Conventions: Bart by Paul Lavings

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.

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