The origin of this conventional method is unknown. This treatment was devised as a response method to a strong, artificial 2 Clubs opening. This treatment has been developed for those holdings by the responder, in which a distributional Major suit could possibly lead to a game contract by making a natural bid. On the other side of the coin, the responder would also prefer to show a holding, in which a game contract is most likely not possible, and the partnership agreement is that by rebidding the cheaper Minor suit, the responder can show zero or minimum values on his second negative rebid.

Although a game contract may not be possible in all cases, the responder would like to show distributional strength. The idea behind the cheaper minor suit as a second negative allows the responder to show a long distributional Major suit. If the responder rebids a Major suit after his first negative response, then that rebid signifies a natural bid.

Examples

The following examples should illustrate this concept.

Example 1
Opener		Responder		Meaning
2		2		Shows fewer than 7 high card points. First negative bid.
				Q98654 65 9 8742
2				Showing preferred suit is Hearts.
		2		Responder shows a distributional, long Spade suit, a natural bid.

The example above illustrates how the responder can show a long Spade suit with a natural bid of 2 Spades. This is, in essence, a second negative bid showing minimum values, but with distributional strength.

Example 2
Opener		Responder		Meaning
2		2		Shows fewer than 7 high card points. First negative bid.
				Q986 6 9864 8742
2				Showing preferred suit is Hearts.
		3		Responder bids cheaper Minor as a second negative.

In the above example, the responder does not have any distributional suit above the preferred suit of the opener, and therefore rebids the cheaper Minor suit to show very weak or zero values. The responder also shows with the same bid no support for the preferred suit of his partner. The opener will then sign off in 3 Hearts as the final contract if he has less than game-going values.

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.