A Dummy's Guide to 2/1 Auctions

I've never really understood why people think 2/1 is difficult.  In particular, why do bridge teachers still teach "Standard American" which is a hotch-potch of a system?  One of the problems is that there really aren't any good, readable, comprehensive books.  Maybe the Rodwell and Grant is good but I haven't seen it.

One of the issues is the forcing 1NT.  That, and the related sequence 1♥ p 1♠, needs to be described first (part 1 of a hypothetical book) because it is perhaps the least intuitive part of the system.  But the auctions that start with a 2/1 sequence are simplicity itself (part 2).  The other sections are not really part of 2/1 per se but might be included for completeness: there are the minor suit openings, including inverted minors and reverses, and notrump openings (parts 3 and 4); there are gadgets such as Jacoby 2NT, splinters, new minor forcing, etc. (part 5).  Part 6 might be about judgment, hand evaluation, inferences, etc.  Parts 7 and 8 would cover slam bidding and competitive bidding.

Here's my summary of part 2 (all you really need to know about non-competitive 2/1 sequences).

• Priorities are [starting with responder's first bid, assuming a game-going hand]:
• (a) support partner with four cards (there are various ways to do this);
• (b) show your own pattern (or continue showing);
• (c) support partner with three cards;
• (d) show stoppers for notrump if a, b, c, don't apply;
• (e) otherwise, bid the unbid suit ("fourth suit") if you don't have it stopped (or you have a holding like Ax);
• Showing your pattern:
• Bid suits in length order (longest first);
• Rebidding a suit shows extra length (except opener's first rebid of a 5-card major may be used to show a minimum hand with no other good rebid);
• A jump rebid shows a solid suit;
• Rebidding a second suit shows at least 6-5 if the sequence was a reverse and at least 5-5 otherwise;
• Jumps in new suits always show support for partner's just-bid suit and shortness in the named suit;
• There are no "preferences" in 2/1 bidding, at least not until we get to the four level;
• All bids below 3NT are forcing, and once a suit has been supported, all bids below game are forcing.

There are also various secondary agreements that you may or may not want to adopt (these all relate to 2/1 sequences):

1. Responder's rebid of 3NT indicates a balanced 15-17;
2. Opener's rebid of 2NT indicates a balanced hand suitable for notrump play in the 18-19 range or in the "wrong" range for an opening 1NT (e.g. if you play 15-17 1NT openers, then a 2NT rebid shows 12-14 or 18-19);
3. Opener's rebid above 2NT promises "extras" [in my opinion, this promises at least a good 14 hcp, some would promise more];
4. Opener's reverse promises "extras" [in my opinion, this promises at least a solid 12 hcp];
5. Responder's jump to 4 of opener's major shows a "picture bid", with all (or most) values in the suits bid;
6. With 6-4 distribution, opener rebids the major if a bare minimum [i.e. less than a solid 12 hcp];
7. 1♦ p 2♣ is not 100% game-forcing;
8. 1M p 2m p 2x p 3m is not forcing.

That's about it.  It's really very simple.  There's very little need for judgment or fudging (once the 2/1 sequence has been initiated).  You just follow the list of priorities.