Two Over One - Introduction

Two Over One - Introduction

In the so-called “Two Over One” (aka 2/1) style of bidding, an auction such as 1♥ 2♦ is game-forcing. Opener starts with one of a major, and Responder bids a new suit at the two-level, and the force is on. But not if the new suit at the two-level is a jump … an auction such as 1♥ 2♠ is a jump shift, and not the start of a 2/1 auction.

As Responder, in this style, you basically need opening values to venture into a 2/1 auction. What are you supposed to do if you have a good but less than game-forcing hand? If you have support for Partner’s major, then the problem is solved. But, with less than game-going values, and without support, you must bid the Forcing No Trump. Thus, in an auction which starts 1♥ 1NT, or 1♠ 1NT, Responder might actually have a pretty decent hand, just one which is not good enough to force to game.

Responder’s Quiz

Based on the above scant information, it might seem premature to present you with a Quiz, but sometimes getting thrown into the deep end is a good way to see if you can swim. Partner opens 1♥, it’s your call:

♠ 65 Not quite a game force, so bid the Forcing 1NT.

♥ 87

♦ AK765

♣ KJ76

♠ KQ65 No, you don’t bid the Forcing No Trump if it means

♥ 87 by-passing a 4-card major. So, bid 1♠ here.

♦ A7654

♣ 76

♠ KQ65 Here we have the values to make a 2/1 bid, and that is

♥ 87 exactly what you should do. Bid 2♦, create the force,

♦ AKJ54 and get those Spades into the auction later.

♣ 76

♠ 65 Forget about the Forcing No Trump here, you must clearly

♥ AK87 raise Partner’s Hearts, one way or another, depending upon

♦ QJT84 your methods.

♣ 76

♠ 5 It may seem strange to bid 1NT with a singleton in an

♥ 87 unbid suit, but that is exactly what you should do.

♦ KJ654 Remember that the Forcing No Trump does not show a

♣ AQ743 balanced or No Trumpish hand … it merely says that you

have no other bid available.

♠ 876 When we make a 2/1 bid we normally show a 5-card

♥ 76 suit, but sometimes we just have to stretch the truth a bit.

♦ AQ84 So, bid 2♣ here, creating the force. Bidding some number

♣ AKJ2 of No Trump here, with that Spade holding, is not a good
idea.

Opener’s Rebid

For the time being, at least, let’s keep things simple. Just make all bids natural and descriptive. So, after a start of 1♠ 2♣, try the following hands:

♠ AQJ654 Bid 2♠, showing a 6^th Spade.

♥ 765

♦ KQ6

♣ 5

♠ AQ9654 Yes, get that 4-card Heart suit into the auction, you can

♥ KJ65 always show your extra Spade on the next round of

♦ Q6 bidding.

♣ 5

♠ AJ964 Should you raise Partner or bid 2♥? We would bid 2♥,

♥ AJ95 hoping that we’ll get the chance to bid 3♣ later. As

♦ 8 usual, in the search for the best game, we emphasize the

♣ K75 majors.

♠ AJ964 Yes, this looks like a 2NT rebid to us!

♥ KJ7

♦ KJ7

♣ 85

♠ AJ964 Some players (us included) would have opened this 1NT

♥ KJ7 originally, but if you don’t like to open 1NT with a 5-card

♦ KJ7 major then, after 1♠ 2♣, you have a perfect rebid of 3NT.

♣ K5