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Show Modern Contract 1 Bridge By Leila tlattersJey I) LL s.vJj No. 17 Responding to Forcing Two-Bids 'TpJ BE sure that the reader has the proper reaction to his partner's two-bid and clearly understands the part it plays In the forcing system, he must realize that for Its success, the forcing two-bid depends entirely on correct responses. When responding to your partner's two-bid, the most important im-portant facts to keep in mind are: First You cannot pass. Second Even though you are trick-less trick-less you must bid and continue to bid uutll a game is reached (or Its penalty equivalent In a double of an opponent which will net as many points as your game would be worth). Third Unless you have at least one honor-trick, your first response must be a negative two no trump, Irrespective Irrespec-tive of whether or not you hold length in your partner's trumps or a long suit of your own. Fourth Any response other than two no trumps Is positive, showing at least one honor-trick la your hand. If you respond with two no trumps you show that your hand lacks an honor-trick ; with this negative response re-sponse you may have some distributional distribu-tional support In long trumps and ruffing tricks, or a long suit of your own. Either can be shown on a later round of the bidding, after your negative neg-ative response has warned your partner part-ner against a futile slam try. If you respond with a raise of partner's suit you show definitely one honor-trick and the normal support of four small trumps or three to the queen. When more than one raise can be counted (in additional honor or ruffing-tricks) the bid should be jumped for the full amount of raises. But a Jump over the game should be avoided with less than 2 to 26 honor-tricks. honor-tricks. If you respond with a suit take-out you show at least one honor-trick In a hand containing a biddable suit. Unlike your raises, your suit takeouts take-outs must never be jumped. They must be bid gradually even though you have all the outstanding honor-tricks missing miss-ing from your partner's hand. The better reason you have for believing that the hand contains a slam, the better bet-ter reason for keeping the bidding low and gaining all possible Information. Informa-tion. As the bidding cannot die after an original two-bid has been opened, there is no reason to become nervous and shut out what might prove valuable valu-able further Information. If you respond with three no trumps you deny support for partner's suit (unless sometimes when he opens a minor) and also deny another biddable bid-dable suit but you show from 1V4 to 2 honor-tricks. The purpose of the three no trump response is to inform your partner Immediately that he can count on positive honor-trick support. sup-port. If you respond with four, five, or six no trumps you show 2 or more honor-tricks and a lack of adequate trump support or a biddable suit Your 2 honor-tricks, added to the minimum shown by partner's opening two-bid, put you definitely in the slam zone. Whether you decided to bid immediately im-mediately for the slam or to give your partner a slam invitation would depend de-pend upon whether your hand contained con-tained just the bare 2 honor-tricks (bid 4 no trump) or sufficient additional addi-tional honor cards and stoppers to feel assured that, without hearing further from your partner, a slam bid at no trump would be a thoroughly thor-oughly safe and favorable contract. Examples of forcing two-bids: NORTH S-K J 10 5 3 H-4 3 2 D-4 3 2 C-J 10 WEST EAST S-9 8 6 S-A 7 2 H-A 6 5 H 10 9 8 7 D-A 8 7 6 D-10 C-984 C-76532 SOUTH S-Q4 H-KQJ D-K Q J 9 5 C-AKQ Bidding Dealer South West North East 2 Diamonds Pass 2 Spades Pass 8 No Trumps Pass Pass Tass NORTH S-Q 9 7 6 5 4 H-2 D-8 7 6 5 C-10 9 WEST 1 EAST S-3 S-A 2 H-10 9 8 7 6 5 H-3 D-A 10 4 D-9 3 2 C-Q J 2 C-K 8 7 6 5 4 3 SOUTH S-K J 10 8 H-A K Q J 4 D-K Q J C-A Bidding South West North East 2 Hearts Pass 2 No Trumps Pass 3 Hearts Pass 3 Spades , Pass 4 Spades Pass Pass Pass When a bidder whose side has a partial score opens with a declaration declara-tion of two which will put him out, the bid is not forcing. ( 1 932. by Leila Hatteraler.) WTTO Servlo |