Disclaimer
What I present here may depend on the system played in your region, particularly for 2 and 2. It is based on what is played in France, but do not worry if you live elsewhere: you will need only a small adjustment if you understand the principles. And since you are almost ready to play at a club, ask what is played locally—it is a great way to start a conversation with other bridge players!
Imagine the dream hand:
Your only problem is finding out whether partner has the Ace of Hearts. Yes? You will play 7. No? You will play “only” 6. Easy.
So you open 1. And, as usual, your partner holds:
So partner passes, since a response requires at least 5 HCP. You miss the small slam, stuck in 1. That is unfortunate. Let us see how to avoid it.
The 2 game-forcing opening
When you have at least 24 HCP or nearly enough for game by yourself, open 2. This is an artificial opening bid (it promises nothing in Diamonds) that commits your partnership to game unless you have doubled an opponent’s contract.
With no opposing intervention, partner opens 2, you respond 2, and partner then bids 2. With zero points and two Spades, may you pass?
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Pass | 2 | Pass |
| 2 | Pass |
The responses? “The Ace’s suit,” as the saying goes:
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Pass | ||
| Possible responses | |||
| 2 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 2NT | |||
| 3 | |||
| 3 | |||
Learn more: weak hand
“Weak hand”: 7 HCP or fewer.
“Some strength”: 8 HCP or more.
After a game-forcing 2 opening, you hold 9 HCP, seven Clubs, but no Ace. Which response from the table do you choose?
In our example, you would have opened 2, partner would have bid 2 (no Ace), and you would have bid 6. If partner had responded 2 (the Ace of Hearts), you would have bid 7. Usually, though, you will not move so quickly: once partner has shown any Aces after 2, simply bid 2NT (balanced hand) or your long suit at the lowest level (2, 3, 3…), and continue exchanging information.
The strong, unspecified 2 opening
For your convenience, there is an opening bid for strong hands that are not quite strong enough to open 2. Lucky you.
Use it when you have:
- either a balanced 22–23 HCP,
- or a good long suit (6 cards in a major, 7 in a minor) and 18 or 19 HCP, for example:
or
Open 2; this is called the “strong, unspecified 2 opening.” Like 2, it is an artificial bid and therefore promises nothing in Clubs.
The responses? There is only one: 2. It is a kind of waiting bid that asks opener to describe the hand. It is also artificial and promises nothing in Diamonds.
After that, calmly describe what you have:
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Pass | 2 | Pass |
| Possible responses | |||
| 21 | |||
| 22 | |||
| 2NT3 | |||
| 34 | |||
| 35 | |||
- SouthS 2
6 good Hearts, 18–19 HCP
- SouthS 2
6 good Spades, 18–19 HCP
- SouthS 2NT
Like a 1NT or 2NT opening, but with 22–23 HCP
- SouthS 3
7 good Clubs, 18–19 HCP
- SouthS 3
7 good Diamonds, 18–19 HCP
You open 2 with six good Hearts and 19 HCP. Partner responds 2. Which rebid describes the type of hand promised?
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Pass | 2 | Pass |
The any-distribution double
Here is a similar situation: you have more than 18 HCP, but the opponents opened before you! The nerve. For example, imagine that you are West with:
The idea is to double first instead of bidding 1, then bid the Spades later. For example:
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Double | Pass | 1 |
| Pass | 1 |
roughly 18–20 HCP
After an opponent opens 1, you double with a very strong hand. Partner responds 1, and you then bid 1. Within the course framework, what additional information does this sequence convey?
| SouthS | WestW | NorthN | EastE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Double | Pass | |
| 1 | Pass | 1 |
Your turn to play—and, as you might expect, you are going to have some strong hands. Great!
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