(1y) 1z
Whenever there is a debate between forcing and non-forcing responses, choose transfer responses!
—I summarize Terrorist’s article on generalized Rubens advances
Warning
I sometimes relabel suit variables from the main title. Each table states its own constraints.
- (1x) 1y
- (1x) 1z
- (1y) 1z
I use these formulas interchangeably when a new strain enters the auction, e.g.
- (1x) 1y - 1z
- (1x) 1z - 2y
- (1y) 1z - 2x
In competitive bidding, we want more space for raises. On the other hand, notrump already shows length or strength in the opponent suit. The “standard” and naïve approach is to reuse the cuebids for forcing raises. However, there are two reasons to use Rubens advances AKA transfer advances.
There is a debate on whether new-suit advances are forcing. For a suit lower than y (say x), forcing is decent. Aggressor has a cheap cuebid [(1y) 1z - 2x - 2y!] to show opening strength, similar to Drury. Nevertheless, when the auction goes (1x) 1z - 2y, opener has a problem rebidding a minimum opening hand without a stopper:
- 2z: utterly an underbid
- 2NT: lies about the stopper
- 3y: an overbid
On the other hand, cuebids are not the most effective place for forcing raises. When we have a fit, we have little interest in exploring side suits, so the space between the forcing raise and z is mostly wasted. Therefore, z − 1 is best used as a transfer to z. In general, strains [y .. z − 1] map to suits [y + 1 .. z].
Upper strains [z .. NT]
Upper new suits are always major suits. Only (1m) 1y - 1M is forcing. The other advances are non-forcing because they need little further information.
| (1x) 1y - | y < z |
|---|---|
| 1z | F, 4+#, usually 8+ |
| 1NT | NAT, 9–12 |
| 2y | CONST, 3+# |
| 2z! | PRE, 6+# |
| 2NT | NAT INV, 13–15 |
| 3y | PRE, 4+# |
| (1m) 1y - 1M - | x < y < z |
|---|---|
| 1NT | NAT, –12 HCP |
| 2m | LIM+, 3+ SUPP |
| 2x | NAT, 9–14, usually 4+# |
| 2y | NAT, 12–14, usually 6+# |
| 2z | NAT, 12–17, usually 4+# |
| 2M | CONST, 3+# |
| 2NT | NAT INV, 13–15 HCP |
| 3m | CONST, 4+ SUPP |
| 3x | NAT, 15–17, usually 4+# |
| 3y | NAT, 15–17, usually 6+# |
| 3M | PRE, 4+# |
Transfer advances [y .. z − 1]
The middle strains are transfer advances for the useful space principle. z − 1 is home to the forcing raises.
| (1x) 1z - | x < y < z |
|---|---|
| 2xy! | TRF, usually 9+ HCP, 5+ cards |
| 2z − 1! | TRF LIM+, 3+ SUPP |
| 3xy! | TRF INV+, 6+ cards |
| 3z − 1! | TRF CONST, 4+ SUPP |
Lower new suits (x)
Lower new suits are always minor suits. Since minor-suit games are hard to make, a new minor often indicates that we could not bid a major or notrump. Aggressor should remember that this new minor may simply be a convenient way to make a forcing advance.
| (1y) 1z - | x < y |
|---|---|
| 2x | F unless by PH, 9+ HCP, usually 5+# |
| 3x | INV, 6+# |
| (1y) 1M - 2m - | m < y |
|---|---|
| 2y! | F, 12–17 |
| 2M | MIN, 9–11, 5+# |
| 2N | NAT INV, 12–14 HCP |
| 3m | MIN, 9–11, usually 4+# |
| 3y! | FG, ask for stopper |
| 3M | NAT, 15–17, usually 6+# |