Spectrum Lesson #3: The Forcing 1NT Response to 1H and 1S

Spectrum Series - Lesson III

The Forcing 1NT Response

	One of the principle differences between 2/1 GF
and SAYC is the forcing response to a 1H or a 1S opening
bid by partner.  While SOME will play the response as
only SEMI-FORCING, such that Opener can pass with a 
5-3-3-2 type minimum, the orthodox approach is to treat
the 1NT response as 100% forcing.  In face-to-face bridge 
Opener  "announces" this bid, by saying out loud "Forcing"
as soon as it is bid.  On OKBridge it should be self-
alerted, and explained as "Forcing One Round", or "f 1 rd".
If you are not sure how to self-alert and explain, please
ask Shelagh or Colin.

	The forcing 1NT response is, at once, the
strength and weakness of the 2/1 GF system.  Critics are
quick to point out that the obligation to force beyond
the 1NT mark is suicidal at Matchpoints, where 1NT is
often the last and best spot to play flat or misfitting
hands.  Supporters of 2/1 GF, on the other hand, point
to the many different hand types that can be described
via this flexible response.

Opener's Rebids After 1H:1NT and 1S:1NT


	After a 1H opening bid receives a 1NT reply from
Responder, a strong Opener has these options:

	1H:1NT:2NT - Flat, 17-19 points.  5-3-3-2 type.

	1H:1NT:3H - 6+ Hearts, 17-19 points.

	The above two options are NOT forcing in themselves,
but ANY non-game rebid by Responder WILL be forcing.  
1H:1NT:3H:4C, then, is a cuebid in support of Opener's Hearts,
since we would not "fight" Opener's major in order to play in 
a minor.

	1H:1NT:2S - Reverse, 19-21, 4-5 or better majors.

	1H:1NT:3C or 3D - Jump shift, 19-21.

	The above options are all forcing to game.

	Similarly, after 1S:1NT, we will have non-forcing
but strong rebids of 2NT (17-19) and 3S (17-19).

	A single-suited weaker Opener will rebid the major
only with 6+ card length there.

Opener

AJ10xxx

Kxx

	Rebid 2S over 1S:1NT.

Opener

AJ10xx

Axx

Kxx

	Do NOT rebid 2S over 1S:1NT.  Prefer 2D here.

	As the above 5-3-3-2 type hand illustrates, Opener
will often rebid in a 3-card minor opposite the forcing
1NT response--especially with a flat hand in the 13-16
point range.  In fact, with a 4=5=2=2 hand, not strong
enough to reverse into 2S, Opener may even rebid 2C on
as few as TWO of them!  For this reason, Responder must
be cautious about passing or raising any such minor 
without 5+card support.

	If you choose to open 1NT with balanced hands
holding a 5-card Major, your ranges above change slightly.
Now, your 2NT rebid after partner's minimum response will
be 18-19 HCP, and your point range for 1M:1NT:2m will be
13-14 if you have a balanced hand.  Both Shep and Kaltica
prefer this method, but it is more common for the 1NT 
opener to deny a 5-card Major.

	Some modernists play that 1M:1NT:2c is the 
rebid with any 5-3-3-2 distribution type, and therefore 
1M:1NT:2d shows a four card suit.  We don't recommend 
this, but want you to know it is an option.

	Holding a 2-suited hand, Opener will tend to
bid the second suit, with two notable exceptions:

1. A 2S rebid, being a reverse, will require 19-21 points.

2. If our major is 6+ cards long, we will tend to bid a
   four card suit ONLY with 16-18 points and only when
   the 6-card major is not strong.  With 13-15, we
   will rebid the 6-card major, to limit our hand as
   quickly as possible (e.g. 1H:1NT:2H).

Opener

AJ9xxx

KJxx

	After 1H:1NT, rebid 2H, not 2C here.

Opener

AK109xx

AQxx

	After 1S:1NT, rebid 3S, not 2D here.

Opener

K10xxxx

AQxx

	Rebid 2H, not 2S or 3S here.

Questions

 	

1a.   You hold:  S- KQxxx  H- QJx  D- K10x  C- Kx. 
      What do you bid after 1S:1NT?

1b.   You hold:  S- KQxxx  H- Ax  D- AQx  C- Kxx.
      What do you bid after 1S:1NT?

1c.   You hold:  S- KQJxxx  H- xx  D- Qx  C- KQx.
      What do you bid after 1S:1NT?

1d.   You hold:  S- KQJxxx  H- Ax  D- x  C- Qxxx.
      What do you bid after 1S:1NT?

1e.   You hold:  S- KQJxxx  H- AQxx  D- x  C- xx.
      What do you bid after 1S:1NT?

Major Suit Raises to the TWO Level


	Some 2/1 GF players will play "constructive"
raises in the majors.  For these pairs, 1H:2H and 1S:2S
will show 3+ card support and 8-10 points, rather than
the 6-9 (or a bad 10) to which SAYCers are accustomed.
With a less promising 6-7 points, these pairs will 
employ a forcing 1NT reply, followed by a correction
to 2-of-Opener's-major.

Responder

AJx

K10x

10xxx

Jxx

	Raise 1H or 1S directly to 2H or 2S respectively.

Responder

Axx

K10x

10xxx

Jxx

	Respond 1NT and THEN bid 2-of-Opener's suit.

	The advantage of this approach comes when Opener
has a 16-17 point hand.  Opposite a 6-7 point hand, Opener
can give up.  Only opposite a Constructive Raise will
Opener bother to invest in a game invitation.

Opener

KQ10xx

AJx

AQx

	After 1S:1NT:2C:2S, Opener will pass.  After
	1S:2S, though, Opener may look for game.

	The drawback of the Constructive Raise approach
comes when Responder uses the forcing 1NT reply and then
bids Opener's major.  Is 1H:1NT:2C:2H a "destructive"
raise with 3+ card support for Hearts and 6-7 points or
is it a simple preference with 6-9 points and a doubleton
Heart, preferring Hearts to Clubs?

Responder A	Axx	K10x	10xxx	xxx
Responder B	Axx	xx	Kxxxx	xxx

	BOTH of the above hands will rebid 2H over
1H:1NT:2C.  So how is Opener to know where hir major
is being supported or merely preferred to Clubs?

	For this reason, we recommend that you do NOT
use Constructive Raises, and will not include them in
the 2/1K or 2/1-Shep convention card.

	In standard praxis, if Responder has 4 Spades
and support for 1H Opener's Hearts, Responder will bid
Spades before raising Hearts with 8-10 points, but NOT
with 6-7.  Holding 6-7 points, Responder should raise
1H to 2H directly, even with 4+ Spades.  2/1-K inverts
this tendency, raising Hearts directly with the 8-10
point hands and bidding the Spades first ONLY with
the 6-7 point hands.

Responder

KJ9x

Qxx

10xxx

	Playing with an unfamiliar partner, raise
	1H to 2H.  Playing 2/1K, bid 1S and THEN 2H.

Responder

KJ9x

KJx

10xxx

	Playing with a stranger, bid 1S and then 2H.
	Playing 2/1K, raise to 2H directly.

	The reason for this 2/1-K tendency becomes
evident when Opener rebids a MINOR after 1H:1S, when
a 2H rebid by Responder is liable to "sound" weak
anyway--often with only TWO card Heart support,
making a simple preference to Hearts.  1H:1S:2C:2H,
then, may show 2-card Heart support and a simple
preference for Hearts over Clubs.  Holding 8-10 points,
better to have shown TRUE 3+card support via 1H:2H.

	Shep, being a fanatic about how many trump are
shown on each sequence, prefers not to respond 1S with
less than Limit Raise values.  Thus, 1H:1S:2C:2H is always
a doubleton for her.

Questions

 

1.  How many trump does Responder promise on the 
    following auctions:

	A.  1S:1NT:2C:2S

	B.  1H:1S:1NT:2H

	c.  1H:2H

2.  What is Responder's point count on the following 
    auctions:

	A.  1S:2S

	B.  1H:1NT:2D:2H

	C.  1H:1S:2D:2H

Major Suit Raises to the THREE Level


	SAYC makes no distinctions between 3 and 4-card
support for partner's major.  2/1 GF, on the other hand,
differentiates between three and four card support for
any LIMIT or game-forcing raise.  For example, 1H:3H
and 1S:3S both promise 4+card support.  With only 
THREE card support, Responder will begin with a forcing
1NT and then bid Opener's major at the 3-level 
(e.g. 1S:1NT:any:3S or 1H:1NT:any:3H).

	This modern style is in sharp contrast to the
Classical style, where a forcing 1NT response followed
by 3-of-Opener's-major showed a FLAT hand, while the
LIMIT raise (i.e 1H:3H or 1S:3S) promised a ruffing
value (void, singleton or doubleton).

	Any LIMIT raise of Hearts tends to deny four
or more Spades, since we COULD bid 1S and then 3H to
show the LIMIT raise with 4+ Spades.

Questions

 

1.  You hold:  S- Axxx  H- Kxx  D- Axx  C- xxx

	A.  What do you respond to partner's 1H opening?

	B.   What do you respond to partner's 1S opening?

2.  You hold:  S- Kxx  H- x  D- xxxxx  C- AQxx

	What do you respond to partner's 1S opening?

3.  You hold:  S- Kxx  H- x  D- xxxxx  C- Qxxx

	What do you respond to partner's 1S opening?

The Forcing 1NT Response with a Flat Hand


	Responder's strategy with 10-12 points and
a flat hand which includes 2-card support for Opener's
major is to reply 1NT and then rebid 2NT.

Responder

K10x

Qxxx

AJ9x

	Respond 1NT to 1S and rebid 2NT.

	Responder's rebid with a flat 6-9 points is
to bid to 2-of-Opener's major.  If not playing 
Constructive Raises, this will always show only two
card support.

Responder

Qxx

xxx

K10xxx

	Respond 1NT to 1H and rebid 2H.

1NT Responder with a Long Suit


	Holding a long suit which is lower ranked 
that Opener's, Responder will reply 1NT and then 
introduce the suit, jumping with 10-12 if the suit 
is quite strong.

Responder

xxx

AQJxxx

	Respond 1NT to 1S and rebid 2D over 2C.

Responder

AKJ10xx

Qxx

xxx

	Respond 1NT to 1S, and JUMP to 3H over 2C or 2D.

	Passing or supporting Opener's minor will 
require 5+ cards, owing to the distinct possibility that
Opener may have fewer than 4 for the 2C or 2D rebid.  A
raise of the minor will show 8-12 points opposite a
1S opening bid, 8-10 points opposite a 1H opening bid.

	What, then, will Responder do with 11-12 points
in support of 1H Opener's minor?  Here we see a Bonanza
Bid (aka the "impossible" major).  After 1H:1NT:2C or 
1H:1NT:2D, Responder can bid 2S to show 11-12 points in 
support of 1H Opener's minor.  2S, of course, cannot be 
NATURAL there, since Responder would have replied 1S, 
not 1NT, with 4+ Spades.

Responder

AQxxx

A10xxx

	After 1H:1NT:2C or 2D, rebid 2S.

	We will also see this "impossible" major over
1H:1NT:2H, when a 3H rebid would show a strong BALANCED
hand, 11-12 points, that includes Honour-x in Hearts.
With a TRUE limit raise that includes 3-card support,
Responder can rebid 2S over 1H:1NT:2H.

Responder

xxx

AQxxx

Jxx

	After 1H:1NT:2H, try 3H, lacking strength
	in either black suit for a 2NT rebid.

Responder

Axx

Qxx

Axxxx

	Here, you would rebid 2S over 1H:1NT:2H to 
	show that you ALWAYS intended a limit raise.

Discussion Points


1.  Do you prefer to rebid your 4 card suit or 6 card
	major with minimum 2-suited hands.

	2/1- K, 2/1-Spectrum  =  the 6 card major.
	2/1- Shep  = the 4 card suit.

2.  Do we play constructive raises?

	2/1- K, 2/1-Shep, 2/1- Spectrum = No.

3.  With 5332 hand pattern, do we always rebid Two Clubs,
	or rebid our cheaper 3 card minor?

	2/1- K, 2/1- Shep, 2/1- Spectrum  = 3 card minor.

4.  Does an immediate Limit Raise promise 4 trump, or
	an unbalanced hand?

	2/1-K = an unbalanced hand.
	2/1- Spectrum, 2/1- Shep = 4 trump.

5.  How strong a hand do we need to respond 1S to 1H with
	three card support for Hearts?

	2/1-K = minimum response.
	2/1-Spectrum = 8+
	2/1-Shep = 10+

Final Quiz

 

1.  How many Clubs do these auctions promise?

	1a.  1S:1NT:2C ?

	1b.  1H:1NT:2C ?

2.   You hold:  S-KJxx   H- Axx   D- Kxx   C- xxx   

	What would your response to 1S be...

	2a.  ...playing the MODERN style?

	2b   ...playing the CLASSICAL style?

3.  What do you rebid after 1H:1NT:2H with:

	3a.  S- Ax     H- Qx    D- A10xx   C- 9xxxx

	3b.  S- Ax     H- Qxx   D- A10xx   C- 9xxx

4.  After 1H:1NT:2D what do you rebid with:

	4a.  S- KQx    H xx     D- K10xx   C- K9xx

	4b.  S- Axx    H- x     D- Q10xx   C- Jxxxx

	4c.  S- xx     H- xx    D- Q10xx   C- AJxxx

	4d.  S- xx     H- xx    D- KQxxx   C- K10xx

	4e.  S- Jxx    H- x     D- Kxx     C- AQ9xxx

	4f.  S- Kxx    H- Jxx   D- Axxx    C- Kxx
     
--------------- Last Revised 01-06-1999 ---------------

SPECTRUM Series

The Spectrum Series, at 8:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. PST every second weekday, is a lecture program on the 2/1 Game Forcing system, from Opening Bids all the way through to the conventional aspects of 2/1 GF. Unlike the FireSide and 5th Chair sessions mentioned above, the Spectrum Series is a semi-public lesson program for our students. All are invited to stop by and enjoy these classes.

If you have any questions arising from these notes, or about the Spectrum Lesson Series, please do not hesitate to email me at: cpw@escape.ca

SPECTRUM #1: System Overview	SPECTRUM #2: Minor and NT Bidding
SPECTRUM #3: The Forcing 1NT Response	SPECTRUM #4: The 2/1 GF Response
Lesson #1: Opening Bids	Lesson #2: Responses to Opening Bids
Lesson #3: Rebidding Strategies	Lesson #4: Interference
Lesson #5: OverCalls & Takeout Doubles	Lesson #6: Two-Suited Overcalls
Lesson #7: Pre-Empts	Lesson #8: Competing with Doubles
Lesson #9: Lebensohl	Lesson #10: Defensive Signalling
Lesson #11: Defensive Strategies	Lesson #12: Declarer Play

General Rules of SAYC Bidding	Fit Inspired Bids - "FIBs"
Doubles	Cuebids
IMPs Versus MatchPoints	Lebensohl
Hand Evaluation	Defensive Signals
Jacoby Transfers	Pre-Empts
Jacoby 2NT Response to 1H or 1S	Michaels Cuebids
3 Types of Responding Hands	Percentages in Bridge
Roman Key Card Blackwood	BROZEL over their 1NT
4th Suit Force	Assume Jumps Are Raises
Glossary of Terms	Colin's Rules of Bridge

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