Source: Australian Bridge 
Now that 2/1 Game Force is becoming more popular it is a good idea to employ conventions that work well with the method.
BART fits nicely with the forcing or semi-forcing 1NT response to one of a major and is simple and easy. The convention was invented by US player Les Bart in the 1970s when he observed that after 1
:1NT, 2
-2 the partnership could well miss a 5-3 heart fit since 1:1NT, 2-2 should be a six-card suit.
His solution was to use 2
over 2 as a forcing enquiry to show a five-card heart suit as here:
1. Forcing for one round or semi-forcing 2. Could be three as per the forcing 1NT response 3. Over BART opener bids a three-card heart suit
East would normally return to 2 over 2 but by using BART the partnership is able to find the 5-3 heart fit when West bids 2 to show three hearts.
After BART 2 opener continues:
| 1 |
1NT | |
| 2 |
2 |
|
| 2 |
3 hearts and most likely 5-3-2-3 | |
| 2 |
less than 3 hearts and a minimum | |
| 2NT | Natural with extra values (16-17 HCP) | |
| 3 |
5 spades and 5 clubs, minimum | |
| 3 |
good hand (14-17) with 3 hearts, probably 5-3-1-4 shape |
And after the opener’s 2, to show three hearts responder continues:
3 hearts and most likely 5-3-2-3 less than 3 hearts and a minimum Natural with extra values (16-17 HCP) 5 spades and 5 clubs, minimum good hand (14-17) with 3 hearts, probably 5-3-1-4 shape
In the July 2000 edition of US Bridge World Marshall Schwartz added to the convention in an article entitled “Extended Bart”. The author suggested that the 2 Bart enquiry also include a number 10-11 HCP hands and also be used after 1 opening as well as a 1 opening:
| 1 |
1NT | |
| 2 |
2 |
BART – either 5 hearts or some maximum hand |
| 2 |
6+ hearts, 6-9 HCP, with a maximum (10-11) bid 3 |
|
| 2 |
3 spades, 4-6 HCP or doubleton spade, 6-7 HCP | |
| 2NT | 10-11 HCP natural | |
| 3 |
courtesy raise with 8-10 and 5+ clubs | |
| 3 |
6+ diamonds minimum, with a maximum bid 2 , then 3 |
|
| 3 |
6+ hearts, 10-11 HCP | |
| 3 |
3 spades, 10-11 HCP with good trumps | |
| 3NT | 6 clubs, 10-11 HCP |
And after the opener’s 2, to show three hearts responder continues:
| 1 |
1NT | |
| 2 |
2 |
|
| 2 |
2 |
8-10 HCP with doubleton spade support |
| 2NT | 10-11 HCP natural, likely 1-4-5-3 shape | |
| 3 |
10-11 with 5 clubs | |
| 3 |
10-11 with 6+ diamonds | |
| 3 |
9-11 invitation with 5 hearts | |
| 3 |
10-11 HCP with weak trumps |
Observe that with BART responder can differentiate between 6-7, 8-10 and 10-11 HCP with a doubleton spade:
3 spades 4-6 HCP or doubleton
spade, 6-7 HCP
doubleton spade, 8-10 HCP
singleton or doubleton spade, 10-11 HCP
On every deal a partnership must have at least either two seven-card fits or one eight-card fit. Using BART the partnership can jockey around to find one of their seven-card fits. On this deal the trick was to avoid the 3-3 club fit and find the 4-3 major fit:
Some partnerships play that opener’s 2 rebid is 2+ and not 3+ with 5-3-3-2 or 3-5-3-2 shapes, so that now 1:1NT, 2 is always at least a four-card suit. With this method BART comes into its own.