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THE TWO CLUB OPENING
An opening 2C bid is artificial, showing a strong two bid sort of
hand or a 25-30 HCP notrump hand. MARVIN TWO HEARTS is used for
23-24 HCP notrump hands, while 21-22 HCP notrump hands are opened
with 2NT.
If the opening is based on a long major suit, the hand is balanced
(no singleton or void). Unbalanced strong two bids based on a major
use MARVIN TWO DIAMONDS (next chapter) with a spade suit or MARVIN
TWO HEARTS (next after that) with a heart suit. If an opening of
2D is being used in conjunction with the AmBIGuous Diamond or other
conventional 2D usage, then the 2C opening may be used for a strong
two bid based on spades with either a balanced or unbalanced hand.
The 2C opening promises at least four defensive tricks. Open 1S (or
4D, if playing NAMYATS) with S-KQJ98632 H-AKQ D-4 C-3. If you open
2C and partner doubles a high level preemptive bid by an opponent,
perhaps thinking you have better defense, you won't know whether
to pass or bid. Besides, 1S is not going to be passed out.
A hand with four losers in quick tricks should not open 2C if there
is another potential loser and the hand may not play in a major.
With S-QJ1092 H-KQ D-AKQ3 C-A4 open 1S, even at match points. There
are four quick losers, the fourth diamond may be a loser, and if
partner insists on a diamond contract you could go down in game
even if he has an ace.
When the opening is based on a minor suit, opener should have no
more than three losers unless the hand is likely to take nine
tricks at notrump. Open 1C with S-A532 H- void D-KJ C-AKQ9764, a
hand that has too many losers for a 2C opening and is unlikely to
play in notrump. But with S-42 H-A5 D-A4 C-AKQ7653 there is a good
chance that the hand will make 3NT opposite a bust, so a 2C opening
is okay. Don't open 3NT with that spade weakness and no holding
such as Kx in a red suit to protect.
Negative Response
With a bad hand, bid 2D. This may also be a "waiting bid" with good
values but no acceptable positive response. A "second negative"
(defined later) confirms a bad hand.
The partnership may stop short of game if responder has a really
bad hand and opener cannot make game in his own hand. The only way
to stop is for opener to rebid a suit after hearing a second
negative response:
Opener Responder
2C 2D - negative or waiting
2S 3C - second negative
3S Pass
Responder may pass 3S with a hopeless hand, shortness in spades,
maybe one queen in a long suit (where it is unlikely to be of help
to opener). If responder had rebid 3D, showing some values, instead
of 3C, the 3S bid would be forcing. Even after this second
negative, a new suit bid (3H, above) would be forcing.
Positive Responses
A positive response usually promises two or more controls (ace or
two kings). Of course the 2D (waiting) response may be made with
two or more controls when responder doesn't have a suit worth
showing or the requirements for a notrump response. A positive
response is forcing to game.
-- 2NT shows exactly two kings, no aces. Prefer a suit response if
holding a suit worth showing.
-- 2H or 2S is natural, requiring less than a minor suit response.
A four-card suit is okay if it is fairly respectable, something
like KJ97, KQ84, AQ65 (two of the top four honors, including the
ace or king). A five-card suit should be headed by ace, king,
queen-jack, or better. A six-card suit should be at least jack high
(queen high with a marginal positive response).
-- 3C or 3D implies five or more cards and a fairly good suit
(e.g., KJ932, AQ762, AJ1087). With strong hands the suit can be a
little weaker, but not much. The positive response in diamonds is
3D, since 2D is artificial.
-- 3NT shows a balanced hand with exactly three kings, no aces.
Prefer a suit response if holding a suit worth showing.
-- 3H or 3S shows a seven-card suit headed by the ace or king, or
both, with or without the queen, and no ace or king outside. This
is the only exception to the requirement of two controls for a
positive response. Opener can determine the exact nature of the
suit by using Roman Key Card Blackwood.
-- A jump to the four level in any suit shows a solid suit headed
by AKQJ, at least six long. AKQ10 is okay with seven cards. It
denies an outside ace or king, and requires a balanced hand (i.e.,
6-3-2-2 or 7-2-2-2 distribution). Opener takes charge. A 4NT bid
by opener is a natural sign-off, since she knows responder's hand
exactly. For instance, after a 4S response she would bid 4NT with
S-3 H-KQJ D-AKQJ987 C-KQ in a match point game. A passed hand may
make this jump with a semi-solid (KQJ10, AQJ10) six-card suit, but
KQJ9 or AQJ9 is okay with seven cards (i.e., a fairly guaranteed
one-loser suit).
-- A 4NT response shows four kings, no aces (maybe once in your
life).
Rebids by Opener
Opener rebids in his main suit, bidding the higher ranking suit
first when holding two suits of equal length. With a notrump type
hand, he rebids 2NT or 4NT, whichever is cheaper:
Opener Responder
2C 2D/2H/2S
2NT - 25-27 HCP, forcing
3NT - 28-30 HCP (4-3-3-3 or 4-4-3-2)
4NT - Ten sure tricks in notrump (4-3-3-3)
Showing 25-27 HCP this way (instead of jumping to 3NT) brings all
the powerful three-level conventions into play. Unlike most 2NT
bids, this one can have a three-point range because it is forcing.
Showing 28-30 HCP this way is a little safer than the standard 4NT
bid, because ten tricks are not always guaranteed with such hands.
Even with ten sure tricks and 28-30 HCP, do not rebid 4NT unless
you have a 4-3-3-3 hand. Then partner can count on three-card
support for her weak six-card suit.
If opener rebids 2NT the bidding starts all over again, with
responder's original response ignored in the subsequent bidding.
See chapter TWO NOTRUMP OPENING in the book "Notrump Bidding,"
which is applicable to this 2NT bid.
If opener rebids 3NT, another benefit of this approach is mani-
fested: Gerber, transfer bids, and the 4 mild slam try are all
available to responder. (No Stayman at this level.)
If the response is 2NT, 3C, or 3D, opener must rebid 4NT with a
25-27 HCP notrump hand. Bidding 3NT would imply merely a minimum
suit-type opening, probably long in a minor. The Boland convention
described in the book "Notrump Bidding" applies here.
After a positive response, a new suit bid by opener is forcing,
even if game has been reached:
Opener Responder
2C 2S
3D 3S
4H - forcing
Had the response been 2D, the 4H bid would not have been forcing
(despite the absence of a second negative by responder).
When opener rebids in hearts, he promises a balanced hand:
Opener Responder
2C 2D
2H 2NT - 6 HCP or more
3D
Opener has a 2-5-4-2 hand, since he would open 2H with an un-
balanced hand. See MARVIN TWO HEARTS. Similarly:
Opener Responder
2C 2D
2S 2NT
3H
Opener must have a 5-4-2-2 hand; an unbalanced hand is opened with
2D when the primary suit is spades. See MARVIN TWO DIAMONDS. If a
2D opening is being used for some other purpose, however, then
opener could have an unbalanced hand in this auction.
Jump Rebid by Opener
A non-game jump rebid by opener sets the trump suit. Opener wants
responder to forget about looking for a suit fit, so that the
partnership can concentrate on finding important key cards. If the
original response was 2D, responder bids a key card (king of
opener's suit, or any ace):
Opener Responder
2C 2D
3H 3S - ace of spades
3NT - no key cards
4C - ace of clubs
4D - ace of diamonds
4H - ace or king of hearts
5H - ace and king of hearts
Opener cannot pass a raise of the trump suit (showing a key card
in that suit), so responder need not worry about raising with a
good hand (e.g., good trumps and a short suit).
With two key cards (but not AK of opener's suit), responder jumps,
starting with the cheapest jump (same as Gerber jumps to show two
kings). The mnemonic is "CRaSH": Color, Rank, Shape (rounded suits
or pointed suits, i.e., spades-diamonds or hearts-clubs).
Opener Responder
2C 2S
4D 5H - two keys, same color
5S - two keys, majors or minors
5NT - two keys, same shape
With three key cards (and AK of opener's suit counts as three),
bid (the) (a) suit that has no key card. Opener will figure out
what you have, since he will no doubt have a key card in the suit
you bid.
After setting the trump suit, opener's bid in a new suit is an
asking bid. See ASKING BIDS.
Responder's Rebids After a 2D Response
The cheaper minor suit rebid (through 3D) is a "second negative,"
denying as much as 6 HCP:
Opener Responder
2C 2D
2H 2S - natural, five or more
2NT - 6 HCP or more, no good suit
3C - 5 HCP or less
A five-card suit headed by king or ace is enough for a natural new
suit bid, even if the hand lacks 6 HCP.
If opener rebids 3D, the second negative is 3NT:
Opener Responder
2C 2D
3D 3H/3S/4C - natural
3NT - second negative
The 3NT bid is not forcing, so if responder has significant
strength he must manufacture some alternative bid.
When opener rebids in a suit, do not raise without adequate trump
support, which in this case is Qx, Jxx, xxxx, or better. With
trump support and a fair hand, raise a major immediately. Delayed
support of opener's major suit tends to imply trump support that
is less than "adequate." A delayed jump raise implies singleton
queen, king, or ace, or three small trumps.
An immediate jump raise shows four or more trumps, no ace or
king, no outside void or singleton:
Opener Responder
2C 2D
2S 4S
Responder has S-Q872 H-654 D-98 C-J873. The immediate jump raise
warns opener not to look for anything besides good trumps.
Responder's jump in a new suit is a splinter bid, showing more than
adequate trump support for opener's suit and a singleton in the
splinter suit:
Opener Responder
2C 2D
2H 3S - splinter
Responder has S-5 H-Q874 D-K985 C-J432. With a weaker hand (four
small hearts), or one less heart, he would just raise to 3H.
Responder's Rebids After a Positive Response
A jump rebid in the same suit shows a six or seven-card one-loser
suit or a six-card AKQ suit that was not good enough for an
original game response (which requires at least AKQ10).
A jump in a new suit is a splinter bid, showing good support for
opener's suit and a singleton in the splinter suit.
A jump raise to game shows good trumps: Qxx, xxxx, or better, but
no singleton or void; a minimum positive response; and no ace,
king, or singleton in an unbid suit.
A new suit bid is forcing, even if game has been reached:
Opener Responder
2C 3D
4C 4H/4S - forcing
A 3NT rebid is not forcing, so it is made only when the original
positive response was a minimum.
When the Opponents Intervene
If RHO overcalls a 2C bid with a natural bid, a double by responder
shows a bust hand with length in the opposing suit. It warns
partner not to go on unless he has game in his own hand. A pass is
forcing.
If RHO doubles 2C to show clubs, responder must pass with no club
stopper, even with a good hand. This is in accordance with the
general policy for action when an artificial bid gets doubled. See
GENERAL BIDDING PRINCPLES (top menu).
South West North
2C Dbl Pass - no club stopper, may be quite strong
2D - single club stopper, at least one control
2H/2S - natural, single club stopper
Rdbl - double club stopper, at least one control
QJx (Qxx, Q10x, etc.) counts as a single stopper only, no matter
how many cards in the suit. AJx and KJx count as double stoppers.
If RHO makes an artificial bid that shows two suits, the principles
of chapter DEFENSE VS TWO-SUITED CONVENTIONS in the book "Counter-
measures" apply. For instance, if RHO doubles 2C artificially to
show both majors:
South West North
2C Dbl Pass - no ace or king
Rdbl - wants to double 2H, or 2S, or either
2D - normal waiting bid, at least one control
2H/2S - Unusual Over Unusual, showing a good minor
2NT - top card (ace or king) in each major
3C/3D - natural positive response, but poor suit
The 2H, 2S, 3C, and 3D bids are in accordance with the principles
of DEFENSE VS TWO-SUITED CONVENTIONS: A 2H bid is a positive
response in clubs and a 2S bid is a positive response in diamonds.
Both responses promise a good suit. With a suit weak in high cards,
the right response is 3C or 3D.
A 2C opener can never make a takeout double:
South West North East
2C 2S Pass Pass
Dbl - business
2NT - 25-27 HCP notrump hand, forcing
3C/3D/3H - forcing
North's pass does not necessarily deny a good hand. She could have,
for instance: S-752 H-AQ3 D-K84 C-9832. South's double of 2S is
probably exposing a psych by West. If South later bids spades, he
means it to play.