Courtesy of Bob Crosby)
April 1st 2007
Experts have decided that a 1 opener with a 2
rebid requires special attention. When opener rebids 2
an 11 trick is far away so normally the goal (major games excepted) is to get to 3NT. Experts have decided to use 2
as a NMF after a 2
rebid and only a one round force. The Godfather 2NT by responder is a one round force (treated as a new suit) so opener can escape to a partial by bidding 3
. A jump rebid by responder is a slam try with a good suit (recovering the strong jump shift). A jump preference by responder in the club suit is invitational.
A 2 rebid by opener is not a misfit auction. A misfit auction is where all 4 suits have been bid naturally by the partnership. Therefore, a jump to a new suit by responder is invitational, natural and normally a 5-5.
AJ10xx
x
AJ10xx
xx
1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
Pass |
2![]() |
Pass | 3![]() |
Pass |
* 3 shows a two suiter with invitational values
A simple 2 bid by responder after initially bidding 1
is not even forcing one round!
1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
Pass |
2![]() |
Pass | 2![]() |
Pass |
With a forcing to game heart hand use the 2 NMF and keep bidding hearts after that. This particular sequence puts on the game force. A 2
bid is a “catch all” bid after 2
. This is the bid you make when you cannot think of anything else to bid or to force with a club fit and a non balanced hand. With this in mind, do not bid up the line after partner opens 1
when you are strong enough for two bids.
AQ109
xxx
AJ9x
xx
1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
Pass |
2![]() |
Pass | 2![]() |
Pass |
* Catch all 2 bid. Bidding 1
(up the line) traps you with no suitable bid after 2
. 2NT will wrong side the NT and bidding spades after diamonds shows distribution you do not have. This sequence you are essentially groping for a 3NT that is right sided.
Do not automatically bid up the line as responder especially with so much room after a 1 opener. Think of what might happen when you make that move like a good chess player. When you respond 1
after 1
with the above hand, what do you bid after 2
? We are waiting…
My partner held this hand J109xxx
Kxx
x
KQx
I opened 1 with a 1
response. I bid 2
so now what? A 2
bid is invitational but does not describe this hand properly. A 3
bid is an underbid and hides the 6 card spade suit. A godfather 2NT bid is a one round force but lacks the stoppers in the unbid suits. A 2
bid is a “waiting bid” and only a one round force initially. When partner does not support spades, treat the 6 card suit a 5 carder and support clubs. 5
is cold and 2
goes one down!
KQx fills in partners 6 card suit so 3NT is also cold. Devalue bad 6 card suits and call them a 5 card suit. Upgrade your hand when you hold KQx of partner's 6 card suit. Hand evaluation first and foremost.
Use the 2NT bid by responder as the forcing bid, when you are interested in a club slam and you have stoppers in the unbid suits. If the slam try fails, you have right sided the NT so all is well. The 2 bid and the Godfather 2NT bid are the only forcing calls at the 2 level so use the bids wisely.