2 Over 1 Bidding Summary

Two-Over-One Bidding Summary

Rev. 11-30-00

Contents

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2. Two-Over-One-Systemic Bidding Summary

2.1 Opener Bids 1C - Responder Bids 1D

2.2 Opener Bids 1C or 1D - Responder Bids1NT

2.3 Opener Bids 1C or 1D - Responder Bids 1H or 1S

2.4 Opener Bids 1H or 1S - Responder Bids 1NT (Forcing)

2.5 Opener Bids 1D - Responder Bids 2C (Game Force)

2.6 Opener Bids 1H or 1S - Responder Bids 2/1 (Game Force)

1. General Approach

Five Card Majors

	In 1st or 2nd seat a 5-card major suit is promised. Bergen raises are applied.
	In 3rd or 4th seat a 4-card major may sometimes be bid. Drury is applied.

Minor Suit Fits

Inverted Minor raises are applied.

Forcing 1NT Over Major Suit Opening

	1NT is forcing for one round if responder is an unpassed hand and RHO passes.
	1NT is “semi-forcing” if responder is a passed hand and opponents have not bid.

2/1 Game Force

A 2/1 response by an unpassed hand is almost always forcing to game.

If bidding has progressed to a 4-level minor-suit auction and no good fit has been found, the bidding may end there.

Reverses are off.

“Fast Arrival/Slow Arrival” bidding is applied to suit auctions.

A 2/1 response over RHO overcall (but not a take-out double) is invitational and is a “Free Bid” showing 5+ cards and 10+ HCP in the suit bid. This applies to both unpassed and passed hands.

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2. Two-Over-One Systemic Bidding Summary

The following is a summary of bidding sequences peculiar to the Two-Over-One system. Bids that are common to Standard American are not summarized except for a few cases. The bidding sequences are for constructive bids in uncontested auctions.

The Two-Over-One system attempts to discover, in order of preference:

A game with an eight card fit in a major.
A game in 3NT.
A game in a minor suit.

Additionally the systemic bids, especially when a minor suit is opened, reveal the hand-shape giving important information to the partnership.

Notes:

A single asterisk ( * ) denotes a non-forcing bid. A double asterisk ( ** ) denotes a forcing bid.

Definitions:

Balanced hand has 4/3/3/3, 4/4/3/2 or 5/3/3/2 shape.

Unbalanced hand contains a void, singleton or two doubletons - examples: 6/5/2/0, 5/4/3/1, 6/3/2/2, etc.

Minimum opener is 12- to 15- playing points.

Opener with extra values is 15+ to 19- playing points.

Opener with reverse values is 16+ to 19- playing points.

Opener with jump shift values is 19+ to 21 playing points.

Responder with “opening hand” values is 12+ playing points (allowing a 2/1 response if available).

Responder’s requirements for a “forcing 1NT” is 6 to 12- HCP.

A splinter bid by opener is a “single jump reverse” or “double jump shift” whichever is the cheapest bid.

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2.1 Opener Bids 1C - Responder Bids 1D

Opener assumes that responder has no major suit to bid. Responder’s rebid will clarify.

	With 4/5 shape (4-card major and 5 diamonds) and a hand with opening values, responder always bids the 5-card diamond suit first then rebids the 4-card major.
	With 4/5 shape (4-card major and 5 diamonds) and a hand without opening values, responder will bypass the 5-card diamond suit and bid the 4-card spade suit.
	With 4/4 shape regardless of the strength, responder bypasses the diamonds and bid the major suit.

Depending on partnership agreement:

	Shows a 6-card club suit and an unbalanced hand and 12- to 19- playing points. Semi-forcing, responder should pass only with a very poor hand.
	OR, shows a 6+ clubs with 12- to16- playing points.

Depending on partnership agreement:

	NO SUCH BID - With a long strong club suit and less than 19+ playing points, opener simply rebids the clubs. With more than 19- playing points opener makes a jump shift (may be in a false suit).
	OR, shows a 6+ clubs with 16+ to 19- playing points.

2D*

Unbalanced hand. Denies holding a 4-card major. Denies holding a balanced minimum. Denies holding extra values. Promises 4+ trumps.

3D*

Unbalanced hand. Denies holding a 4-card major. Denies holding a balanced minimum. Promises 4+ trumps. Shows extra values with a 2-suited hand in clubs and diamonds with virtually all points concentrated in the minors.

1H(1S)**

Shows an unbalanced hand with more clubs than hearts(spades). The shape would be 4/5, 4/6 or 5/6. Strength anywhere from 12- to 19- playing points. Forcing for one round.

1H(1S)

Single Raise*

Responder shows 3+ trumps and invitational values (9+ to 12- support points). Partnership may end up in a game contract with a 4-3 fit which is OK.

1H(1S)

Double Raise**

Responder shows 4 trumps and 5 diamonds. Game forcing.

1S**

This is “fourth suit forcing” by responder, forcing to the level of 2NT. If opener has a spade stopper the rebid is NT.

2H**

This is “fourth suit game forcing” by responder. If opener has a heart stopper the rebid is NT. Forcing to game.

1NT*

Shows a balanced minimum. Opener suppresses bidding any 4-card major, the first obligation is to show a balanced minimum hand. Unbid suits are not necessarily stopped.

2NT*

Shows a balanced hand with 18 to 19 HCP and unbid suits stopped.

3NT

Shows a big hand with 6+ clubs as a source of tricks and unbid suits stopped.

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2.2 Opener Bids 1C or 1D - Responder Bids 1NT

1NT*

	If not a passed hand: Responder shows 8 - 10 HCP and denies holding a 4-card major and 4-card diamond suit. With less than 8 HCP responder may temporize by bidding a 3-card diamond suit.
	If a passed hand: Responder shows 6 to 10 HCP and denies holding a 4-card major and a 4-card diamond suit.

1NT*

Responder shows 6 to 10 HCP and denies holding a 4-card major.

1C(1D)

2NT*

Responder shows 11 to 12 HCP and denies holding a 4-card major

1C(1D)

3NT

Responder shows 13 to 15 HCP and denies holding a 4-card major.

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2.3 Opener Bids 1C or 1D - Responder Bids 1H or 1S

1C(1D)

1S**

Unbalanced hand with more clubs(diamonds) than spades. Shows 12- to 19- playing points. Forcing for one round.

1C(1D)

1NT*

Balanced minimum, suppress bidding a 4-card spade suit.

1C(1D)

1NT*

Balanced minimum.

1C(1D)

2NT*

1H(1S)

Balanced hand with 18 - 19 and unbid suits stopped.

1C(1D)

3NT

1H(1S)

Shows a big hand with 6+ club(diamonds) as a source of tricks and unbid suits stopped.

1C(1D)

2C(2D)*

1H(1S)

Usually shows a 6-card club(diamond) suit and an unbalanced hand, sometimes may have to rebid a 5-card club(diamond) suit when no other bid is convenient. Exception: 1D - 1S - 2C, with S HHHH DDDDD CCC it is ok to rebid the 3-card club suit rather than a poor 5-card diamond suit.

1C(1D)

3C(3D)

1H(1S)

Depending on partnership agreement:

	NO SUCH BID - With a long strong club suit and less than 19+ playing points, opener simply rebids the clubs. With more than 19- playing points opener makes a jump shift (may be in a false suit).
	OR, shows a 6+ clubs(diamonds) with 16+ to 19- playing points.

1C(1D)

4C(4D)**

1H(1S)

A double jump rebid of a minor shows a good 6-card minor and a fit with responder’s major suit (4 good trumps). Virtually all opener’s HCP are in the minor and responder’s major.

1C(1D)

Single Raise*

1H(1S)

Shows minimum hand with 4 trumps, although 3 good trumps are ok if no other bid is convenient.

1C(1D)

Double Raise*

1H(1S)

Shows a hand with 4 trumps and extra values.

1C(1D)

Raise to Game

1H(1S)

Shows a hand with 4 trumps and 19+ support points. Denies a splinter.

1C(1D)

Splinter Bid

1H(1S)

Shows a fit in hearts(spades). Game force with 19+ support points.

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2.4 Opener Bids 1H or 1S - Responder Bids 1NT (Forcing)

1H	1S**	Responder denies 4 or more hearts (otherwise a Bergen raise is made).
1H(1S)	1NT**	Responder denies 4 or more hearts (otherwise a Bergen raise is made). Shows 6 to 12- HCP
1H(1S) 2H(2S)*	1NT	Shows 6+ hearts(spades) and a minimum hand with 12- to 15- playing points.
1H(1S) 2H(2S)	1NT 3H(3S)*	Responder shows a hand with 10 to 12 support points and 3 trumps with ruffing potential.
1H(1S) 2H(2S)	1NT 4H(4S)	Responder shows a hand” with 10+ support points and 4 trumps or 12+ support points and 3 trumps with ruffing potential.
1H(1S) 3H(3S)*	1NT	Shows 6+ hearts(spades) and extra values.
1S 2H*	1NT	Shows a real heart suit with 5/4, 5/5, 6/4 or 6/5 shape in spades and hearts. Strength is 12- to 19- playing points.
1H 2S**	1NT	A reverse showing more hearts than spades with extra values, 16+ to 19- playing points. Forcing for one round.
1S 2C(2D)*	1NT	Denies holding a 4-card heart suit. With 4/4 or 3/3 shape in diamonds and clubs always bid the clubs, with 3/2 shape always bid the diamonds.
1H 2C(2D)*	1NT	With 4/4 or 3/3 shape in diamonds and clubs always bid the clubs, with 3/2 shape always bid the diamonds. Note with SSSS HHHHH DD CC and no extra values for a reverse, bid 2C even though a doubleton.
1H(1S) 2NT*	1NT	Shows balanced hand with 18 to 19 HCP.
1H(1S) 2NT	1NT 3NT	Responder goes to 3NT with anything more than a bare minimum.
1H(1S) 2NT	1NT Transfer Bid*	Responder’s bids of 3C, 3D or 3H are transfer bids for 3D, 3H or 3S. After opener makes the transfer, responder may pass or bid 3NT and opener may pass or bid the transferred suit at the game level.
1H(1S) 3NT	1NT	Shows hand with 16 to 18 HCP and a solid 6-card heart(spade) suit. Unbid suits not necessarily stopped. Hand shape must be 6/3/2/2 and can’t contain a singleton.
1H(1S) Jump Shift**	1NT	19+ playing points, a false suit may be bid.

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2.5 Opener Bids 1D - Responder Bids 2C (Game Force)

Note: Reverses and jump shift rebids by opener are off

1D	2C	2/1 game force, 12+ HCP. Shows 4+ clubs. With 4/4, 4/5 or 4/6 shape holding a 4-card major always respond 2C and suppress bidding the 4-card major.
1D 2D	2C	Promises 5+ diamonds (not 6). Always suppress re-bidding a 4-card major. A rebid of a 4-card major denies holding 5+ diamonds. If responder has a 4-card major it will be bid at responder’s next turn. Doesn’t show or deny extra values.
1D 3D	2C	Shows a solid 6+ card suit. Doesn’t show or deny extra values.
1D 3C	2C	Denies 5+ diamonds. Denies a 4-card major. Shows 4 clubs. Doesn’t show or deny extra values.
1D 2H(2S)	2C	Denies holding 5+ diamonds and promises a 4-card major. Doesn’t show or deny extra values. A “reverse” here should not be made with less than 12+ or 13 HCP.
1D Splinter Bid