game forcing

2 over 1 Game Forcing

/ Sunil Khanna

This is an alternative to Standard American Responses.

Opening bids 1!d or 1!h or 1!s can be game forced by responder by bidding a lower strain suit at level 2, with some conditions.

2!d by north is 2 over 1 game forcing. 4+ cards minor can game force with 13+ points.
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  • Both partners CANNOT pass till game is bid.
  • Only non-competitive bidding (Opponent before responder has passed).
  • Both partners have not passed even once.
  • Responder has 13+ total points.
  • Lower strain suit has 4+ cards when a minor, 5+ when hearts.

Use 2NT (called Jacoby 2NT) as response, when you have 4+ of the opener’s MAJOR suit and want to quickly confirm game.

2!d game force. 4+ cards level 2 lower strain bid over 1!h. Responder confirms 13+ points.

This is how it works:

Opener starts with level 1 and responder bids 2 of a lower ranking suit. 

  • 1!C has no game forcing
  • 1!D gets response by 2!c with 4+ cards
  • 1!h gets response by 2!c or 2!d with 4+ cards
  • 1!s gets response by 2!c or 2!d with 4+ cards or 2!h with 5+ cards. Note this 5+ cards exception for !h response.
2!h response over 1!s is 2 over 1 game forcing with 5+ Cards of !h (not 4+ cards like in other cases) and 13+ total points. Both hands are unpassed and auction is uncontested
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