This chapter covers responses to a 1♥ or 1♠ opening and opener's follow-ups. We tried a step-based response scheme here and dropped it. What we play now is a mostly natural structure built around two artificial responses: 2♣ is a catch-all game force, and 2♦ is the trump-asking raise (TaJ). The scheme is the same over both majors except where noted below.
1NT Semi-forcing notrump. NF, frequently passed when opener is a balanced minimum. 2♣ Catch-all game force. Long ♣, long ♦, or a balanced GF hand. Denies a primary ♥ fit. 2♦ TaJ. Limit raise or better with 3+ ♥. 2♥ Simple raise. Constructive, a sound single raise. 2♠ Canape game force. Exactly 4 ♠ and a longer minor. NEW and still being drilled. 2NT Mixed raise. 4+ ♥, roughly 7-10 support points. 3♣ / 3♦ Natural, Inv, 6+ card suit. 3♥ Weak, preemptive raise.
1NT Semi-forcing notrump. NF, frequently passed when opener is a balanced minimum. 2♣ Catch-all game force. Long ♣, long ♦, or a balanced GF hand. Denies a primary ♠ fit. 2♦ TaJ. Limit raise or better with 3+ ♠. 2♥ Natural, 5+ ♥, constructive up to Inv, NF. 2♠ Simple raise. Constructive, a sound single raise. 2NT Mixed raise. 4+ ♠, roughly 7-10 support points. 3♣ / 3♦ / 3♥ Natural, Inv, 6+ card suit. 3♠ Weak, preemptive raise.
The 2♣ response is an artificial GF that does not promise a fit for opener's major. It covers three hand types: a long ♣ suit, a long ♦ suit, or a balanced GF hand. Because it denies a primary fit, retreating to 2 of opener's major is available as a relay. Opener rebids naturally and most of responder's follow-ups are natural in context.
The 2♦ response is our trump-asking raise: it shows a limit raise or better with 3+ card support for the major. Opener's first rebid limits the strength of the opening, and above that the auction develops into shape and shortness showing with optional keycard available. Opener's opening steps:
2♥ Minimum. Would not accept a limit raise, roughly 10-11 in context. 2♠ Maximum of the opening range, roughly 12-13. 2NT This and higher zoom into TaJ. A good 14-15, usually balanced.
This is a brand-new agreement that Tom coined mid-review, so both partners are still drilling it and it carries real misfire risk at the table. 1♥-2♠ is a game force showing exactly 4 ♠ and a longer minor. It runs parallel to the 1♦-2 of a major canape in the 1♦ chapter, and opener's continuations are shared between the two auctions: the +1 step asks for the minor, and the +2 step agrees the major and asks for shortness, in each case shown low to high.
2NT Asks for the minor. Responder bids 3C with ♣, 3D with ♦. 3♣ Agrees ♠ and asks for shortness. Responder shows it low to high. Other Natural.
Jump shifts to the 3-level are natural and invitational for all suits. 2NT is the mixed raise, which frees up 3 of the major as purely weak. Direct double jumps are void splinters. 3NT is not currently defined.
By a passed hand everything is natural and NF. 1M-2M is constructive, so pass 1 of the major with a weaker raise.