From the SAYC booklet :

A trick question common to "Do you know SAYC" quizes:

Responder bids 2H over a 1S opening, if opener raises to 3H is that invitational?  Answer: NO - responder may not pass since opener's rebid is not at the game level (sorry BridgeLunatic - the opener rebids his suit exception DOES NOT EXIST)

What about:

pass                    -   1M

2C (not forcing)  -   2D (forcing)

3C( not forcing)  -   3D ( forcing or not ?? )

Responder owes a (single) rebid. He may pass in message 5.

i think the people who wrote the SAYC booklet did not think about all possible auctions before making that comment about 2/1 promising a rebid.

 

Besides not mentioning whether a passed hand 2/1 changes the rules, what about: 1M - 2C - 2N ?

 

Since there is no other authoritative extended book about SAYC, whatever rules you agree with partner are just as good as anyone else's rules.

 

A lawyer might argue that, without prior agreement, since there are no exceptions in the text, that no exceptions exist.

Altho I am an admitted bidding cretin, this "rule" for a passed hand seems a prescription for getting too high. 2/1 passed hand bidder has 10+ points. w/o a jump, opener has minimal opener. Maybe a REALLY minimal opener. Why can't responder pass 2D? Where's the game potential? Clearly, as pk points out, 2NT should be (has to be) passable.

There has to be a difference between responder's obligations if he's a passed or unpassed hand.

 

Light openings opposite a passed hand should be the responsibility of opener, NOT responder. Bidding that is based on the fear that partner does not have what he should is counter productive.

 

For example (omitting opps bids):

P 1H; 2C 2H - Opener has a FULL opening hand. With less he would either have opened 2H or would pass 2C. To insist that he jump to show an extra queen while strain is still a question will be much more damaging than allowing responder to drop the bidding suddenly.

 

The case presented in the OP is even more troublesome - strain is still very much being negotiated.

 

I do agree that a single raise of responder's suit and a 2N rebid do not make much sense as forcing.