2/1 Game Forcing - Example Sequences

Example Sequences

1♠ – 2♣
2♦ – 2♠
Forcing to game, with original spade support and good club suit. This is different from 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♣
2♦ – 3♣
Forcing, unless the partnership has agreed that this is an exception to the "2/1 rule."

1♦ – 2♣
Forcing for one round only (as in Standard American), except in the variant of 2/1 where this sequence is game forcing as well.

1♣ – 2♣
Forcing for one round; 10 points or more with at least four clubs.

1♣ – 3♣
Weak; 9 points or less—sometimes much less—with at least five clubs.

1♥ – 2♥
Weak; 6-9 points with at least 3 hearts (unless Bergen raises are in use, in which case it shows precisely 3 hearts)

1♠ – 1NT;
2♣ – 2♠
Shows a weak hand, 6-9 points, with precisely two spades. Some also use this for an extremely weak hand (0-5) with three spades.

1♠ – 1NT;
2♣ – Pass
Shows a very weak hand, perhaps 5-7 points, with at least four clubs.

1♠ – 1NT;
2♣ – 2♦
Shows a weak hand, 5-9 points, with a long diamond suit.

1♠ – 1NT;
2♦ – 2♥
Shows a weak hand, 5-9 points, with a long heart suit.

1♠ – 1NT;
2♥ – 3♣
Shows a weak hand, 5-9 points, with a long club suit.

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♠ – 3♠
Shows 10-11 points with at least 4-card support for spades.

1♠ – 1NT;
2♣ – 3♥
Shows 10-11 points with a long heart suit.

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 heart suit, and good diamond support.