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Two-Over-One by Eric Rodwell

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass
2♥ Pass 2NT Pass
When 2/1 Game 3♥ Pass 4♥ All Pass
East’s 2♣ response is a marathon
Force Is Used bid, forcing to at least game. When
West rebids 2♥, East can bide time
by bidding only 2NT because it is
Examples of 2/1 still forcing. This gives West the
Consider the following partnership opportunity to rebid the heart suit
hands for East and West: comfortably at the three level. That
gives East all the information needed
WEST EAST to choose the best contract.
♠ KJ753 ♠ Q2 Let’s change the West hand slightly:
♥ A K 10 7 2 ♥ Q83
♦ 84 ♦ AJ3 WEST EAST
♣6 ♣ A 10 9 5 4 ♠ K J 10 7 5 3 ♠ Q2
♥ AK72 ♥ Q83
Eric Rodwell is known for his highly Using standard methods, the auction ♦ 84 ♦ AJ3
developed skills in creating integrated would begin: ♣6 ♣ A 10 9 5 4
bidding systems at world-class levels. Playing standard methods, the
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
In his first article on 2/1 game force,
Eric reviewed the bidding messages 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass auction would again start:
with a focus on forcing bids, and 2♥ Pass ? WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
introduced the marathon bid which is West opens the bidding, showing 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass
forcing to at least game. 13 or more points. With 13 high- 2♥ Pass ?
(www.betterbridge.com/articles) card points plus 1 length point for If East were to jump to 4♥, the
the five-card club suit, East knows partnership would miss its spade fit
HOW HIGH: the partnership belongs and land in a precarious 4-3 heart
T wo-over-one game force (2/1) is
a variation of standard methods.
It applies in the following situation:
in at least game. East doesn’t yet
know WHERE the contract belongs
fit. If East were to jump to 3NT,
West would be unsure whether to
and starts with a forcing response of bid 4♠; East could have a singleton
• Opener bids 1♦, 1♥, or 1♠. 2♣. After West shows the second or void in spades.
• The next player passes. suit, East is still unsure about the Using 2/1 game force, the auction
• Responder bids a new suit at the best spot. West could have only four would go very smoothly:
two level without jumping. hearts, so East doesn’t want to jump
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
to 4♥.
The new suit response at the two 1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass
level is a marathon bid , forcing to This is where the standard auction 2♥ Pass 2NT Pass
at least game. Notice that 2/1 does becomes a little fuzzy. A rebid of 3♠ Pass 4♠ All Pass
not apply after a 1♣ opening. 2NT by East would not be forcing; Since East’s 2NT bid is still forcing,
Diamonds, hearts, and spades can the 2♣ response did not commit the opener can complete the description
all be bid at the one level; bidding partnership to game. To make certain of the hand by rebidding the spades,
them at the two level would require the partnership reaches game, East showing six spades and four hearts.
a jump. One level responses in a would probably jump to 3NT. Now East has an easy time putting the
suit are forcing , but they are not West is faced with a dilemma. To partnership in its best spot.
forcing to game. show the fifth heart, West could bid
So, on many auctions 2/1 game
In standard methods, a two level 4♥, but East might have only one or
force allows the partnership to find
response is forcing, but not forcing two hearts and 3NT could be the
the best contract, since both players
to game. To see why 2/1 has become best spot. West is unsure whether to
know right away that they are headed
popular and how it can make some bid again or not.
for at least a game contract. There’s
auctions easier to handle, let’s look at Playing 2/1 as a game force, the no concern that the auction might
some examples. auction would be a lot crisper: suddenly stop in partscore.
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VOL. 11, NO. 3 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007
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Why Not Fourth Suit Forcing? When 2/1 Is Off The overcall gives responder new
In standard methods, responder does Even if the partnership has agreed to options: the double and the cuebid
have a forcing bid available after a play 2/1 as game forcing, there are of the opponent’s suit. This gives
new suit at the two level: a bid of the two situations when it doesn’t apply: responder enough flexibility that it’s
fourth suit. Many partnerships use this unnecessary to use a 2/1 response as
as an artificial game force. Could this WHEN 2/1 DOESN’T APPLY a marathon bid. Instead, responder
be used instead of 2/1 game force? • If responder is a passed hand. uses the standard approach: a new
• If responder’s right-hand suit response is forcing, but not
Sometimes, fourth suit forcing opponent overcalls or doubles. game forcing, after an overcall.
would work just as well. Let’s return
to one of the earlier examples: WEST EAST
Responder Is a Passed Hand ♠ 854 ♠ 932
WEST EAST ♥ AK954 ♥ 83
♠ KJ753 ♠ Q2 To commit the partnership to game,
responder needs about 13 or more ♦ Q4 ♦ K 10 3
♥ A K 10 7 2 ♥ Q83 ♣QJ2 ♣ A K 10 9 4
♦ 84 ♦ AJ3 points. If responder passed initially,
♣6 ♣ A 10 9 5 4 responder presumably has fewer than WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
As before, the standard auction 13 points. It doesn’t make sense for 1♥ 1♠ 2♣ Pass
would begin like this: responder’s 2/1 bid to be game forcing. 3♣ Pass Pass Pass
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH In addition, it’s common practice to East doesn’t have enough to commit
1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass sometimes open ‘light’—with fewer to game after West opens 1♥. When
2♥ Pass ? than 13 points—in third or fourth North overcalls 1♠, however, East
position. So, whether the partnership shows the club suit. East doesn’t want
Unsure of the best contract, East uses 2/1 or standard methods, a new to be shut out of the auction if the
could make an artificial fourth suit bid suit response is only invitational opponents compete further. The 2♣
of 3♦. This is a marathon bid, forcing when responder is a passed hand. response is forcing, but not to game.
to game. The auction would continue: When all West can do is raise to 3♣,
WEST EAST
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH ♠2 ♠ AKJ83 East passes and the partnership
1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass ♥ A Q 10 5 4 ♥ J3 rests in its best contract.
2♥ Pass 3♦ Pass ♦ KJ94 ♦ Q83 Right-Hand Opponent Doubles
3♥ Pass 4♥ All Pass ♣843 ♣ 976
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH If partner’s opening bid is doubled,
West can now rebid the five-card
Pass Pass 1♠ Pass a slam, or even game, become less
heart suit and East can place the
2♥ Pass Pass Pass likely, and 2/1 as a marathon bid is
partnership in the best contract. It
less useful. Besides, responder has a
appears that 2/1 is unnecessary. West doesn’t have enough to open new bid to show about 10 or more
However, suppose we make a in first position. After West passes, high-card points, the redouble.
slight change to West’s hand: East opens light in third chair with 11 It makes more practical sense to
WEST EAST high-card points plus 1 length point. fall back on standard methods, where
♠ KJ753 ♠ Q2 As a passed hand, West is limited to a new suit at the two level is not
♥ AK72 ♥ Q83 fewer than 13 points and can afford forcing after a takeout double.
♦ 10 4 ♦ AJ3 to make a 2/1 response knowing
♣K6 ♣ A 10 9 5 4 WEST EAST
partner won’t treat it as a marathon ♠ 854 ♠ 932
The auction now begins: bid. In fact, East chooses to pass 2♥, ♥ AK954 ♥ 83
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH knowing the partnership doesn’t ♦ Q4 ♦ K J 10 9 7 3
1♠ Pass 2♣ Pass have enough combined strength for ♣QJ2 ♣ K9
2♥ Pass 3♦ Pass game and not wanting to get too WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
high on the Bidding Ladder. 2♥ is a
? 1♥ Double 2♦ Pass
good spot for the partnership.
What is West to do at this point? Pass Pass
West doesn’t want to bid 3NT with Right-Hand Opponent Overcalls East doesn’t have enough strength
nothing in diamonds. If West gives When an opponent overcalls, the for a 2/1 response even using standard
a preference to 4♣, the partnership auction has become competitive. methods. But when 1♥ is doubled,
has missed it’s best spot of 3NT. Responder can’t necessarily afford East can make a non-forcing response
Using 2/1, East rebids a natural to wait for 13 or more points to bid of 2♦, getting the suit mentioned in
2NT and West simply raises to 3NT. a new suit at the two level. If a competitive situation. West knows
2/1 allows the partnership to save responder doesn’t show a good suit East doesn’t have a strong hand. With
valuable bidding space and make with about 11 or more points, the 10 or more points, East would have
the most natural bid on the hand. opportunity might be lost. started with a redouble.
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VOL. 11, NO. 3 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2007