Two-way Checkback

Two-way checkback, introduced by Kit Woolsey in an article in Bridge Today, uses the rebids of two of either minor by responder after opener's 1NT rebid as artificial and forcing. In the Woolsey style, 2 puppets to 2 to play 2 or 3 or to invite game in various strains. 2 over 1NT is artificial and game forcing.

Two-way is super if playing weak notrumps, so that a 1NT rebid by opener shows extra values. With those methods, responder will often have a game forcing hand; indicating that at the level of 2 is quite helpful. Two-way also is nice when playing Walsh-style responses to 1, because responder can play 2 without fear of correction back to his short major.

Details are below with a few interesting tinkers.

"Purish" means "most of the high cards in the long suits. "m" means a minor suit; "M" means a major suit; "OM" means the other major; "om" means the other minor.

1m-1M; 1NT-?

2 = relays to 2
2 = game forcing, asks for shape
2M = to play
2OM = if hearts, no game interest
if spades, 4-4, invitational, not forcing
2NT = natural invitational ¹
3m = game forcing, purish 5-5
3om = game forcing, purish 5-5
3M = game forcing, purish 6+
3OM = if hearts, game forcing, purish 5-5
if spades, game forcing, purish 6-5
3NT = to play

Higher bids:
4 = Gerber (RKC?)
4 = usually 6331 with stiff, very good suit, slam interest
4M = to play
4oM = stiff, same as 4, I guess
4NT = natural, invitational (what's 2...4NT?)

2 sequences:

1m-1M; 1NT-2; 2-?

2M = 5 card suit, invitational, nonforcing
2OM = if hearts, 5-4 or 5-5, invitational, nonforcing
if spades, 4-5 invitational, nonforcing
2NT = invitational, shows opener's minor ¹
3 = to play ¹
3 = invitational, natural
3M = strong invite, 6+
3OM = if hearts, strong invite, 5-5
if spades, ?
3NT = 5 card M, choice between 3NT and 4M
higher bids = ?

2 sequences:

1m-1M; 1NT-2; ?

Priorities:
1) bid 4 of the other major
2) bid 3 of responder's major
3) rebid a six-bagger
[4] show 2-2-4-5 or 2-2-5-4?
5) rebid 2NT

This set of choices is due to Woolsey, probably mostly intended for weak NT systems; this is most likely to get the partnership to play the hand from the strong NT's side. He claims that it doesn't really matter which of the first two is highest priority, and some others prefer to show 3-card support first, while others prefer to bid hearts first.

1m-1M; 1NT-2; any-?

2 = if 1M = 1, then 2 = 6-card suit, notrumpy hand
if 1M = 1, then 2 = ?
2NT = ¹ random and forcing with doubt about 3NT? (probably 17-count)
3any = game forcing, notrumpy 5-5 or 6+ single suit
3NT = to play

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We play 2-way Checkback after 1-1; 1NT and 1-1; 1NT, also. All sequences are what one might expect, but here are some examples:

1-1; 1NT-2-?

2 = good 5-card heart suit
2 = two good spades, say Q10 or better
2N = nothing special
3m = solid stopper, weak doubleton in other minor

1-1; 1NT-?

2 is how we get to 2 and 3 contracts
2 is still artificial and game forcing
2 then 2NT is invitational with clubs

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¹ Ed Davis came up with some tinkers to this to add accuracy at the cost of memory. Here they are.

1m-1M; 1NT-2NT is a relay to 3

1m-1M; 1NT-2NT; 3-?

pass = signoff with clubs
3 = m support (4+,) lower stiff
3oM = m support (4+,) higher stiff
3M = 5224 (4m, 5M,) doubletons are xx.
3NT = 4225 (5m, 4M,) doubletons are xx.

1m-1M; 1NT-2; 2-2NT = natural, invitational

1m-1M; 1NT-2; 2-3 = natural, invitational

Priorities:
1) show hearts
2) show spades
3) bid 5+ card minor, good suit
4) bid 2NT

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Jeff Goldsmith, jeff@tintin.jpl.nasa.gov, April 15, 1996