(427) 2/1: In Competition

This Week in Bridge

(427) 2/1 Bidding in Competition

© AiB                                                         Robert S. Todd
Level: 6 of 10 (2 of 6)                             
robert@advinbridge.com

 

 

General

In competitive auctions we do not play 2/1 Game Forcing, meaning that a 2-level response to a 1-level opening bid is not game forcing.   2-level ‘freebids’ in competitive auctions have a variety of different meanings based on the situation.  It is important that we and partner are in agreement about the meanings of these 2-level responses.  Here we look at a variety of different auctions and see how these bids have different meanings.

 

 

2-Level Freebids – Vs. Overcalls

When we open the bidding at the 1-level and LHO makes a simple overcall (at the 1-level or the 2-level) then if Responder bids a new suit at the 2-level (not a jump) this is a simple freebid showing a 5+card suit and 10+ points.  This 2-level freebid is sometimes called “Five-and-Dime.”

 

Example 1

♠ 843
♥ 95
♦ A76
♣ AQ954

1♥           1♠           __?

Although Responder could not bid 2♣ if the opponent had passed (that would be a 2/1 GF bid), when the opponent makes an overcall, Responder can make a freebid at the 2-level.  This shows a 5+card ♣ suit and 10+ points.  It is forcing for one round!

 

2-Level Freebids – Vs. Weak Jump Overcalls

This 2-level freebid showing “Five-and-Dime” is also true when the opponents make a Weak Jump Overcall at the 2-level and Responder bids their suit at the 2-level.

 

Example 2

♠ AQ954
♥ 95
♦ KJ6
♣ J63

1♣          2♥           __?

Here Responder can bid 2♠ showing 5+card ♠ and 10+ points.  This is forcing for one round, not to game.

 

 

Weak Jump Shifts in Competition

If Responder bids their long suit at the 2-level, but in order do so they jump, then this is not a freebid - it is a jump shift.  Most partnerships play that 2-level jump shifts in competition are weak – showing a long suit and about 0-6 HCP.

 

Example 3

♠ QJ9543
♥ 9
♦ T86
♣ J63

1♣          1♦           __?

Here we can jump to 2♠ to show a 6+card ♠ suit and a very weak hand. 

 

 

2-Level Freebids – Vs. Takeout Double

When we open the bidding at the 1-level and our LHO makes a takeout double, then a response of a new suit at the 2-level is non-forcing.   If it is a jump into a new suit, it is a weak jump shift.  If it is not a jump, then this new suit is natural and non-forcing.

 

Example 4

♠ J5
♥ Q8
♦ KJT854
♣ T63

1♠           X             __?

With this hand Responder bids 2♦.  This is non-forcing and shows 5-9 HCP and a good 5+card suit (or more often a 6+card suit).   It is similar to a 2♦ preemptive opening bid.

 

2-Level Freebids – Vs. 1NT Overcall

When we open the bidding and LHO makes a 1NT overcall, showing a balanced 15-18 points with a stopper in our suit, then Responder is rarely interested in game.  Responder will normally want to just compete in the bidding when they have a long suit.  Bidding a new suit in this situation is natural and non-forcing.

 

Example 5

♠ 5
♥ 983
♦ K54
♣ AJ9843

1♠           1NT        __?

With this hand Responder bids 2♣.  This is non-forcing and shows 5-9 HCP and a good 5+card suit (or more often a 6+card suit).  

 

 

Competition in a 2/1 GF Auction

When we make a 2/1 GF response, we enter a game forcing auction.  In that case, we must bid a game; we may not play in a partscore.  There is one exception to this: when the opponents enter our auction, we can double the opponents for penalty instead of bidding a game. 

 

Example 6

1♠           P             2♦           2♥
X

This double is penalty and suggests that defending 2♥ doubled would be more profitable than bidding a game.

 

 

Conclusion

When Responder freely bids a new suit at the 2-level (not a jump shift), we use the vocabulary that it is a Positive Freebid if is strong (and usually forcing) and we call it a Negative Freebid when it is competitive (and non-forcing).  When the opponents make an overcall of a suit, Responder uses positive freebids.  When the opponents compete with a takeout double or NT overcall, Responder’s 2-level bids are negative freebids.  When we are in a 2/1 GF auction and the opponents compete in the bidding, we are still in a game force.  We must either double the opponents for penalty or bid some game.  2/1 GF is a clear system, but when the opponents interfere it can become far more complex.