Two Over One
Occasional Use. Although Two Over One is the name of the system the bid itself is not used that often because it doesn't come up very often. Nevertheless, it's the best example of the philosophy of bidding slowly with strength, as opposed to jumping the bid and taking your own bidding room.
In Two Over One
A 2-level, new-suit bid, that's not a jump,
by an unpassed hand, over a
1-level suit bid is forcing to game.
-- except over interference (1 H - 1S - 2C)2/1 is OFF, but
-- ignoring a Double (1H - D - 2C) 2/1 is ON
N E S
1© P 2§*
"North, I have Clubs and 12+ HCP"
1© P 2ª*
A weak jump shift - Not 2 Over 1
1ª P 2¨ *
A Two Over One game force Only a Queen Stronger. Remember that a 2 level bid in Standard American guarantees at least 10 points and a decent suit. (1¨ - P - 2§ ). Two Over One just adds to that minimum another Queen or so -- and that eliminates the confusion opener has regarding the real strength of responder. It also prevents responder having to manufacture a bid at the 2 level without promised values, but with too much to pass.
Given the game forcing situation, subsequent bidding is first a search for a fit and then a determination of how high to bid. Bidding is not rushed by jumps. If opponents dare to come in, either partner can double them or pass, sure in the knowledge the partnership owns the hand and opponents will be penalized for their foolishness.
Finding No Trump Games. When no suit fit is found, Notrump is the preferred bid. After 2/1, we bid stoppers up the line if no raise is available for a major suit.
N E
S
W
1© P 2§* P
2ª P North has Spades stopped but not Diamonds.
. . . 3NT South has Spades stopped and bids the NT game.
Minors? Rarely, we play 5 of a minor suit as this is usually a loser in duplicate play. (Some experts simply bid 6 of a minor and hope to make it, rather than attempt to make 5!.) Sometimes we have to stop at 4 of a minor without stoppers for 3NT and with no major fit.)
N E
S
W
1ª P 2§ * P
3§ P 3© 3ª P 5§ Neither has diamond stoppers to bid 3NT.
1©
P
2§*
P
2ª
P
3§
P
Not a North reverse: a Spade stopper without a North Diamond stopper.
4§
P
P
P
"You figure it out, South. Can't do it, North"
Another Two Over One feature is the Principle of Fast Arrival. When either partner knows what the final contract should be, he will bid it at once, without further bidding to educate the opponents.
N
E
S
W
1©
P 2§ * P
2©
P 4© . . . With a 6-2 fit, South can bid the Heart game.
1©
P 2¨* P
3NT
. . . North can see it at once: why fool around ?
Example Two Over One Bidding Sequences:
N E S W
1© P 2§* P Two Over One.
2
ª P 3NT North has Spades stopped, so NT is the right game.
(South must have Diamonds stopped, of course.)
1© P 2§* P
2¨ P 3© P "I have Hearts (3+) too"
4NT P 5¨ P Blackwood.
6NT "I think we can make 6 NT".
Note: although Hearts is the agreed suit, No Trump is a superior contract at matchpoint scoring, because it beats suit contracts with an equal number of tricks -- for slams only, however.