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Bidding Conventions
LESSON 38
Power 2♣ Game Try & 2♦ Game Force Responses

  1. Showing points first
  2. The two Game Force Responses
  3. The 2♣ Game Try Response
  4. Other Game Try Responses
  5. Weak Responses of 6-10 HCP
  6. Solo bidding

    Quiz - Quiz Answers
    Facts sheet - Bidding Guide


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BR 38.1 - Showing points first

In the auction period a Partnerships needs to find out two things :
1. Do we have an 8+ card trump fit, preferably in a major suit
2. Do we have enough combined strength to bid Game or even Slam

In traditional natural bidding systems (like Standard and Acol) the Partnership first tries to establish a trump suit and only after that determines the combine strength.
This works fine when the Opponents refrain from bidding, but when they start interfering (with a Overcall or Take-out Double) it can become much more difficult for the Opening Partnership to determine their combined strength.

The Precision system (introduced in 1969) countered this difficulty with its artificial 1♣ Opening bid which shows all hands with 16 HCP or more. Consequently all other Opening bids are within the range of 11-15 HCP.
This was a great innovation, however it had its Achilles Heel. It is easy for a relatively weak Opponent to make an Overcall over 1♣, requiring a number of additional new bids by Responder and opener to overcome such interference.

Ron Klinger adopted the principle idea of showing points first (in 1981 in his Power System), but switched the artificial points defining bid to the Responder rather than the Opener.
After a one in a suit Opening
the 2♦ response shows any hand with 13+ HCP (or distributional hands with 11-12 pts and ≤ 7 losers)
the 2♣ response shows 11-12 points (or 10 pts and 8 losers)

The 2♦ response is forcing to Game, while the 2♣ response is a Game Try.
This simple element can easily be adopted in any bidding system, giving it considerably more punch.


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BR 38.2 - The two Game Force Responses

The 2♦ Game Force Response covers all hands with 13+ points (except Splinter raise, see below).
After the first response bidding proceeds naturally, where :
a suit raise to the 3-level (→ 3♥ or 3♠) = 16+ points
a raise to Game (→ 4♥ or 4♠) = 13-15 points

Splinter raises are also forcing to Game
After a 1♥ Opening a response of
3♠, 4♣, 4♦ or 4♥ shows 11+ HCP, 4+card support plus a singleton or void in the bid suit.

After a 1♠ Opening a response of
4♣, 4♦ or 4♥ shows 11+ HCP, 4+card ♠ support plus a singleton or void in the bid suit.
Bidding after either of these Game Force responses proceeds as normal.
Here follow some typical 2♦ response examples.

1. Opener (W)
♠ A Q 9 6 3
♥ A 10 7
♦ K 9 4

♣ Q 8
Bidding
1♠ - 2♦ - 2NT - 4♠
Responder (E)
♠ K 7 5
♥ K Q 9 3
♦ A 8

♣ J 10 7 2
 
Responder's 2♦ shows 13+ points. Opener's 2NT shows 13-15 points and denies having 4 hearts. Responder, with 3-card ♠ support, signs off with 4♠. (With only two spades Responder would have bid 3NT)


2. Opener (W)
♠ A Q 8
♥ K J 9 6
♦ A 7 5 3

♣ Q 6
Bidding
1♦ - 2♦ - 2♥ - 3♠ - 4♠
Responder (E)
♠ K J 10 9 5
♥ A Q 8
♦ K J

♣ J 9 3
  Responder's 2♦ shows 13+ points, not support.
Responder's rebid of 3♠ (instead of 2♠) shows a 5- card suit.


3. Opener (W)
♠ K J 9 6
♥ A Q 8
♦ A 5

♣ Q 8 7 6
Bidding
1♣ - 2♦ - 2♠ - 3♥ - 4♥
Responder (E)
♠ A Q 8
♥ K J 10 9 5
♦ K J

♣ J 9 3
  Opener's 2♠ rebid denies having 4 hearts.
Therefore Responder's bid of 3♥ shows a 5-card suit.


4. Opener (W)
♠ K J 9 6
♥ A Q
♦ A 6 5

♣ Q 8 7 2
Bidding
1♣ - 2♦ - 2♠ - 3NT
Responder (E)
♠ A Q 8
♥ K J 10 5
♦ K J 9 3

♣ J 9
  Opener's 2♠ rebid denies having 4 hearts.
Therefore Responder's bids Game in NT.


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BR 38.3 - The 2♣ Game Try Response

With 11-12 points (or 10 points and 8 losers) usually respond with 2♣ straight away, but

bid a new 4-card major suit (1♥ or 1♠) at the 1-level first, then rebid 2♣

do not raise Opener's suit if you have trump support : bid 2♣ first, show trump support next turn.

There is one exception :
after Opener's 1♠2♥ shows 5 hearts and also 10-12 points

After the 2♣ Response
Opener's artificial rebid of (2♣ →) 2♦ = 11-13 points.
All other rebids by the Opener promise 14+ points !

Here follow some examples.

5. Opener (W)
♠ K J 9 6
♥ K 8
♦ A 6 5 4

♣ Q 10 7
Bidding
1♦ - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT - Pass
Responder (E)
♠ A 8 3
♥ A 9 5
♦ K 9 7 3

♣ 8 4 3
  Responder's immediate response of 2♣ denies holding a 4-card major. Opener's 2♦ rebid shows ≤ 13 points and Responder signs off in 2NT


6. Opener (W)
♠ K Q 9 6
♥ K 8
♦ A 6 5 4

♣ Q 10 7
Bidding
1♦ - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT - 3NT
Responder (E)
♠ A 8 3
♥ A 9 5
♦ K 9 7 3

♣ J 4 3
  Responder's immediate response of 2♣ denies holding a 4-card major. Opener's 2NT rebid shows ≥ 14 points and Responder signs off in 3NT


7. Opener (W)
♠ K Q 9
♥ K 8 7
♦ A 6 5 4

♣ Q J 7
Bidding
1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣ - 3NT
Responder (E)
♠ A 8 7 3
♥ A 9 5
♦ K 9 7 3

♣ 8 4
  Responder first bids his 4-card major, then shows 10-12 points with 2♣. Opener's 3NT rebid denies having 4 spades but has enough points to raise to Game.


8. Opener (W)
♠ K 9 8 6 3
♥ K 8
♦ A 6 5 4

♣ Q 10 7
Bidding
1♠ - 2♣ - 2♦ - 2♠ - Pass
Responder (E)
♠ A 7 5
♥ A 9 5 2
♦ Q J 7 3

♣ 8 4
  Despite having ♠ support Responder first shows his points by bidding 2♣. After Opener's negative rebid of 2♦, Responder signs off with 2♠.


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BR 38.4 - Other Game Try Responses

When a Responder with 10-12 points, bids his 4-card suit first it may occur that Opener makes a rebid at the 2-level. In such case Responder would be unable to rebid 2♣.

By not bidding 2♦ immediately Responder has already defined his hand in the range of 6- 12 points.
Responder can show his 10-12 points by :
making a Game invitation bid by raising a previously bid suit to the 3-level suit
bidding 2NT, or
bidding a fourth suit, where Fourth suit forcing applies.
Here follow some examples.

9. Opener (W)
♠ K 9 8 4
♥ K 8
♦ A 6 5 4

♣ Q J 7 5
Bidding
1♦ - 1♠ - 2♠ - 3♠ - Pass
Responder (E)
♠ A 10 7 5
♥ A 9 5
♦ Q J 7 3

♣ 8 4
  After Opener's single raise of Responder's major (showing 13-15 points), Responder's 3♠ is clearly invitational, showing 11-12 points. Opener with a bare 13 points and 7 losers passes.


10. Opener (W)
♠ K 6
♥ K Q J 7 4 3
♦ A 6

♣ 10 7 5
Bidding
1♥ - 1♠ - 2♥ - 3♥ - 4♥
Responder (E)
♠ A 10 7 5
♥ A 9 5
♦ K 8 7 3

♣ 8 4
  Responder unable to rebid 2♣, but his 3-level invitation bid of Opener's suit clearly shows 10-12 points. (With less points he would obviously pass.)


11. Opener (W)
♠ K 9 6
♥ K Q 8 4 3
♦ 4

♣ A Q 10 5
Bidding
1♥ - 1♠ - 2♣ - 2NT - 3NT
Responder (E)
♠ A 10 7 5
♥ A 9
♦ Q J 10 3

♣ 9 8 4
  Opener's rebid of a 2nd suit shows an unbalanced hand. Responder, with Opener's obviously weak suit bids 2NT, inviting to Game.
(With a weaker hand Responder would have signed off with 2♥.)


12. Opener (W)
♠ 4
♥ K Q J 8
♦ A J 10 4

♣ K J 7 5
Bidding
1♦ - 1♠ - 2♣ - 2♥ - 3NT
Responder (E)
♠ A K 10 7
♥ 9 5
♦ Q 8 7 3

♣ Q 9 4
  Responder's bid of the 4th suit (2♥) is forcing, shows 10-12points and asks Opener for support in that suit. Opener obliges by bidding 3NT.


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BR 38.5 - Weak Responses of 6-10 points

After Partner's Opening bid of 1 in a suit :
1. All direct suit raises show 6-10 points (10 pts with ≥ 9 losers)
1♥2♥   or   1♠ → 2♠   show 3-card support and 6-10 HCP
1♥3♥   or   1♠ → 3♠   show 4+card support, a semi-balanced hand, 6-10 HCP and 8 losers
1♥4♥   or   1♠ → 4♠   show 4+card support, 6-10 HCP and a singleton or void

2. The 1NT Response shows 6-10 points and no 4-card major

3. The immediate Response of a new suit at the 1- level initially promises 6-12 points.
If Responder does not follow this up with a rebid of 2♣ (or any other Game Try bid shown in the previous Chapter) Responder's point range is 6-10 points (10 points with ≥ 9 losers).

4. Responder's jump-shift to a new suit
at the 2-level : 1♣ or 1♦   →  2♥ or 2♠   shows 6-10 points and a 6-card suit
at the 3- or 4-level : 1♣ or 3♦   →  3♥ or 3♠   shows 6- 10 points and a 7+card suit.
Apply the Rule of 2 and 3

5. The immediate Response of 2NT shows 5-5 in the minor suits
1♠ → 2NT   shows 6-10 points and 5-5 (or longer) in the minor suits
Here follow some examples.

13. Opener (W)
♠ K 9 8 4
♥ K 8
♦ A 6 5 4

♣ Q 10 7 5
Bidding
1♦ - 1♥ - - 2♥ - Pass
Responder (E)
♠ Q 7 3
♥ A J 10 7 5
♦ 9 8 3 2

♣ 8
  Responder's 2♠ rebid shows 5+ spades, an unbalanced hand and 6-10 points.


14. Opener (W)
♠ K Q 8 5
♥ K 8
♦ A 6 5 4

♣ K 7 5 2
Bidding
1♦ - 2♥ - Pass
Responder (E)
♠ 7 6 3
♥ Q J 10 7 5 2
♦ K 8 3 2

♣ 8
  Responder's jump shift to 2♥ shows 6-10 HCP and a 6-card suit.


15. Opener (W)
♠ K Q 8 5 4
♥ K 8
♦ A Q 5 4

♣ 7 5
Bidding
1♠ - 3♠ - 4♠
Responder (E)
♠ A 7 6 3
♥ Q J 10 6 2
♦ 9 8

♣ 8 4
  Responders jump raise of Opener's major shows 6-10 HCP, 4+ trumps and 8 losers. Opener with only 5 losers raises to Game.


16. Opener (W)
♠ K Q 8 5 4
♥ Q 9 8
♦ A Q 5

♣ 7 5
Bidding
1♠ - 2NT - 3♦ - Pass
Responder (E)
♠ 6
♥ 7 2
♦ K 10 9 8 6

♣ A J 8 6 3
  Responders shows 5-5 in the minor suits. Opener picks his best minor.


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BR 38.6 - Solo bidding (20 Deals)

Solo bidding : Deal 1 | Deal 5 | Deal 9 | Deal 13 | Deal 17 |


© 2016 Michael Furstner (Jazclass)