[tgphelps]

I'd call myself a 'lower intermediate' player. I have been playing 2-over-1 since I got back into the game 2 years ago, after 30 years off. I just realized that there are some problem hands that haven't come up yet, but I don't know how to bid. Here are two:

Partner opens 1D, and I have:

S - Q x x
H - x
D - x x
C - K Q x x x x x

What do I bid? If I was 3-2-2-6, I guess I could bid 1NT, but with a singleton, no bid seems to work.

Or make the hand in the 10-12 point range:

S - K x x
H - x
D - K x
C - K Q x x x x x

Now what? I could just bid 2C and hope partner has a little extra when we end up in game. I read somewhere that some people bid 3C to show this type of hand, but Maybe 3C should show the weaker one. Someone else said suggested that after 1D-2C, if responder rebids 3C, that removes the game-force?

How do y'all handle this?

[DavidKok]

I bid 1NT with the first hand and 3♣ with the second hand.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

A bit longer than Davids answer.

#1 this is not a 2/1 question, the 1NT response to an 1-level suit opening bid is the last exit card you have,
the bid of least evil, you are strong enough to respond, but cant bid your longest suit at the 2-level
This means, shortage has no relevance,in deciding, if you can / should make the bid or not, it is the only
bid at the 1-level, that does not imply a particular suit length ( ... we leave neg. interference out), if you
have nothing else available, you make the 1NT response.

#2 What to bid with 1-suited club hand below inv. strength is system depend, after a 1D response it is the
most problematic part in a 2/1 system
Some play that WJS, i.e. a 3C response showes a weak hand, some play it as inv. strength, some as strong,
some play it as some kind of diamond raise.
Take your pick, if you cant decide, try to find a bible, e.g. the books from Audrey Grant, one is written
together with Eric Rodwell, ... they will tell you, what they think fits best to their approach to a 2/1
system.

[mw64ahw]

If you want to bid something more palatable then move away from the standard approach that David describes and start looking at unbalanced ♦ structures. On the 2nd example I would consider 4♣ with a J/T
I would play
a) 1♦-2♣ 6+♣ not GI
b) 1♦-1♠ GI now opener shows shape/strength
PM me if you have further interest

[DavidKok]

I play an unbalanced ♦ but thankfully not these responses. At the very least I'd consider them two separate questions.