Source: www.abf.com.au/newsletter/Mar12 By Paul Lavings
![Paul Lavings](http://csbnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/picasion.com_5590b13e1a049ea3b683b319f7881ffa.gif)
More and more top partnerships are playing a response of 2 to 1
or 1
as multi-purpose. The three different meanings are:
1. Any hand that would normally respond 2
2. A balanced hand of 11 -12 HCP +
3. A three-card limit raise of opener’s major
Opener’s 2 continuation says “I would accept a three-card limit raise and go to game”, so the partnership is now in a game forcing situation:
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2![]() |
2![]() |
4![]() |
1– 2
, 2
– 2
shows 12+ HCP with three-card support, and 1
– 2
, 2
– 2NT shows a balanced hand with a game force.
There are a number of obvious advantages with this method. The local Bergen style is that 1 – 2
and 1
– 3
show the three-card limit raise, so when opener refuses the invitation the partnership must play in 3
or 3
. In the modern style, the partnership stops in 2
or 2
when not going to game.
Also, 1 – 2
and 1
– 3
are now freed for other hands, perhaps a weak jump response, a six-card suit with 0-6 or 3-6 HCP. A third advantage is that 2
is much more difficult to double for the lead, or to suggest a sacrifice, than is 1
– 2
or 1
– 3
.
After 1 Major- 2, and the opener does not rebid 2
, the partnership may stop at the two level:
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
⇓
1. 2. You have a three-card limit raise in opener’s major, so start with 2
. If opener rebids 2
then pass. If opener rebids 2
, then go to 4
, showing the threecard invitational raise.
2. 2. Just as in question 1, you have 10 HCP with three-card support, but here you are only worth 2
. The first problem is you are 4-3-3-3, so have no ruffing values. Also you have no intermediates, no aces, and lots of queens and jacks.
3. 1NT. Playing 2/1 GF this is an automatic 1NT, but let’s say you are playing Standard. You should devalue your hand down to a 1NT response, because of the singleton in opener’s suit. It’s possible you’ll miss 3NT, but is more likely you will play in 1NT when opener has a minimum, rather than an ungainly 2NT, which may fail.
4. 2. If opener rebids 2
, showing an accept opposite the invitational hand, you will rebid 2
, showing a game force hand with three-card heart support. Very neat, you now start your slam investigation from the two-level.
5. 2. This time you have the balanced hand-type. If opener shows a dead minimum by rebidding 2
, I recommend you now bid 2NT as forcing. You still need to sort out whether you should be in 3NT or 4
, when opener has a six-card heart suit.
6. 2. You respond just as you would now, but your next bid will be 3
. This will show five plus clubs and four diamonds, and forcing to game.
7. 2. Nothing changes here, your 2
and 2
responses are exactly as they were. Also, all the other Bergen responses still apply.
Bidding theory is developing at a rapid rate, and new ideas are coming thick and fast. This convention doesn’t even have a name, and you will fi nd very little information on the internet. Some partnerships play 1 – 2
, 2
as showing a minimum. I asked Ron Klinger what he plays, and in his methods 1 Major- 2
is any invitation, and 1 Major – 2
is a game force.
Paul Lavings Paul Lavings Bridge Books & Supplies