BID OF TWO IN A SUIT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 102, 1 May 1937, Page 19

BID OF TWO IN A SUIT

forced response of two no-trumps •on the first round. ■'■'•''■'■'"'.,

A single raise shows adequate trump support with at least one honour-trick in the hand. ; • .■"■'. •

Even with more value than required for-a single raise, only one raise should be given on the first round-^-e.g., part* ncr has bpened with two spades. .Responding hand,' holding.' V: ' '■'■'•'' -

4j>— J.x.x.x.x.i. ff~ A.x.i. K.Q.1.:. +— »■ which, is' sufficient for a double-raise, should' give only a single raise.on the first: round after an opening 'two-bid. (A double raise is reservedfor'a,cer-tain-type of. hand—see below.); '

If -holding 'more than the-strength required for a raise, and holding also a biddable suit, it is better to'bid the suit first and raise partner's suit'later —e.g., partner; has' opened .with' tWo spades.. Responding hand, , holding Q— Q.x.x. y— A.lO.x.x. .^—K.Q.x.x.x. J^f-i. should respond with three diamonds, and raise the spades on the next round of the bidding..-. . : ■ .. ■ •::.'(.

■. With a; minimum raise, - and ■ biddable.suit, the raise should;be preferred, in order to "set" the trump suit,-: ; e.g.,. after a two-spade , opening bid, partner,,holding'. ;1 _~.-,

4>—(lXx. >^-A.10.x.x.x. ->— x.x:x.x..j^T-p. should, raise -the .spades ' rather thai bid- three; hearts. • ' :■ v ," ' , /' ■'

; A: double ■ raise /(a jump: from.' two An four.in. partner's/ suit) has a special meaning after, an/opening two-bid: ■'It is a ■ conventional' response, indicating a hand with':'rio.,higher: honour "than the Queen ■' and /no singleton, .but■ with either' five trumps -or four?: to the Queen. ■' While'1: warning the' -partner against bidding :a slam unless .his: hand is very powerful,-, this response-gives information 'as: toi-the trumps position. The opening -bidder, if strong Enough to carry the further'in spite of the warning,, can. then make, an .asking 'bid, which; "since.his: partner ..has already denied 'the possession ■ of: any King in his hand (the double raise has giveh'thatdefinite information),.simply asks - for third-round; control. •; /" ' '•..;■

:•A '■ suit ■ take-out' >is made:,: y on- any biddable suit, provided -the hand contains:— " "'; '■■;■■':■■'■ ■ ■- ••.-.■■• V ' 1. One and a -half honour-tricks with any biddbleZ suit. Example: After partner's, opening bid- of two. hearts, responding hand bids two spades* holding—' ' ' - ■■•■■■■■■' :'/■: ■■ • . :'-,.' .■ ■ : '■■'■'■ +— A.Q.8.6.-/Hf--8;5.;, >—10.8.6.3^^r-8.3.».

2. ' One-plus honour-trick with-any biddable suit;; headed by Ace,; King, or Q;J".; Example: Responding "hand bids two spades over partner's :-tw» hearts, holding— ■ / • /.-■• ~

' ;>— 9.6. ,/J^-Ci.S.o.S.

3..-One-honour-trick with, any' fivecard : biddable .: suit, headed-by Ace, ■King, or; Queen-Japk. Example:/ Responding hand' bids : three; clubs, over partner's opening "bid of two/hearts, holding—.,, /', .' . , ;. , ■

A—9.6. m— 7.3.2. A—9.6.3. +— A.9.5.7.5. I-K.7.3. «-6.3. 4-9.6.4. T_go. Q. 9.3. jfr—Q.3.S.7.ti

- it' sometimes "'happens' that an- opponent,- holding a long suit," 'bvercalls the opening two-bid. /.As the/responding hand may pass the 'overcall (the bidding ; being : kept open by :the opponent), a free response of two no-trumps to the opening two-bid indicates a-hand containing about 1+ or.- li honourtricks;, including: a .stopper lnjthe op* : portent's'suit. ■ ; .• ■'-"'V "';