2 Way checkback or shortened form 2WCB has to be one of my favourite conventions. You can see a video that I’ve already done here: 2WCB Video. I’d advise you to take a look at that after looking through these detailed notes.

I’ve done a recent lesson on 2 way-checkback on Mark Nehs YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/CIpTQ_V6e40 – this lesson uses the Strong No Trump opening.

This system works well playing 5 card majors and a strong NT. It also works well for weak No trump as well – but it will come up more often if you play a strong No Trump opener.
After the sequence for example of 1X, Pass, 1Y, Pass, 1NT.

Playing a strong NT the 1NT response shows less than 15 points.

If you play a weak NT then the response shows 15-17, or 15-16 if you are old school.

There are 3 basic hand types:-

  • Sign off
  • invitational (usually going through 2♣)
  • game forcing 2♦ / slam try

Let’s look at the sign offs

  • 1♣ – 1♠
  • 1NT – ?
  • 2♥ – shows 5 spades and 4 hearts
  • 2♠ – shows 5+ spades wanting partner to pass
  • 2NT asking partner to bid 3♣

Let’s look at invitational hands

The responses are:-

  • 1♣ – 1♠
  • 1NT – 2♣ (forces 2♦)
  • 2♦ – ?
  • Pass – To play
  • 2♥ – invitational values showing 5+spades and 4+hearts
  • 2♠ – invitational in spades 5+ spades
  • 2NT – invitational in NT’s
  • 3♣ – invitational in clubs
  • 3♦ – invitational in diamonds
  • 3♥ – invitational with 5+ spades and 5+ hearts
  • 3♠ – invitational with 6+ spades

If the bidding goes 1m (any minor), 1♥, 1NT, 2♠ without intervening bids then this shows a 44 major hand with game interest…where going through 2♣ would show 54 distribution and game interest…as remember the 1NT rebid does not deny a 4 card spade suit.

Let’s look at game forcing bids

2♦ is a game Force bid asking opener to describe their hand further.

  • 1♣ – 1♠
  • 1NT – 2♦
  • ?
  • 2♥ shows a 4 card heart suit doesn’t deny 3 spades
  • 2♠ denies a 4 card heart suit and shows 3 spades
  • 2NT denies 4 hearts and 3 spades and shows a maximum
  • 3♣ – 5 card club suit
  • 3♦ – 4 card diamond suit (possibly 2245 or 1345 shape)
  • 3NT denies 4 hearts and 3 spades and shows a minimum

Alternatively you can make jump bids after:-

  • 1♣ – 1♠
  • 1NT – ?
  • 3♣ – forcing showing 5+ spades and 5 clubs
  • 3♦ – forcing showing 5+ spades and 5 diamonds
  • 3♥ – forcing showing 5+ spades and 5 hearts
  • 3♠ – forcing showing 6+spades

2 Way CheckBack can also be played over 2NT responses in a similar way as for 1NT.

The advantage of using 2 Way Checkback is that it can avoid going to the three level and avoid guesswork as whether or not something is forcing, semi-forcing or non-forcing.

The disadvantage of using 2WCB is you can no longer stop in 2♣.

Lets look at some hands:-

We are playing 5 card majors and a strong NT, so the 1NT rebid shows less than 15 points…so let’s look at some hands and the bidding to go with them:-

a)b)c)d)
♠ Q3
♥ AKJ72
♦ 972
♣ A7		♠ 73
♥ AKJ72
♦ A73
♣ J52		♠ K104
♥ K72
♦ AJ109
♣ K54		♠ K742
♥ A5
♦ K84
♣ Q976
♠ K872
♥ 5
♦ K108543
♣ 32		♠ KQJ842
♥ 64
♦ 985
♣ 43		♠ A7
♥ AQ985
♦ 73
♣ J1098		♠ AJ63
♥ QJ97
♦ 1053
♣ K3
e)f)g)h)
♠ Q7
♥ K93
♦ A10875
♣ A107		♠ J73
♥ AJ72
♦ A73
♣ Q52		♠ A109
♥ KJ72
♦ A73
♣ J52		♠ Q109
♥ AJ72
♦ A73
♣ J52
♠ A853
♥ Q6
♦ 5
♣ 9765432		♠ KQ842
♥ 64
♦ K85
♣ K3		♠ KJ842
♥ AQ86
♦ K6
♣ Q9		♠ AJ842
♥ K6
♦ 985
♣ AQ9

a) 1♥ – 1♠ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦.

The 2C bid forces partner to bid 2D and after partner didn’t raise in spades we simply try to play in the best contract which is likely to be 2D when you hold a 6 card diamond suit and partner is relatively balanced.

b)1♥ – 1♠ – 1NT – 2♠.

Because you didn’t go through 2♣, this makes the 2♠ a non-invitational bid. In other words it is FORCING your partner to shut up shop…you don’t want him to bid again.

c)1♣/♦ – 1♥ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2♥ – 4♥

Depending on your methods you are going to open 1 of a minor. You now go through 2♣ before bidding your suit again with 2♥. Partner has a maximum and 3 card heart support so simply raises straight to game.

d)1♣ – 1♥ – 1NT – 2♠

This sequence shows 4-4 in the majors and is invitational. As North is a minimum they can now just pass 2♠.

e)1♦ – 1♠ – 1NT – 2NT – 3♣

2NT is simply forcing partner to bid 3♣

f)1♣ – 1♠ – 1NT – 2♣ – 2♦ – 2♠

This sequence an invitational raise in spades. As north is weak but he does have three card spade support they can simply pass.

g)1♣ – 1♠ – 1NT – 2♦ – 2♥ – 2NT – 3♠ – 4♠

This is a game forcing sequence. Opener shows the 4 card heart suit and responder now bids 2NT. Opener now bids 3♠ to show a 3 card spade suit and responder now bids 4♠.

You can also play this system over a 2NT rebid…3♣ bids being the weak hands where you might have responded with a 4 count. 3♦ are staymanic and other bids are forcing to game and possible intrest in slam.

Other sequences

These are only a few sequences. Suppose you play a club relay system:

What’s the difference between these two auctions?

1♣ – 1♠*(diamonds) – 1NT (12-14) – 2♦* – 2NT – 3♦ compared to:

1♣ – 1♠*(diamonds) – 1NT (12 – 14) – 2♠ – 2NT – 3♦

Both show diamonds and spades…but surely one is different from the other…they must be both game forcing…but I think the second sequence should show 5 diamonds and 4 spades and the first sequence should be more slam try and maybe 6/4 shape. The hands below would be great for 6♦

♠ xx
♥ Kxx
♦ Axx
♣ AJxxx

♠ AKxx
♥ Ax
♦ KQ10xxx
♣ x

1♣ – 1♠ – 1NT – 2♠ – 3♦ – 3♥ – 4♣ – 4♦* (5/4)

1♣ – 1♠ – 1NT – 2♦ – 2NT – 3♦ – 3♥ – 3♠ – 4♣ – 4♦* (6/4)

Now the other question what is 4♦ – I think this should be RKC Minorwood.