1. Basic 2 over 1
Jim Berglund

2. There are many ways to bid a bridge hand.
Disclaimer
There are many ways to bid a bridge hand.
These lessons are not designed to show you ‘the perfect bid’ in each situation
Guidance given is based on what I would do, playing with a good partner.
They are intended to have you think about the possibilities, so that you can take appropriate action, when you should, more often.

3. Invented by Max Hardy; refined by Mike Lawrence & others
2/1
Invented by Max Hardy; refined by Mike Lawrence & others
2 Over 1 is a significant enhancement to 5-Card Majors, which improved Standard American and is now part of the SAYC (Standard American Yellow Card)
Two Key Principles:
2-level bids over partner’s Major Suit openers will be forcing to game. (1♥-2♣, 1♥-2♦, 1♠-2♣, 1♠-2♦, and 1♠-2♥ are the only relevant auctions) Note: 1♦-2♣ is NOT typically a game force.
If opener opens one of a major, and responder bids 1NT, that is a one round force. Opener may not pass.
These fundamental changes allows 2/1 players to quickly identify game going and slam invitational hands using low level bids

4. 2/1 Does NOT apply
When partner is a passed hand; a passed hand cannot force to game.
If partner opens 1♣
If partner opens 1♦ (except 1♦ – 2♣)
Over Opponent’s Interference, including doubles
After an intervening overcall, responder's new-suit bid shows a long suit and decent values, but it is not forcing to game. It could be as few as 8-9 pts, if you have a strong suit.
After an intervening double, responder's 2-level bid of a new suit is weak (5-9 pts.).
After an overcall or a double, a 1NT response is standard (7-10 pts. with a stopper) and is not forcing.

5. Benefits ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ J5 A1084 QJ2 AK83 1S P 2C 2S ? BOTH VULNERABLEW N E S 1S P 2C 2S ?
Benefits
BOTH VULNERABLE
YOU ARE SOUTH ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ J5
A1084
QJ2
AK83
With Standard American, you have no good game forcing bid.
2NT is only invitational;
3S is invitational with 2S and minimal values; A red suit bid implies a 2-suiter;
a bid of 3H would show better, longer clubs. 3NT is too unilateral;
If partner has 6 spades, 4S may be the best match point contract, and you may even be missing slam.
With 2/1, your first bid is a game force, so you have much greater flexibility, and can bid 2NT, knowing partner can’t pass.

6. Benefits (cont) ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ QJ76532 A5 KQ7 8 1S P 2D 2S 4S ?W N E S 1S P 2D 2S 4S ?
Benefits (cont)
BOTH VULNERABLE
YOU ARE SOUTH ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
QJ76532 A5
KQ7 8
With Standard American, you have no idea if partner holds
♠9 ♥KJ ♦AJ10642 ♣A93,
where 6 spades hasn’t a hope, but 6D makes, or
♠K10 ♥KQ6 ♦AJ964 ♣A93,
Where the spade slam is cold or
♠K8 ♥Jx ♦A10876 ♣KJ93,
where 4 may go down 1, 2 or 3 on diamond ruffs
With 2/1, in the first two hands he can explore for the right slam, and in hand three, partner would not make a game force,

7. What do you need to bid 2/1?
It is usually taught that you need ‘a better-than-opening hand’ to bid 2/1 (a good 12+ HCP is the standard)
You should also have one or two good suits to bid 2/1
You do not require a fit
If you have a 3NT bid (13-15 points with 2-card support for partner, you should bid it)
If you have a game-forcing raise for partner, you should bid 2NT (Jacoby,) asking for partner to bid a singleton at the 3-level, or a second 4-card or longer suit at the 4-level
I believe, however, that if you have a hand where you know game is definitely makeable, you may bid 2/1
You hold ♠963 ♥8 ♦A ♣ void and partner opens 1 Spade. Please bid 2D
You hold ♠96432 ♥KQ8 ♦3 ♣KQ65, feel free to bid 2C

8. How to rebid after a 2/1 response?2C ?
How to rebid after a 2/1 response?
Rule: With 3 or more cards in partner’s suit, raise it.
You hold ♠AK963 ♥8 ♦AKQ3 ♣432
Always bid 3C
You hold ♠96432 ♥void ♦AKQJ10 ♣654.
Always bid 3C (you’ll never get another chance to show partner a fit)
Rule: You may rebid a 5-card suit if you have no better bid
♠96432 ♥AQJ ♦876 ♣AJ
Just bid 2S. Partner will bid again!

9. How to rebid after a 2/1 response?2C ?
How to rebid after a 2/1 response?
Rule: Bid 2NT with minimal hands with stoppers in the other 2 suits
♠K6432 ♥AQ9 ♦K76 ♣65
Bid 2NT. You’d like the lead to come to your hand if you end up playing it
Rule: Don’t jump needlessly. Take your time
♠AKQ432 ♥Q ♦KQJ87 ♣5
Just bid 2D ♠AK65432 ♥8 ♦K87 ♣52
Don’t bid 4S.

10. Problems with 2/1
The forcing 1NT response allows for a wide range of hands; 5-13-, balanced or wildly distributional
The 1NT forcing bid makes it impossible to play 1NT over Major openings
It is often difficult for responder to bid intermediate or very strong, distributional hands comfortably so that other conventions* are often used, such as…
2-way 2-level transfers
New Minor Forcing
X-Y-Z
Jacoby 2NT
Bergen Raises
4th Suit Forcing
Flannery
Mini-Roman
Constructive Raises
Inverted Minors
Flannery Adjunct
Modified Reverses
Lebensohl/Rubensohl

11. 2/1 is not used when a minor suit is opened 1C P ?
Test Question 1
BOTH VULNERABLE
YOU ARE SOUTH
2/1 is not used when a minor suit is opened
In hand 1, bid 1S, and jump to 3H over 1NT or 2C
In hand 2, bid 2S IFF you use jump shifts over minors
In hand 3, bid 1S, and bid 2H over 1NT or 2C by partner
In hand 4, bid 1D, and bid 3C over partner’s major or NT bid ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
KQ543
KQ432 A 65 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
AKQ10783
void
AK8
532 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
K8752
Q7652 32 8 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 9
Q97
AKQJ
65432

12. In hand 1, bid 1S, and bid 4H over any non-forcing bid W N E S 1♥ P ?
Test Question 2
BOTH VULNERABLE
YOU ARE SOUTH
In hand 1, bid 1S, and bid 4H over any non-forcing bid
In hand 2, bid 2S IFF you use jump shifts
In hand 3, bid 2H, and bid 4H over any move by partner
In hand 4, bid 1NT, and bid 3H over partner’s non-forcing bid ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
KQ543
KQ432 A 65 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
AKQ10783
void
AK8
532 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
K8752
Q7652 32 8 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 9
Q97
AKQJ
65432

13. In hand 4, bid 1NT; plan to bid 2NT over a 2S rebid ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ KQ543 W N E S 1♠ P ?
Test Question 2
BOTH VULNERABLE
YOU ARE SOUTH
In hand 1, bid 3D – Why?
In hand 2, bid 2H
In hand 3, bid 3C
In hand 4, bid 1NT; plan to bid 2NT over a 2S rebid ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
KQ543
KQ432 A 65 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
void
AKQ10783
AK8
532 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
K8752
Q7652 32 8 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 9
Q97
AKQJ
65432

14. Bid 2D in hand 9; this is just a ‘convenient’ bid ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 876 A5432 AQ W N E S 1♥ P 2♣ ?
Test Question 3
BOTH VULNERABLE
YOU ARE North
Bid 3C with hands 6, 8, and 10
Bid 2H in hand 7
Bid 2D in hand 9; this is just a ‘convenient’ bid ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
876
A5432 AQ
QJ5 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
QJ108
KQJ543 4 QJ ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Q
KJ542
A43
K654 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
654
AKQ76
KQ3 62 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
AKJ8
AK832
632
K32

15. What do you need to bid a forcing NT?
3 card support and 5-7- or HCP (and no 4-card spade suit)
With the better hand, plan to bid 3 of his major as your next bid
With 8+/- HCP and 3-card support make a constructive raise to the 2-level
4-card support and 5-6- HCP (and no 4-card spade suit)
With 8+/- HCP and 4-card support make a constructive raise
With HCP and 4-card support make a limit raise to the 3-level
5-card support and 0-4- HCP (Tactical bid)
Bid a constructive raise with an Ace or a King and 5 to 7 HCP
Make a limit raise with 8 to 10 HCP
Bid game with 11 or 12 HCP and no Aces
2-card support and 5-12 HCP
Zero or one card support and 7-12 HCP (Pass with 0 to 6)

16. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 876 AK432 Q5 QJ5 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ AK KQJ543 5432 52 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ J1065 KJ543W N E S 1♥ P
1NT ?
Test Question 4
BOTH VULNERABLE
YOU ARE SOUTH
Bid 2C with hand 11
Bid 2D with hand 12
Bid 2C with hand 13!
Bid 2S with hand 14
Bid 2NT with hand 15 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
876
AK432 Q5
QJ5 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ AK
KQJ543
5432 52 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
J1065
KJ543 KQ K6 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
KQJ10
AQJ654
AQJ ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
AQ8
AJ832
KJ2 K3

17. Bid 3C in hand 16 Bid 2H in hand 17 Bid 2D in hand 18W N E S 1♥ P
1NT 2C ?
Test Question 5
BOTH VULNERABLE
YOU ARE SOUTH
Bid 3C in hand 16
Bid 2H in hand 17
Bid 2D in hand 18
Bid 3H in hand 19
Bid 3H in hand 20 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 87 A4
QJ52
KJ932 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
A102 J3
65432
532 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
J107 6
QJ9432
K65 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
A542
432 AQ
6352 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
AQ84
A83
632
Q83

18. ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 87654 A43 QJ5 J5 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ QJ1042 432 654 AK ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 107 43 QJW N E S 1♥ 2♦ ?
Test Question 6
BOTH VULNERABLE
YOU ARE SOUTH
Bid 2H with hand 21
Bid 2S with hand 22
Pass with hand 23 – hope partner re-opens
Double with hand 24 - a nice negative double
Bid 3D with hand 15 – slam may be on! ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
87654
A43
QJ5 J5 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
QJ1042
432
654 AK ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
107 43 QJ
KQJ5432 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
KQ42 Q6 Q3
K652 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
AQ84
A832 6
KQ32

19. Bid 4D with hand 26; Be prepared to bid 5D over 4H S 1♥ 3♠ ?
Test Question 7
BOTH VULNERABLE
YOU ARE SOUTH
Bid 4D with hand 26; Be prepared to bid 5D over 4H
Pass with hand 27 & hand 28 – hope partner re-opens
Bid 3NT with hand 29 – the easiest & best game
Bid 4S with hand 30 – Exclusion BW ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
8765
AQJ5432
A10 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
J102 43
KJ109
KQJ10 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
107 43 QJ
KQJ5432 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
KQ5 A6
Q652 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
A832
AQ84
KQ832