[henriqued]

In the bidding sequence below, is the 2NT bid from South forcing for another North bid, or can North pass if too weak?
W-Pass
N-1 Spade♠
E-Pass
S-2 Clubs♣
W-Pass
N-2 Spades♠
E-Pass
S-2 NT
W-Pass
N-?

[DavidKok]

Hi! Please use the hand editor - looks like the little spade symbol - when giving an auction. Here the result would be:

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Unfortunately I think people play this in different ways, so I don't have a conclusive answer to your question. Personally I suggest playing the "2/1 GF" family of systems, where the 2♣ bid establishes a game force. This makes it more difficult to show hands in the approximate 10-11 hcp range but greatly enhances bidding with the stronger 12+ hands.

[awm]

Unless 2♣ was forcing to game (which is obviously a popular style), it's normal to play 2NT as non-forcing here. What else would you bid with 10-11 and 1444 or 1435 or similar?

[akwoo]

awm, on 2025-November-02, 07:02, said:

Unless 2♣ was forcing to game (which is obviously a popular style), it's normal to play 2NT as non-forcing here. What else would you bid with 10-11 and 1444 or 1435 or similar?

The above is Standard American thinking. If instead 2♠ is non-forcing (so 2♣ did not promise a second bid) then pass with such a hand is normal, and 2N should be forcing.

[awm]

akwoo, on 2025-November-02, 08:50, said:

The above is Standard American thinking. If instead 2♠ is non-forcing (so 2♣ did not promise a second bid) then pass with such a hand is normal, and 2N should be forcing.

Don't you have to rebid 2♠ with a 5332 minimum hand? And wouldn't passing lead to a 5-1 fit with 10-11 and 1444? This seems sub-optimal.

[akwoo]

awm, on 2025-November-02, 09:21, said:

Don't you have to rebid 2♠ with a 5332 minimum hand? And wouldn't passing lead to a 5-1 fit with 10-11 and 1444? This seems sub-optimal.

Well - if you are playing Acol versions that open 1N with a 5332 minimum hand...

[Cyberyeti]

awm, on 2025-November-02, 09:21, said:

Don't you have to rebid 2♠ with a 5332 minimum hand? And wouldn't passing lead to a 5-1 fit with 10-11 and 1444? This seems sub-optimal.

If you're not going to bite the bullet and open a weak NT with 5332 (or play strong NT) agree to rebid a 3 card minor or just pass 1N.