TWO NO TRUMP
AS A RELAY TO
THREE CLUBS
This treatment is used by many partnerships, which utilize the response of 2 Spades as a slam try in a Minor suit. The concept is easy since, after a 1 No Trump opening by the partner, a 2 No Trump first response is a Relay to Clubs. The partnership can employ this understanding also if the opening is 2 No Trump or even 3 No Trump, but the general consensus is that this drives the bidding level too high and can include some risk, and is therefore not advisable. The following illustration illustrates this particular feature.
|
North
|
South
|
Meaning |
|
1 NT
|
2 NT
|
Relay to 3 Clubs |
|
3
 |
The opener is forced to rebid 3 Clubs. If the responder has a weak holding, as in the following example, then the responder passes:
 |
75 |
 |
64 |
 |
Q84 |
|
QJ9865 |
If the responder has a weak holding in Diamonds, as in the following example, then the responder corrects to 3 Diamonds:
|
75 |
|
64 |
|
QJ9865 |
|
K64 |
Those partnership agreements, which employ this particular Relay feature, also employ the Relay when the responder has a three-suited holding with game values and a singleton in one of the Major suits. It is important to remember that the singleton must be a Major suit. Holding the following hand, the responder would force the 1 No Trump bidder to rebid 3 Clubs, and then the responder rebids his singleton in a Major suit.
|
North
|
South
|
Meaning |
|
1 NT
|
2 NT
|
Relay to 3 Clubs |
|
3
|
3
|
Shows a singleton in Spades |
The responder may have a holding as in the following two examples:
|
7 |
|
QJ82 |
|
A752 |
|
AJ76 |
In the case that the responder holds a singleton Heart, then the bidding would proceed as indicated below:
|
North
|
South
|
Meaning |
|
1 NT
|
2 NT
|
Relay to 3 Clubs |
|
3
|
3
|
Shows a singleton in Spades |
The holding of the responder is indicated below:
|
KQ64 |
|
5 |
|
Q87 |
|
KQ954 |
To differentiate between a weak holding and an invitational holding, the partnership understanding is that with an invitational holding, the responder would jump immediately one level. This is not forcing to game, but strongly invitational as in the following auction and shown holding of the responder:
|
North
|
South
|
Meaning | ||||||||
|
1 NT
|
3
|
Invitational to game in No Trump | ||||||||
|
|
|
If the 1 No Trump bidder discovers an entry, generally three entries to the Diamond suit, then the 1 No Trump bidder should continue to game. If the entries are lacking, then the No Trump bidder should pass.
With this partnership understanding, the natural first response of 2 No Trump is lost, but can be circumvented with the following bidding auction:
|
North
|
South
|
Meaning |
|
1 NT
|
2
|
Stayman |
|
2
// |
2 NT
|
Shows a balanced holding with 8/9 HCPs and no 4-card Major suit |
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.