The 2 heart two-way No-Trump invitation
Two Hearts - Two Way NT Invite
When we open 1
, we are promising an unbalanced hand. The hand could be semi-balanced (no singleton or void) when it has 6 or more diamonds. Responder has some choices when responding with an invitational point count (10-12 HCP). Responder's priorities in bidding are:
- Show a 4-card or longer major suit
- Inverted minor suit raise of 2♦ with 4+ diamond card support
- Bid a 5-card or longer club suit
- Invite to a NT game (with a very flat hand)
It's that last case we should discuss. It must be a very flat hand shape to reach that final priority. No more than 3 cards in either major, 2 or 3 diamonds, and fewer than 5 clubs (or 5 poor-quality ones). The typical shape is 3334. With a poor-quality club suit, responder could hold a 3325/3225/2325 shape. These are uncomfortable hands when we know the opener's hand is unbalanced. Our side likely holds only 4 combined cards in one of the majors. Responder's 3-card suit, and the likely opener has a singleton. That means the opponents could rip off 5 tricks in that suit (assuming a 5-4 split, it could be worse). We would like both sides of the partnership to express their opinion on the invitation to a no-trump game.
In standard bidding, the jump shift to 2♥ in the auction 1♦-2♥ could be defined as a super-strong game-forcing bid showing a solid heart suit (old style) or a hand with 6 or fewer HCP but a 6-card heart suit. Likely all or most of the HCP in that suit (modern style). Both situations are extremely rare, and other situational bidding can cover these hands. Strong Jump Shift is less useful, as modern bidding makes responder's new-suit bids forcing. This means 1-1
could never be passed. After opener makes a rebid (such as 1NT to limit their hand), responder has gadgets like XYZ and New Minor Forcing to push the auction. Weak hands can pass the opening bid and rely on modern competitive auctions, letting them come in later with a heart bid. Additionally, modern competitive bidding lets a responder with nearly 6 HCP upvalue their hand and make the 1♥ response to opener. The only downside is that 2 could make it harder for opponents to find their potential spade fit. Remember, in bridge, every convention/gagdet you adopt means giving up some aspect/feature of the standard interpretation.
In either case, we feel this gadget is more productive in Modern American auctions. We define the 2♥ jump bid to be artificial, approximately 11-12 HCP and flat shape (3-3-3-4 or any 3235). The approximately is meant to cover a 'good' 10 HCP or a 'poor' 12 HCP. We defined the wiggle room in HCP evaluation elsewhere. But, in summary, deduct a HCP if you have 3 or more jacks and/or add a HCP if your hand has no jacks. Also, deduct HCP for any unprotected honors like a Qx. In this situation, holding Qxx in a major suit will be less powerful. A bad 10 HCP could be better shown by bidding 1NT over the 1♦ open. A good 12 HCP (e.g., maybe holding 3 aces) could be a hand to force to 3NT rather than just invite.
So, to summarize:
1♦-2♥
Alert Two Way NT game try Responder holds 11-12 HCP and a very flat hand. Denies a 4-card major and denies 4 diamonds.
The purpose of this artificial bid is that neither side has bid no-trump yet. The first side to bid no-trump will be the declarer, so each partner needs to look at their hand to decide if they need to protect any tenaces. That would mean they would like to have the opening lead come 'up' to their hand. So, the opener should start re-assessing their hand strength and HCP placement. Do they have enough hand strength to consider playing 3NT? Do they wish to declare in NT or, without a tenace, let partner declare and maybe protect their potential tenace?
Responses to 2Way2♥ Invite:
- 2
- Artificial, relay request for responder to bid 2NT. This allows responder to declare in NT. Note this would get to the exact same auction and direction that standard bidding 1-2NT produced. The exception is that we have a chance to change direction if that would be significant. Also, opener will have a final opportunity to bid again. - 2NT - Minimal opening hand. Willing to play in NT, but declining the invite to play for game (3NT)
- 3♣ - This is at least a 5-4 or 4-5 minor suited hand. Responder is allowed to pass 3♣ or correct to 3. Either contract is to play.
- 3♦ - Minimal opening hand with 6 diamonds. This is to play
- 3/3 - This shows opener starting with a strong hand. They are bidding their shortness (like a splinter). The object is exploring a potential slam. Typically, opener has a 6-card diamond suit with 17+ HCP (19+ total points counting this short suit). Responder can bid 3NT to show first round control of that suit. They can bid 4
to show clubs (2 diamonds) and 4 to show three-diamond support.
After the relay, the opener has an additional opportunity to bid. In standard, opener must decide to pass or bid after the 1-2NT bid. What should opener bid with a weak minor-suited hand, and what about a strong minor-suited hand? You can see how the relay/transfer auction allows opener flexibility. So, after the responder rebids the 2NT relay. Opener can raise to 3NT to accept the invite to game. They can bid 3♣ to show a strong two-suited hand. Remember, they can skip to the relay and immediately respond 3♣ with a weak two-suited hand. They can also bid 3♦ to show a strong opening hand with 6+ diamonds. Likely a hand without a useful shortness in a major (since they didn't splinter with first response).
The strong opening hand option will lead to complex auctions, but we think you'll find the number of successful diamond slams vs. stopping appropriately for top boards satisfying.
Consider the following deal:
With the auction 1♦-2♥-2♠-2NT-3♦, look at all the potential to explore for slam. How would this hand proceed with standard bidding of 1♦-2NT?