The origin of this conventional method is unknown. Following a strong artificial Two Clubs opening bid, several partnerships have included in their partnership agreement the understanding that a response of 2 Diamonds is an extremely negative response, showing close to or zero values, and that a response of 2 Hearts shows a holding of additional strength, and is regarded as a neutral response. The partnership agreement is that any other response, other than 2 Diamonds or 2 Hearts, is a positive response and is forcing to game.

Assigned Values

In general, a 2 Diamonds first response shows values from zero to 4 points, and a neutral bid of 2 Hearts shows a minimum of 4 high card points plus. The 2 Hearts response is totally artificial and imparts no information regarding the holding in the Heart suit. With these two responses, information is communicated to the opener, who then can rebid his holding either in No Trump or in a suit.

After a 2 Clubs opening, the responder would bid according to the following examples.

86 Q865 752 J965   2

75 KQ8 9843 Q653   2

K76 Q9854 K9 Q84   2 NT

Based on the partnership agreement, the opener, after hearing a 2 Diamonds negative response, is permitted to make a minimum rebid, showing his preference. This first rebid by the opening partner is considered neither one-round forcing nor game-forcing. On the other hand if the opener feels that there are sufficient values to warrant game, then the opener will jump one level on his rebid, forcing the responder to bid again, perhaps to show distribution.

Altered Agreements

Some partnership agreements have been altered to include the feature that even a minimum rebid by the opener should be considered forcing for one round, even though the responder has shown a minimum with a 2 Diamonds negative response. Any jump rebid by the opener is then only invitational and not forcing.

These partnership agreements include the following auctions:

Opener		Responder		Meaning
2				Strong, artificial Two Clubs opening bid.
		2		Promises, per agreement, zero to 3 points.
2				A non-jump rebid is forcing for one round.
		3		Responder has some support.
Pass				Opener is permitted to pass.

Opener			Responder		Meaning
2					Strong, artificial Two Clubs opening bid.
			2		Promises, per agreement, zero to 3 points.
3					This jump rebid is only invitational.
			Pass		The responder may pass with fewer than game values.

Note: If the opening partner jumps one level with the rebid, then this shows additional values. If the responder re-evaluates the holding, even with fewer than 3 high card points, and includes points for distribution, then the responder has the option of bidding game. This is especially true with both Major suits.

These partnership agreements containing this particular treatment for responding to a strong, artificial 2 Clubs opening are worth the attention of the bridge player and should be considered. If other partnerships wish to include this particular treatment, then it is strongly suggested that this method should be thoroughly studied, practiced, and then incorporated into the partnership agreement. It must be concluded which rebid is forcing for one round, which is non-forcing, which is invitational, which is game-forcing, and which rebid is a sign-off.

 

 

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.