Two-Over-One Bidding Summary 1. General Approach 2. Two-Over-One-Systemic Bidding Summary 2.1 Opener Bids 1C - Responder Bids 1D 2.2 Opener Bids 1C or 1D - Responder Bids1NT 2.3 Opener Bids 1C or 1D - Responder Bids 1H or 1S 2.4 Opener Bids 1H or 1S - Responder Bids 1NT (Forcing) 2.5 Opener Bids 1D - Responder Bids 2C (Game Force) 2.6 Opener Bids 1H or 1S - Responder Bids 2/1 (Game Force) 1. General Approach Five Card Majors In 1st or 2nd seat a 5-card major suit is promised. Bergen raises are applied. In 3rd or 4th seat a 4-card major may sometimes be bid. Drury is applied. Minor Suit Fits Inverted Minor raises are applied. Forcing 1NT Over Major Suit Opening 1NT is forcing for one round if responder is an unpassed hand and RHO passes. 1NT is semi-forcing if responder is a passed hand and opponents have not bid. 2/1 Game Force A 2/1 response by an unpassed hand is almost always forcing to game. If bidding has progressed to a 4-level minor-suit auction and no good fit has been found, the bidding may end there. Reverses are off. Fast Arrival/Slow Arrival bidding is applied to suit auctions. A 2/1 response over RHO overcall (but not a take-out double) is invitational and is a Free Bid showing 5+ cards and 10+ HCP in the suit bid. This applies to both unpassed and passed hands. 2. Two-Over-One Systemic Bidding Summary The following is a summary of bidding sequences peculiar to the Two-Over-One system. Bids that are common to Standard American are not summarized except for a few cases. The bidding sequences are for constructive bids in uncontested auctions. The Two-Over-One system attempts to discover, in order of preference: A game with an eight card fit in a major. A game in 3NT. A game in a minor suit. Additionally the systemic bids, especially when a minor suit is opened, reveal the hand-shape giving important information to the partnership. Notes: A single asterisk ( * ) denotes a non-forcing bid. A double asterisk ( ** ) denotes a forcing bid. Definitions: Balanced hand has 4/3/3/3, 4/4/3/2 or 5/3/3/2 shape. Unbalanced hand contains a void, singleton or two doubletons - examples: 6/5/2/0, 5/4/3/1, 6/3/2/2, etc. Minimum opener is 12- to 15- playing points. Opener with extra values is 15+ to 19- playing points. Opener with reverse values is 16+ to 19- playing points. Opener with jump shift values is 19+ to 21 playing points. Responder with opening hand values is 12+ playing points (allowing a 2/1 response if available). Responders requirements for a forcing 1NT is 6 to 12- HCP. A splinter bid by opener is a single jump reverse or double jump shift whichever is the cheapest bid. 2.1 Opener Bids 1C - Responder Bids 1D 1C Opener assumes that responder has no major suit to bid. Responders rebid will clarify. With 4/5 shape (4-card major and 5 diamonds) and a hand with opening values, responder always bids the 5-card diamond suit first then rebids the 4-card major. With 4/5 shape (4-card major and 5 diamonds) and a hand without opening values, responder will bypass the 5-card diamond suit and bid the 4-card spade suit. With 4/4 shape regardless of the strength, responder bypasses the diamonds and bid the major suit. 1C-1D-2C Depending on partnership agreement: Shows a 6-card club suit and an unbalanced hand and 12- to 19- playing points. Semi-forcing, responder should pass only with a very poor hand. OR, shows a 6+ clubs with 12- to16- playing points. 1C-1D-3C Depending on partnership agreement: NO SUCH BID - With a long strong club suit and less than 19+ playing points, opener simply rebids the clubs. With more than 19- playing points opener makes a jump shift (may be in a false suit). OR, shows a 6+ clubs with 16+ to 19- playing points. 1C-1D-2D* Unbalanced hand. Denies holding a 4-card major. Denies holding a balanced minimum. Denies holding extra values. Promises 4+ trumps. 1C-1D-3D* Unbalanced hand. Denies holding a 4-card major. Denies holding a balanced minimum. Promises 4+ trumps. Shows extra values with a 2-suited hand in clubs and diamonds with virtually all points concentrated in the minors. 1C-1D-1H(1S)** Shows an unbalanced hand with more clubs than hearts(spades). The shape would be 4/5, 4/6 or 5/6. Strength anywhere from 12- to 19- playing points. Forcing for one round. 1C-1D-1H(1S)- Single Raise* Responder shows 3+ trumps and invitational values (9+ to 12- support points). Partnership may end up in a game contract with a 4-3 fit which is OK. 1C-1D-1H(1S)- Double Raise** Responder shows 4 trumps and 5 diamonds. Game forcing. 1C-1D-1H-1S** This is fourth suit forcing by responder, forcing to the level of 2NT. If opener has a spade stopper the rebid is NT. 1C-1D-1S-2H** This is fourth suit game forcing by responder. If opener has a heart stopper the rebid is NT. Forcing to game. 1C-1D-1NT* Shows a balanced minimum. Opener suppresses bidding any 4-card major, the first obligation is to show a balanced minimum hand. Unbid suits are not necessarily stopped. 1C-1D-2NT* Shows a balanced hand with 18 to 19 HCP and unbid suits stopped. 1C-1D-3NT Shows a big hand with 6+ clubs as a source of tricks and unbid suits stopped. 2.2 Opener Bids 1C or 1D - Responder Bids 1NT 1C-1NT* If not a passed hand: Responder shows 8 - 10 HCP and denies holding a 4-card major and 4-card diamond suit. With less than 8 HCP responder may temporize by bidding a 3-card diamond suit. If a passed hand: Responder shows 6 to 10 HCP and denies holding a 4-card major and a 4-card diamond suit. 1D-1NT* Responder shows 6 to 10 HCP and denies holding a 4-card major. 1C(1D)-2NT* Responder shows 11 to 12 HCP and denies holding a 4-card major 1C(1D)-3NT Responder shows 13 to 15 HCP and denies holding a 4-card major. 2.3 Opener Bids 1C or 1D - Responder Bids 1H or 1S 1C(1D)-1H-1S** Unbalanced hand with more clubs(diamonds) than spades. Shows 12- to 19- playing points. Forcing for one round. 1C(1D)-1H-1NT* Balanced minimum, suppress bidding a 4-card spade suit. 1C(1D)-1S-1NT* Balanced minimum. 1C(1D)-1H(1S)-2NT* Balanced hand with 18 - 19 and unbid suits stopped. 1C(1D)-1H(1S)-3NT Shows a big hand with 6+ club(diamonds) as a source of tricks and unbid suits stopped. 1C(1D)-1H(1S)-2C(2D)* Usually shows a 6-card club(diamond) suit and an unbalanced hand, sometimes may have to rebid a 5-card club(diamond) suit when no other bid is convenient. Exception: 1D - 1S - 2C, with x xxx xxxxx xxx it is ok to rebid the 3-card club suit rather than a poor 5-card diamond suit. 1C(1D)-1H(1S)-3C(3D) Depending on partnership agreement: NO SUCH BID - With a long strong club suit and less than 19+ playing points, opener simply rebids the clubs. With more than 19- playing points opener makes a jump shift (may be in a false suit). OR, shows a 6+ clubs(diamonds) with 16+ to 19- playing points. 1C(1D)-1H(S)-4C(4D)** A double jump rebid of a minor shows a good 6-card minor and a fit with responders major suit (4 good trumps).Virtually all openers HCP are in the minor and responders major. 1C(1D)-1H(1S)-Single Raise* Shows minimum hand with 4 trumps, although 3 good trumps are ok if no other bid is convenient. 1C(1D)-1H(1S)-Double Raise*) Shows a hand with 4 trumps and extra values. 1C(1D)-1H(1S)-Raise to Game Shows a hand with 4 trumps and 19+ support points. Denies a splinter. 1C(1D)-1H(1S)-Splinter Bid Shows a fit in hearts(spades).Game force with 19+ support points. 2.4 Opener Bids 1H or 1S - Responder Bids 1NT (Forcing) 1H-1S** Responder denies 4 or more hearts (otherwise a Bergen raise is made). 1H(1S)-1NT** Responder denies 4 or more hearts (otherwise a Bergen raise is made). Shows 6 to 12- HCP 1H(1S)-1NT-2H(2S)* Shows 6+ hearts(spades) and a minimum hand with 12- to 15- playing points. 1H(1S)-1NT-2H(2S)-3H(3S)* Responder shows a hand with 10 to 12 support points and 3 trumps with ruffing potential. 1H(1S)-1NT-2H(2S)-4H(4S) Responder shows a hand with 10+ support points and 4 trumps or 12+ support points and 3 trumps with ruff potential. 1H(1S)-1NT-3H(3S)* Shows 6+ hearts(spades) and extra values. 1S-1NT-2H* Shows a real heart suit with 5/4, 5/5, 6/4 or 6/5 shape in spades and hearts. Strength is 12- to 19- playing points. 1H-1NT-2S** A reverse showing more hearts than spades with extra values, 16+ to 19- playing points. Forcing for one round. 1S-1NT-2C(2D)* Denies holding a 4-card heart suit. With 4/4 or 3/3 shape in diamonds and clubs always bid the clubs, with 3/2 shape always bid the diamonds. 1H-1NT-2C(2D)* With 4/4 or 3/3 shape in diamonds and clubs always bid the clubs, with 3/2 shape always bid the diamonds. Note: with xxxx xxxxx xx xx and no extra values for a reverse, bid 2C even though a doubleton. 1H(1S)-1NT-2NT* Shows balanced hand with 18 to 19 HCP. 1H(1S)-1NT-2NT-3NT Responder goes to 3NT with anything more than a bare minimum. 1H(1S)-1NT-2NT Transfer Bid* Responders bids of 3C, 3D or 3H are transfer bids for 3D, 3H or 3S. After opener makes the transfer, responder may pass or bid 3NT and opener may pass or bid the transferred suit at the game level. 1H(1S)-1NT-3NT Shows hand with 16 to 18 HCP and a solid 6-card heart(spade) suit. Unbid suits not necessarily stopped. Hand shape must be 6/3/2/2 and cant contain a singleton. 1H(1S)-1NT-Jump Shift** 19+ playing points, a false suit may be bid. 2.5 Opener Bids 1D - Responder Bids 2C (Game Force) Note: Reverses and jump shift rebids by opener are off 1D 2C 2/1 game force, 12+ HCP. Shows 4+ clubs. With 4/4, 4/5 or 4/6 shape holding a 4-card major always respond 2C and suppress bidding the 4-card major. 1D 2D 2C Promises 5+ diamonds (not 6). Always suppress re-bidding a 4-card major. A rebid of a 4-card major denies holding 5+ diamonds. If responder has a 4-card major it will be bid at responders next turn. Doesnt show or deny extra values. 1D 3D 2C Shows a solid 6+ card suit. Doesnt show or deny extra values. 1D 3C 2C Denies 5+ diamonds. Denies a 4-card major. Shows 4 clubs. Doesnt show or deny extra values. 1D 2H(2S) 2C Denies holding 5+ diamonds and promises a 4-card major. Doesnt show or deny extra values. A reverse here should not be made with less than 12+ or 13 HCP. 1D Splinter Bid 2C Splinter bid. Shows 5 clubs with slam interest. 1D 2NT 2C Denies 5+ diamonds. Denies a 4-card major. Balanced minimum hand with unbid suits stopped - OR - balanced with 18 to 19 HCP and continue to bid 4NT at the next turn. 1D 3NT 2C Denies 5+ diamonds. Denies a 4-card major. Balanced hand with 15 to 17 HCP. Note: With less or more HCP bid 2NT (see above). 2.6 Opener Bids 1H or 1S - Responder Bids 2/1 (Game Force) Note: Reverses and jump shift rebids by opener are off. A reverse after a 2/1 bid should not be made with less than 12+ or 13 HCP. 1H 1S With a hand with opening values and 5/4, 6/5 (but not 5/5) shape in spades and clubs(diamonds) responder bids 1S then at next turn rebids the clubs(diamonds). With a weak hand responder rebids the spades. 1H 2C(2D) Game force. Responder shows at least 4 clubs(diamonds) and could have a spade suit. With 4/4 shape in spades and clubs(diamonds) bid 2C(2D). Responder does not rebid spades at next turn since this will show an unbalanced hand. With 4/5, 4/6, 5/5 or 5/6 shape in spades and clubs(diamonds) responder bids 2C(2D) then at next turn bid spades. This shows an unbalanced hand with more clubs(diamonds) than spades or 5 spades and 5 clubs(diamonds). 1H(1S) Raise Responder 2C(2D) Shows 5 clubs(diamonds) or a very good 4-card suit. Doesnt show or deny extra values. 1H(1S) Splinter Bid 2C(2D) Splinter bid shows 5 club(diamonds) with slam interest. 1S Raise Responder 2H Shows 3+ hearts. Shows extra values- slow arrival. 1S Jump Raise Responder 2H Shows 3+ hearts and a minimum opener - fast arrival. 1S Splinter Bid 2H Splinter bid shows 4 hearts and slam interest. 1H(1S) New Suit 2/1 bid Shows at least a 4-card suit. Doesnt show or deny extra values. 1H(1S) 2H(2S) 2/1 bid Shows a 6+ card suit. Doesnt show or deny extra values. 1H(1S) 3H(3S) 2/1 bid Shows a solid 6+ card suit. Doesnt show or deny extra values. 1H(1S) 2NT 2/1 bid Balanced minimum hand with unbid suits stopped - OR - balanced with 18 to 19 HCP and continue to bid 4NT at the next turn. 1H(1S) 3NT 2/1 bid Balanced hand with 15 to 17 HCP. Note: With less or more HCP bid 2NT (see above). Top of Page