦-P-1♠-P

2♦-P-2NT-P

3♣                     this is non forcing as it shows a 6-4 bid the “weak way”.

 

1♥-P-1♠-P

2♦-P-2NT-P

3♥                     this sequence is a game force as the 6-4 is shown the “strong way”.

 

♠x ♥xx ♦AKxxx ♣AKQxx         1♦-P-1♠-P

                                                      2♣-P-2NT-P

                                                     4♣-P- 4NT   is to play and 4♥ is Kickback agreeing clubs & 4♠ Kickback agreeing diamonds.

 

♠x ♥AQ10xx ♦AJ109x ♣xx            1♥-P-1♠-P    

                                                            2♦-P-2NT-P                                                  

                                                            3♦-P-P-P          If the godfather 2NT was invitational .

 

            Patterning out ( 4^th suit by opener ) is the strength of this system & is a game force.

 

♠A10x ♥AKJxx ♦K109x ♣x      opposite       ♠KQJxx ♥xx ♦Ax ♣J10xx

 

1♥-P-1♠-P

2♦-P-2NT-P

3♠-P-4NT-P

5♥-P-6♠-P

 

            Since 2NT by responder can be unlimited , we reverse “captaincy” . In order to escape 2NT , opener  now must describe her hand to responder rather than passing 2NT with a minimum. This way works much better since openers range is so wide 12-17 & any type of distribution. Difficult to bid minor suit slams or games are found & avoiding the 3NT trap is a nice side effect. Playing a minor partial when we know a suit is wide open is an advantage.  Passing 2NT to show you are weak , lands you in wrong partials. This will no longer happen.