The Toddler 2D Response to 1H or 1S

The Toddler 2D Response to 1H or 1S

My bridge buddies were debating what the single worst convention ever devised would be. There were various candidates: the Dynamic 1NT opening, Mexican 2 and many others--some of which weren't even part of Romex. The Precision 2 and Flannery 2 openings came under attack due to the "free" double that it allowed LHO. Support Doubles came under fire since they often make it impossible to find a fit in the 4th suit (unless it is very convenient to bid it). While these were all fine suggestions, I had to insist that, without a doubt, the worst bid ever envisioned was the forcing 1NT response to 1 or 1. At matchpoints especially, 1NT is often the "dream spot" for many part score hands. Why bypass it?

My pals looked at me like I'd sworn in church. One of them, nicknamed the "Toddler", voiced their collection consternation: "How else can Responder show a mediocre hand?"

In his honour, my partner (Bill Treble) and I fashioned, the "Toddler" 2 response to 1-of-a-major. Toddler is designed to allow the pair to play a 2-over-1 structure without the need for a forcing 1NT response. Similar in some ways to a Drury 2 reply, it handles the following hands:

1. Any hand which would normally respond 2

.

J

KQJx

AQJxx

xxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2

AJxx

J

KQJxx

Kxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2

Kx

Jx

KQxxx

AKxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	1	--	2

2. Certain simple raises of Opener's major (more on this later).

Kxx

Qxx

xx

Axxxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
		or...
--	1	--	2

3. Any flat 10-12 HCP hand (intending to rebid 2NT).

Jxx

Jxx

KQxx

KJx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	1	--	2

4. Certain Limit Raises (more detail on this later).

KQx

xx

xxx

AQ10xx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	1	--	2

5. Game-forcing hands in the 13-15 point range with 3 trumps.

KQx

xx

KQxx

KJx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	1	--	2

A strong Opener will rebid 2NT or, less often, 3-of-a-suit, which will allow Responder to clarify the basis of the 2 call via a natural rebid.

AQxxx

Kxx

x

AQ10x

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	3	--	--

Weaker Openers will usually rebid their major, permitting Responder to pass, raise with the limit hand OR rebid naturally, with 3 or new suits as the only [game] forcing rebids.

KJxxx

xx

Axx

AJx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	2	--	--

The difference between a 3, 3 and the more common 2NT rebid by Opener is that the former "high level reverse" rebids force game and suggest slam opposite any limit raise. 2NT, on the other hand, suggests that we may stop short of game if Responder has the less-than-limit raise.

KQ109x

x

AQxx

AKx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	3	--	--

KQ109x

x

Qxx

AKxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	2NT	--	--

After 1:2:2NT Responder rebids naturally, with 3-of-Opener's major showing the less-than-limit raise while 4-of-Opener's major reveals the limit raise. 3, 3 and 3-of-the-other major are natural and game forcing. Jumps to 4 or 4 reveal a game forcing raise with 3-card support.

xx

KJ10x

Jxxx

Kxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	2NT	--	3

xx

KJ10x

KJxx

Kxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	2NT	--	4

KJx

Kx

KJx

J10xx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	2NT	--	3NT

KQxx

x

AKJxxx

Kx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	2NT	--	3

xx

x

AKJxx

AQJxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	3
--	2NT	--	3

A

KJx

KJxxx

J10x

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2
--	2NT	--	4

It follows that, playing the Toddler 2, our Jacoby 2NT responses show 13+ HCPs and 4+ trumps or 16+ HCPs with 3+ trumps.

Kxx

Kxx

AKxxx

Kx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2NT
--	1	--	2NT

There are two different styles for the Limit and less-than-limit raises. The Traditional approach is to focus on the knowledge of Responder's "cards", with a direct raise being weakish (6-7 points) while the 2 approach suggests a Constructive Raise (8-10 points). Responder reveals 3+ card support in either case. This is called "Toddler Raises Involving Card Knowledge".

KJxx

xx

Axx

Jxxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2

AJx

Jxx

Jx

10xxxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2

The second approach is the Modern one, where the direct raise is 6-9 points with 3-card support while the 2 route promises 4+ card support if in the 6-9 point range. This "Bergen-style" approach is known as "Toddler Raises Established Around Trumps".

KJxx

xx

Axx

Jxxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2

KJx

Axx

xx

Jxxxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2

KJx

Jxx

xx

Jxxxx

South	Opener	North	Responder
--	1	--	2

This, then, is the choice: T.R.I.C.K. or T.R.E.A.T.

In the years since that original conversation, Bill and I have discovered some of the following pros and cons to the Toddler 2 response:

Disadvantages

"Overloading" the 2 response with awkward forcing raises.
Finding a 5-3 Heart fit (with Responder having the 5 Hearts) over 1 openings will continue to be a problem.
The convention seems to attract ACBL directors like a magnet

Advantages

No need to play the forcing 1NT response
Either: differentiating the constructive and destructive raises for Traditionalists, or...
Freeing 3 and 3 replies for those currently using them as Bergen raises. The responses may now be strong, weak or, if we wish, 9-12 and a good suit (similar to hands where we would bid and rebid the suit in SAYC.
"Pre-Empting" the Club suit with 2 rather than a forcing 1NT.

The first disadvantage can be addressed by using the Golady 2 response. If you do adopt this approach, you might free up your Jacoby 2NT response for some other use, such as natural (11-12 points, flat, usually 2-card support for Opener's major) or "G.I.R.L.S.".

The second difficulty can be addressed by tinkering with one's 1:2 response, making it a 1-round force which does not promise a rebid. If Opener wishes to support Hearts, Opener can now either raise to 3 (minimum), 4 (16-18) or cuebid 4 or 4 if interested in a slam in Hearts. If Opener cannot support Hearts Opener rebids 2 (13-15) or with any higher rebid (16+ points, game forcing). While the 2 rebid is not forcing, any rebid by Responder will be. If adopting this approach, we suggest that you use 1:3 as natural and invitational, with 9-12 points and 6+ good Hearts.

The last disadvantage is a thornier problem. The legality of the Toddler 2 in ACBL events seems to depend on who--and what time of day--you ask. One "solution" employed by many is to not play in ACBL events (ahem!). Another is to continue to petition the ACBL to permit any and all constructive methods. Our approach is to clear matters with a director before entering any ACBL event. Our experience is that most directors are very reasonable here.

P.S.: "What the heck is `G.I.R.L.S.' ?"

I knew you'd ask. The acronym stands for Game-tries In Responder's Long Suit. It's like a long suit game (or slam) try by Responder. Typically, Responder will hold a 5-card suit headed by two top honours, 3-card support and little in the unbid suits for the game try.

Axx

xxx

South	West	North	East
--	1	--	2NT

Game may make opposite as little as:

xxx

Axx

South	West	North	East
--	1	--	2NT
--	3	--	3
--	4	--	Pass

:2NT forces Opener to rebid 3, whereupon 3 or 3 (long Clubs) invite 4 based on a 5+card minor and 9-11 HCPs, while 3, 4 and 4 invite slam in Hearts based on length in the bid suit.

Axx

Kxx

AJx

Axx

South	West	North	East
--	1	--	2NT
--	3	--	4
--	4	--	4NT
--	5	--	5NT
--	6D	--	6H

:2NT forces 3, whereupon 3 and 3 are natural, inviting 4, while 3 invites 4 based on CLUB length (see example hand above). After an auction such as 1:2NT:3 Responder rebids 4 or jumps to 4 or 4 to invite 6 based on length in the bid suit.

xxx

Kxx

AJx

xxx

South	West	North	East
--	1	--	2NT
--	3	--	4
--	4	--	Pass

Now, aren't you sorry you asked?

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