Sunday, April 01, 2007 12:39 AM

Hand Evaluation – Systemic ( 1 ♣ - 2 ♣ Rebid )

PITBULLS:

Experts have decided that a 1♣ opener with a 2♣ rebid requires special attention. When opener rebids 2♣ an 11 trick is far away so normally the goal ( major games excepted ) is to get to 3NT. Experts have decided to use 2♦ as a NMF after a 2♣ rebid & only a one round force. The godfather 2NT by responder is a one round force ( treated as a new suit ) so opener can escape to a partial by bidding 3♣. A jump rebid by responder is a slam try with a good suit ( recovering the strong jump shift ). A jump preference by responder in the ♣ suit is invitational.

A 2♣ rebid by opener is not a misfit auction. A misfit auction is where all 4 suits have been bid naturally by the partnership. Therefore, a jump to a new suit by responder is invitational , natural and normally a 5-5. ♠AJ10xx ♥x ♦AJ10xx ♣xx

1♣-P-1♠

` 2♣-P-3♦ shows a two suiter with invitational values

A simple 2♥ bid by responder after initially bidding 1♠ is not even forcing one round !

1♣-P-1♠-P

2♣-P-2♥-P

With a forcing to game heart hand use the 2♦ NMF & keep bidding hearts after that. This particular sequence puts on the game force. A 2♦ bid is a “catch all” bid after 2♣ . This is the bid you make when you cannot think of anything else to bid or to force with a club fit & a non balanced hand. With this in mind , do not bid up the line after partner opens 1♣ when you are strong enough for two bids.

♠AQ109 ♥xxx ♦AJ9x ♣xx 1♣-P-1♠-P

2♣-P-2♦-P

Catch all 2♦ bid. Bidding 1♦ ( up the line) traps you with no suitable bid after 2♣. 2NT will wrong side the NT & bidding spades after diamonds shows distribution you do not have. This sequence you are essentially groping for a 3NT that is right sided.

Do not automatically bid up the line as responder especially with so much room after a 1♣ opener. Think of what might happen when you make that move like a good chess player. When you respond 1♦ after 1♣ with the above hand , what do you bid after 2♣ ? We are waiting …

My partner held this hand ♠J109xxx ♥Kxx ♦x ♣KQx & I opened 1♣ with a 1♠ response. I bid 2♣ so now what ? A 2♠ bid is invitational but does not describe this hand properly. A 3♣ bid is an underbid & hides the 6 card spade suit. A godfather 2NT bid is a one round force but lacks the stoppers in the unbid suits. A 2♦ bid is a “waiting bid” & only a one round force initially . When partner does not support spades , treat the 6 card suit a 5 carder & support clubs. 5♣ is cold & 2♠ goes one down ! ♣KQx fills in partners 6 card suit so 3NT is also cold. Devalue bad 6 card suits & call them a 5 card suit. Upgrade your hand when you hold KQx of partners 6 card suit. Hand evaluation first & foremost.

Use the 2NT bid by responder as the forcing bid , when you are interested in a ♣ slam & you have stoppers in the unbid suits. If the slam try fails , you have right sided the NT so all is well. The 2♦ bid & the godfather 2NT bid are the only forcing calls at the 2 level so use the bids wisely.