The Two Over One Game Force

Two Over One Defined:

An unpassed hand with 12+ points can make a game forcing call with any two level suit bid that is not a jump shift.

This can include hands which intend to support the major later. (a Deferred Raise) . This is the convention for which the system is named, and is the strongest possible response to a major suit or 1 Diamond suit opening.

N	E	S
1ª	P	2§*	A major opening and a 2 over 1 response.
2¨	P	4ª	The Spade game. 2¨ shows a stopper in case 3 NT is the right game. South bids 4 Spades because N/S have at least 2 Club losers, so slam is not going to work.

North	South
ª AKxxx	ª xxxx
© xxx	© AKQx
¨AKx	¨ Jx
§ xx	§ QJx

It's Only a Queen Better. Although this may seem a big requirement for a two level bid, remember that you are supposed to have 10+ points in Standard American bidding to make a two level call -- a call probably honored more in the breach than in practice. Also, with the 1NT Force, all hands with less than game forcing strength and without the ability to raise are covered.

With the game forcing requirement met, subsequent bidding becomes precise and comfortable. (See Sequences).

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(c) Robert D. McConnell, 1998  All Rights Reserved