Chapter 16

Responder's Second Bid

• A natural flavor.  Opener makes the most natural bid at the two level with a minimum and the most natural bid at the three level with a maximum.  Proponents show four hearts before spade support, which gives aid and comfort to the enemy. 
• A Washington D.C.  flavor.  There are two or three bids available with a minimum, and exactly one bid with a maximum.  The "maximum" bid depends on the previous bidding, and can be 2 , 2NT, or 3 .  Hearts before spades. 
• A Walsh flavor.  Opener bids 2NT or jump raises with a maximum.  After 1 -1 — 1NT-2 , 2 is artificial and shows a minimum.  Spades before hearts. 

An alternative to new-minor forcing is both-minors forcing.  New-minor forcing accomplishes almost the same thing.

The conditions are:

• (Zero to three passes.) 
• The opening is [ 1 ] 1 or 1 .  Bids marked with "[]" occur in two-over-one and not Big Club.
  • (Possibly interference.) 
  • The response:  [ 1 ] 1 , 1 , or double.  The omission of redouble is intentional. 
    • (Possible interference.) 
    • Opener's rebid:  [ 1 ] 1 , 1NT, pass, double, or redouble.
      • (Possible interference.) 
      • Responder's rebid:  2 is a possible bid. 

This amounts to: 

• 2 is a possible second bid. 
• Responder did not redouble. 
• Any amount and kind of interference. 

The rules: 

• 2 relays to 2 , and can be
  • Drop dead in diamonds,
  • Invitational in various contracts (just like NMF), or
  • Indicating a five-card major before bidding game (NMF).
  Responder does not have a forcing bid after 2 .  Opener always accepts the relay after a support double or redouble.  Opener violates the relay with a minimum and 3-card support by raising the major (my BMF variation).  This may lead to playing a 4-3 major or 3 instead of 2 .
• 2 is game forcing.  The order of business is
  • raise partner, and
  • Clarify your hand pattern. 
  Opener does not distinguish between a minimum and a maximum at his first turn.  He leaves space.
• 3 is to play and is less than invitational.
• 2NT is invitational.  (No change and no lead directing doubles.) 
• 3 , 3 , and 3 are what they were in NMF.  Yes, these bids could be given a new meaning.  We are at the limit of what I can remember. 

When should BMF apply?  What do others recommend?

• Grant Baze uses BMF when first or second seat opens and the opponents have not bid.  In third and fourth seat he uses the 2 part only, and 2 is to play.  He is emphatic that after 2 , 2 through 3 are nonforcing.  He defines the jump rebids to 3 , 3 , and 3 as pure hands.  The right minimum opposite his examples will produce slam.
• Another consultant suggested BMF applies when only one opponent has bid.  A trashy overcall does not preclude a grand slam. 
• I propose BMF in all situations.  Yes, opposite a third or fourth seat opener I will never have a forcing 2 bid.  It is unlikely that the opponents can squeeze two trashy bids into the one-level.  If they have bid, consider using a cue rather than 2 to force game. 

The advantages over new-minor forcing are: 

• Responder gets to tell. 
• Distinguishing between invitational and game-forcing hands. 
• More invitational hands can be played two levels below game, and
• Game-forcing (slammish) auctions start earlier and both players know the goal. 

The examples show that we get to play some partscores at a lower level, and can choose between two suits at partscore.  The most common BMF hand looks like:

A.	B.	C.
A Q x x x	A Q x x x	A Q x x x x
K x x	K x	K x
x x	x x	x x
? ? ?	? ? ? x	? ? ?

The question marks represent anything from x-x-x to A-K-Q.  Responder's intent ranges from sign-off to slam interest.

Bidding Plans on Hands A, B, and C. 

	Sign-off	Invite	Game	Slam interest
A	2	2 , then 2	2 then 3NT	2 , then NT
B	2	2 , then 2	2 , then 3NT	2 , then 3
C	2	2 , then 2	4	2 , then spades

I think a five-two scores better, on average, at 2-major than at 1NT or 2NT.  If you think notrump is better, then bid 2NT over the forced 2 with five-card invites.  At game I prefer notrump to the five-two major.  Also, I only bid 2 with a multiple choice of final contracts.

		K x x
		K J x x x
		K J x x
		x
1		1
1NT (1 )		2
2		2 (3 )
Pass

The reason for a three-card support with a minimum is there are hands where I want to stop opposite two-card support, and reach game opposite three-card support.

		A J x x x
		? ? ? ?
		x x
		x x
1		1
1NT		?

Depending on ?-?-?-? your next bid is:

• 2 to play hearts or spades.  (Note:  Chapter 8 defines 2 over 1 as showing five spades, four-plus hearts, and a minimum response.) 
• 2 as a prelude to inviting game, or
• 2 to force to game. 

		? ? ? ?
		x x
		x
		K Q J x x x
1		1
1NT		?

Depending on ?-?-?-?: 

• bid 3 to play,
• Bid 2 and then 3 to invite.  Without BMF, you cannot stop at 3 . 
• Bid 2 and then 3 to force. 

		Q x x x
		A Q x x
		x x
		K x x
1		1
1		2
2 , 2		2
Pass

Responder has a spade invite and can stop at the two-level.

		A Q x x x
		K x x
		Q x x
		x x
1		1
1NT		2
2		2
Pass

The ideas apply after a 1 opening.  If we are not going to bid game why not play 2 .  I think responder might have only two hearts on the above auction.  If you continue check on spades and do not bypass 3NT.

Opener bids naturally.  Treat third- and fourth-suit below 2NT as forcing to 2NT.  Continuations above 2NT are game forcing and often show slam interest. 

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