Free Bid

Rev: February 16, 1999

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Free Bids are not a convention but rather a partnership understanding. A Free Bid occurs when partner opens and opponent overcalls and responder bids a suit (the Free Bid) at the two-level or higher (non-jump). Remember, this is not the “Negative Free Bid” convention. The Free Bid, when made, requires no alert.

 

Note: the “Negative Free Bid” convention is not used, although the “Negative Double” is used in conjunction.

 

There are three treatments for Free Bids: 

  1. A non-jump two-bid shows 10+ HCP and always a five-card suit (major or minor).

  2. A non-jump two-bid shows 10+ HCP and a five-card suit if a major, or a four-card suit if a minor.

  3. A non-jump two-bid would show the same values necessary for a 2-over-1 bid, a minimum of a “good” 12 HCP or more, and always a five-card suit (major or minor).

 

Max Hardy recommends either Treatment 1 or 3 of the Free Bid and doesn’t recommend the “Negative Free Bid” as an alternative.

 

I recommend Treatment 1 whether using 2-over-1 or SAYC. Treatment 1 can be described by the "Rule of 10 and 5" .....  you must have 10 HCP and at least 5 cards in your suit to bid you suit at the two-level after opponent has overcalled.

 

Using Treatment 1 as the preference:

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The purpose of the Free Bid is to show a five-card suit;

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and, Show at least a game-invite type of hand.

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Used in conjunction with the Negative Double. The Negative Double will usually promise the unbid suits, especially the unbid major(s). The Negative Double requires about 8+ HCP at the two-level and 10+ HCP at the three level, with no upper limit.

If the bidding goes: [ 1D  1S  and you hold:

A5

KJT53

K42

K83

Make a Free Bid of 2H.

 

A5

KJT3

K965

K82

You have the values for a Free Bid but don’t have the 5-suit requirement. Make a Negative Double.

 

64

KQ853

Kt5

842

You have the 5-card suit requirement but not the values for a Free Bid. Make a Negative Double.

 

Q87

65

AKJ98

JT3

Make a Free Bid of 2D.

When you have a one-suited hand but can’t make a Free Bid, you make a Negative Double then rebid your long suit. This warns partner that your Negative Double was an excuse to show your length and that you do not have values for a Free Bid, nor did you promise support in the major(s).

 

The bidding goes: [ 1D  2C  and you hold:

KQT984

K6

73

864

You don’t have the values to make a 2S Free Bid. You make a Negative Double, partner assumes you have hearts and spades. If partner rebids 2H (expecting you to have hearts), or 2D, or 2NT --  you rebid the spade suit telling partner you have a one-suited hand in spades with 7 – 9 HCP and no heart suit as initially believed. Of course if partner rebids 2S you jump to 4S (“Fast Arrival”).

 

 

Note: There are rare occurrences when neither a Free Bid or a Negative Double can be made when holding some values:

 

The bidding goes: [ 1C  1S  and you hold:

875

65

AKJ98

JT9

Can’t make a Free Bid (only 9 HCP). Can’t make a Negative Double (no heart support; if partner rebid 2H, the diamond suit is not long enough to rebid 3D). This is one of those “tweeners” that should be passed. If partner reopens with a double, you now rebid 3D.