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2/1 game forcing (Two-over-one game forcing) is a bidding system in modern contract bridge, where a non-jump two-level response to a one-level opening bid commits a partnership to at least the game level. It is based on Standard American bidding and has largely superseded it; the principal difference is that a full opening bid is required for a response at the two level to an opening bid of one of a major. Thus, the response of 1NT to 1♥ or 1♠ opening is forcing or semi-forcing.
Some pairs don't play that 1♦2♣ is game forcing (although some texts recommend that approach). Also, 2/1 game forcing doesn't apply to a passed hand, or if there is an intervening bid or double by an opponent. Some pairs play that 2/1 isn't absolutely game forcing; the pair can stop below game only when responder rebids his suit. For example, 1♥2♣; 2♥3♣ is nonforcing by some 2/1 players. A regular partnership should discuss this possibility.
The 2/1 auctions are 1♥2♣, 1♥2♦, 1♠2♣, 1♠2♦, and 1♠2♥. Hands without an opening bid are required to respond 1NT to 1♥ or 1♠. In Standard American, 1NT response is nonforcing, but in 2/1 it is forcing for one round of bidding. Since this bid is forcing, hands with a three-card limit raise can start with 1N and later jump-support partner. See Forcing notrump for additional details. One variant employed is to play 1NT response to 1♥ or 1♠ as semi-forcing.
Most pairs combine these basic features of 2/1 system with one or more of the following conventions:
1♠ 2♣
2♦ 2♠
Forcing to game, with original spade support and good club suit. This is
different than in standard bidding, in which such a sequence would show about 10
points, and club suit could be semi-fake.
1♠ 2♣
2♠ 2NT.
Forcing to game, with balanced hand and a good club suit.
1♠ 2♣
1♦ 3♣
Forcing, unless the partnership has agreed that this is an exception to the "2/1
rule."
1♦ 2♣
Forcing for a round only (as in
Standard American), except in the variant of 2/1 where that sequence is a
game forcing as well.
1♠ 1NT;
2♣ 2NT;
Shows 10-11
points without support for spades.
1♠ 1NT;
2♣ 3♠
Shows 10-11 points with 3-card support for spades.
1♦ 2♥
This is a jump response, and there are different ways of handling it. In
Standard American, such a "jump shift" shows a very strong hand and is
unequivocally forcing. However, since such hands do not occur with great
frequency, it is more common today to use such a bid to show a weak hand with a
long suit, unsuitable for defense. Another possibility is to play it as a
"fit-showing jump", showing 8-10 points, a decent spade suit, and good diamond
support.
Bridge Game, Most popular card game in the World