Checkback

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Checkback is a simple convention used when responder shows a 4+ card major, and opener rebids 1NT. The rewards are two-fold. In the first place it discovers whether opener has 3-card support for responder's major or not at a low level. Secondly, it allows natural non-forcing rebids at the 2-level (except in clubs). 

The sequences:

a) 1 - 1; 1NT - 2
b) 1 - 1; 1NT - 2
c) 1 - 1; 1NT - 2

After opening 1

In sequences (a) and (b) the opening is 1. Opener therefore hasn't actually shown a real suit yet. Opener cannot have a 6-card minor or 10 cards in two suits, but many balanced hands are possible and, in (b), even a minor 2-suiter with 5 diamonds and 4 clubs is not ruled out.

The Checkback bid is 2, over which opener bids:

sequence (a) 1 - 1; 1NT - 2
2 - no 3 hearts
2 - 3 hearts, minimum
2 - 5 clubs, 4 diamonds, no 3 hearts, and points in the doubletons
2NT - 3 hearts, maximum

 

sequence (b) 1 - 1; 1NT - 2
2 - no 3 spades
2 - 5-4 minors, no 3 spades, and points in the doubletons
2 - 3 spades, minimum
2NT - 3 spades, maximum

So the rules are:

  1. with a balanced misfit respond always 2
  2. with a fit, minimum, raise the suit;
  3. with a fit, maximum, bid 2NT;
  4. with a misfit and 5-4 in the minors bid the other major.

After a fit is shown

After a response which shows a fit, normally the responder knows what to do. A new suit is forcing to game and searches for a 4-4 fit for an eventual slam. The system, in fact, encourages, once slam is found improbable, rapidly signing off in game.

The only sign-off is 3, bid with long clubs, a 4-card major only, and a weak hand that can only play in clubs.

The cheapest available bid (often 2NT) is an asking relay to determine more of opener's distribution. The responses:

3/ with 4 cards in the suit
3/ with 5 cards in the corresponding minor ( x , x )
2/3 NT if 4-4 minors and doubleton in the other major.

After a misfit is shown

In the case of a misfit 3 is always to play, but repeating the major and 2NT are natural, non-forcing, and suggest a contract (with rebidding the suit discouraging 2NT). The forcing bids after the response of 2, are therefore:

other major, which invites natural bidding and is normally made with a semi-balanced hand or with a 2-suiter including 4+ clubs;
an new suit at the 3-level (not 3), which shows a GF 2-suiter.

Follow-up asking bids

So there are two sequences where responder can, after having bid checkback and having received a misfit response, inquire further. These are:

  1. 1 - 1; 1NT - 2; 2 - 2
  2. 1 - 1; 1NT - 2; 2 - 2

In these cases opener rebids:

3 or 3 with 5 cards in the suit
2NT with 4-4 minors
2 (over hearts) with 5 diamonds, 4 clubs and a singleton heart

 

After opening 1

When the opening is 1 the response 2 to the asking bid 2 shows 5 hearts and 3 spades, minimum or maximum.

Because of this treatment, the sequence 1 - 1; 1NT - 2 shows 5 spades and 3 hearts too weak for Checkback, but the sequence 1 - 1; 2 - 2; 2 shows 5 spades and 3 hearts, but is forcing, and at least invitational to game.

Note! Unlike when opening 1, the sequence 1 - 1; 1NT - 2; 2 - 2NT shows 4 spades, 3 hearts, and invitational strength. An immediate 2NT denies 3 hearts.