2C - Strong, Artificial, and Forcing ***
Weak 2-Bids: 2H, 2S and 2D ***
Roman Two Diamonds ***
Flannery ***
Opening 3-bids or Higher ***
Namyats ***
2C - Strong, Artificial, and Forcing
For flat hands, Opener holds 22 HCP or more. He rebids some level of NT as described in the chapter on NOTRUMP. For unbalanced hands, Opener holds a hand which can take 9 or more tricks (10 tricks if his suit is a minor) with his suit as trumps. He opens 2C and then bids his 'real' suit at his first rebid.
Responder should most often use 2D as a waiting bid to hear more about what Opener has. The 2D response is often a weak hand but may be quite strong, with no convenient bid. Responder confirms a really weak hand (less than 4 HCP - no Ace or King) by making the cheapest rebid at the 3 level on his next turn. Other rebids are natural and show 5 points or more, and slam may be possible.
With 7 HCP or more, and a good 5 card suit (2 of the top 3 honors), Responder may bid his suit instead of bidding 2D if this provides a fairly complete picture of his hand. If his suit is clubs, the suit may occasionally not contain 2 of the top 3 honors (AJ10xx, for example).
Opener's suit rebids are forcing until he rebids a major suit at the 3 level, or a minor suit at the 4 level. If Opener's first rebid is a jump in a new suit, this shows a totally solid six card or longer suit, and establishes it as trumps. This bid requests Responder to cue bid his nearest Ace. With no Ace but one or more second round controls, he bids 3NT. Otherwise Responder bids game in Opener's suit. If Responder has shown some second round controls, Opener may check for specific controls by using Asking Bid(s).
If Responder jumps to game in Opener's suit, this bid shows 3 card or better support but denies any control card (including a singleton or void) which might be useful at slam. With 3 card support and positive values, Responder may raise to the 3 level or make a Splinter bid. A minimum bid by Responder in a new suit suggests no fit for Opener's suit.
1) 2C/2D is 'weak or waiting'
2) 2C/2D: 2H shows Opener has a strong heart hand (about 9 playing tricks with hearts as trumps)
3) 2C/2D: 2H/3C confirms that Responder is really weak
4) 2C/2D: 2H/4H shows a weak hand and a 3+ card heart fit
5) 2C/2D: 2H/2S shows 5+ points, 5 spades and fewer than 3 hearts
6) 2C/2H shows a good 5 card suit and 7+ points ( xx/KQJxx/xx/Jxxx )
7) 2C:3D shows 7+ points and a good diamond suit
Instead of responding normally to an opening 2C bid, Responder may show controls (A = 2 controls, K = 1 control) as follows:
2D shows 0 or 1 control
2H shows 2 controls (Ace or 2 Kings)
2S shows 3 controls (Ace and 1 King)
2N shows specifically 3 Kings
3C shows 4 controls (2 Aces or 1 Ace and 2 Kings or 4 Kings)
3D shows 5 or more controls
3H shows a good weak two in SPADES
3S shows a good weak two in HEARTS
If Responder’s first response is 2D, he may show a really bad hand by rebidding 3C if Opener rebids 2H or 2S, rebidding 3D if Opener’s rebid is 3C, or rebidding 3H if Opener’s rebid is 3D.
If the opponents interfere with an overcall, Responder shows controls by using DOPI (double shows 0 or 1 and pass shows 2), and shows more controls by bidding "up the line".
If the opponents interfere by making a takeout double, Responder shows controls by using ROPI (redouble shows 0 or 1 and pass shows 2), and shows more controls by bidding "up the line".
Subsequent bidding is natural:
1) Opener’s 2NT shows a balanced 22 to 24 HCP and 3NT shows 25 to 27 HCP, etc. Responder then bids as though Opener had opened 2NT (Stayman, Jacoby, Texas and Minor Suit Stayman are ON.
2) Opener’s rebid in a suit shows a good 5+ card suit, and is forcing to game.
Exception: if Responder has made a second negative bid, showing fewer than 4 HCP, he may pass below game if Opener rebids his suit.
3) A jump by Opener in a suit shows a solid suit (playable opposite a singleton) and sets that suit as trumps.
4) A jump to game by Responder in Opener’s suit shows at least 3 card support and no slam interest - no outside Ace, King, Singleton or Void.
An opening bid of 2D, 2H or 2S shows a 6-card suit, with some honor strength in the suit, and usually 8 to 10 or so points, although they can vary from 5 to 10. In first and second seat, the suit should be headed by at least Q10. Normally, there should be no outside 4 card major, no void, no outside 5 card minor, and no more than one Ace or King outside of the trump suit.
In third seat the requirements are relaxed, and the suit length may be only 5 cards. In fourth seat, a weak 2 bid should be very sound, since otherwise a good result is likely if the hand is passed out.
1) Raises to any level by Responder are tactical, preemptive bids. Opener must not rebid.
2) A major suit bid by an unpassed Responder is forcing for one round. Responder’s bid may indicate a real suit, a lead directing fragment, or a psychic bid. Responder must always be prepared for Opener to return to 3 of his suit. Opener bids 2NT with 3-card support and rebids his suit otherwise.
3) A minor suit bid by Responder is an attempt to improve the contract, and Opener must pass.
4) 2NT by Responder is a request for Opener to show hand strength and suit strength by using OGUST responses, as follows:
2H/2N: 3C shows a bad hand (less than 8 HCP) and a bad suit.
2H/2N: 3D shows a bad hand and a good suit (2 of the top 3 honors).
2H/2N: 3H shows a good hand and a bad suit.
2H/2N: 3S shows a good hand and a good suit.
2H/2N: 3NT shows a completely solid heart suit (AKQxxx).
5) If Responder is strong enough to probe for slam, he may use RKC Gerber or make a jump shift (to 4D, 4H, 4S or 5C) which is an Asking Bid (see Slam Bidding).
1) Responder may raise to any level preemptively, using the Rule of 2, 3 and 4.
2) Responder will redouble with a strong hand. After the Opponents bid a suit, Opener will double holding a good weak two (with defensive strength) and pass otherwise.
3) Responder may make a lead-directing bid of a new suit (McCabe). This bid promises tolerance of Opener’s suit, and Opener must rebid his suit rather than allow Responder to play in his suit, which may be short.
4) A 2NT bid by Responder asks Opener to bid 3C. Responder will then pass (with a club suit), raise Opener’s suit (which is invitational), or bid his own suit, which is to Play.
5) 3NT by Responder is to Play.
6) Pass by Responder indicates inability to make any of the above responses.
1) Responder may raise to any level preemptively, using the Rule of 2, 3 and 4.
2) Responder may Double for penalties.
3) Responder may make a lead directing bid of a new suit at the 2 or 3 level (McCabe). This bid promises tolerance of Opener’s suit, and Opener must rebid his suit rather than allow Responder to play in his suit, which may be short.
4) A 2NT bid by Responder asks Opener to bid 3C. Responder will then pass (with a club suit), raise Opener’s suit (which is invitational), or bid his own suit, which is to Play.
5) 3NT by Responder is to Play.
6) A cue bid of the Opponent’s suit is a very strong raise of Partner’s suit, suggesting slam potential. Opener should cooperate with a good weak two by cue bidding a control if possible. Otherwise he signs off in game.
7) Pass by Responder indicates inability to make any of the above responses.
1) Responder may raise to any level preemptively, using the Rule of 2, 3 and 4.
2) Responder may Double for penalties.
3) A bid in a new suit is to play.
4) 3NT is to play.
5) A cue bid of the Opponent’s suit is a very strong raise of Partner’s suit, suggesting slam potential. Opener should cooperate with a good weak two by cue bidding a control if possible. Otherwise he signs off in game.
Roman Two Diamonds is an alternative usage of the opening 2D bid. A hand with the strength of a 2C opener with 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0 distribution can be opened with 2D, if the Opener is afraid that if a 1 level bid is passed out a game will be missed.
1) With 7+ points he bids an artificial 2NT. Opener will then bid his short suit. The bidding then proceeds normally until game or slam is reached. A jump by Responder to game, or a bid of 3NT, is a sign-off. All other bids are slam tries.
2) With fewer than 7 points, Responder bids his best suit as cheaply as possible. If this suit is Opener's short suit, Opener rebids 3NT. If Opener likes Responder's suit, he may make a slam suggestion by cue bidding his cheapest Ace. Responder shows encouragement by cue bidding also, and shows discouragement by signing off in game in the agreed suit.
Flannery is another usage of the opening 2D bid. An Opening bid of 2D is artificial, showing 5 Hearts, 4 Spades and 11 to 15 HCP. Some players also use this bid with 6 Hearts and 4 Spades. When playing Flannery, many play that a 1S response to a 1H opener shows 5+ spades or a decent 4-card spade suit.
1) Responder may pass with a long diamond suit and a weak hand.
2) 2H, 2S, and 3C are to play - Opener must pass.
3) 3D, 3H and 3S are natural and show invitational strength (11 to 13 HCP). Opener chooses the final contract.
4) 3NT is to play. Opener must pass.
5) 4C and 4D are transfers to 4H and 4S respectively. May be the start of slam exploration.
6) 4H and 4S are to play - may be pre-emptive. Opener must pass.
7) 2NT is strong, forcing to game. Asks Opener to describe his minor suit holdings.
1) 3C shows 3 clubs and a singleton diamond.
2) 3D shows 3 diamonds and a singleton club.
3) 3H shows 2-2 in the minors and a minimum hand.
4) 3S shows 2-2 in the minors and a maximum hand.
5) 3NT shows 2-2 in the minors with stoppers in both minors.
6) 4C shows 4 clubs and a void in diamonds.
7) 4D shows 4 diamonds and a void in clubs.
1) Double by Responder is for penalty.
2) 3H and 3S are competitive
Opening preempts at the 3 level are generally sound, following the Rule of 2,3 and 4. This means that the bid should be within 4 of making in hand when the vulnerability is favorable (non-vul vs. vul), within 3 of making when the vulnerability is equal, and within 2 of making when the vulnerability is unfavorable (vul vs. non-vul). The hand should have a 7+ card suit (6+ cards in clubs), 6 to 10 HCP, a maximum of 1 ½ quick tricks, no more than one outside Ace or King, and no outside 4 card major if the Opening Preempt is in a minor suit.
An opening bid at the 4 level has similar requirements but has one more playing trick.
1) 4C over an Opening 3D, 3H or 3S is RKC Gerber. Over an Opening 3C, 4D is RKC Gerber.
2) A suit takeout by Responder is forcing (except if it is a game bid). The bid may be lead directing, a real suit, or a psychic bid trying to confuse the opponent’s. Opener will support Responder’s suit with 3-card support, or Ax or Kx and an outside singleton. Otherwise, Opener must rebid his suit.
3) With a solid pre-emptive bid, Opener in response to his partner’s minimum bid in a new suit may show an outside feature (such as an outside King) if it can be done below the next level of his suit. Otherwise, he may bid NT to show such a feature. (Example: 3C/3H: 3NT shows Kx in Diamonds).
The above rules still apply, except that a double or re-double shows the intent to penalize the Opponents.
An opening bid of 4C (or 4D) shows a long, solid heart (or spade) suit and a hand with 8 or 8.5 playing tricks (4 Losers). With 9 playing tricks and a solid major suit ( a 3 Loser hand), open 2C. Opening bids of 4H and 4S show preemptive hands with 8 (or more) card suits (5 Losers).
Responder signs off by bidding 4 of the suit indicated. Responder may bid the intervening (relay) suit, requiring Opener to become declarer by bidding 4 of the indicated suit.
If Responder bids a suit beyond the indicated suit, it is an Asking Bid slam try.
