Lesson 3L Main
Strong Two-Club Bid
by Richard PavlicekLesson 3L Main |
| by Richard Pavlicek |
The use of weak two-bids is limited to three suits (2 
, 2 
and 2 
). An opening bid of 2 
is reserved for the strong hands regardless of the suit actually held. This lesson explains the requirements to open 2 , and the responses and rebids thereafter.
RequirementsAn opening bid of 2 requires at least 23 points or a hand with a self-sufficient suit that is at least within one trick of game. The main difference between 2 and all the other opening bids is this:
An opening bid of 2 is forcing and artificial (it does not necessarily show a club suit).
The best way to understand when to open 2 is to see how it fits in with other openings. The following two tables summarize the general opening bid strategy:
| Unbalanced Hands | |
|---|---|
| 13-22 points | 1 of a suit |
| 23+ points | 2 |
| Balanced Hands | |
|---|---|
| 12-14 HCP | 1 of a suit |
| 15-17 HCP | 1 NT |
| 18-19 HCP | 1 of a suit |
| 20-22 HCP | 2 NT |
| 23-24 HCP | 2
|
| 25-26 HCP | 3 NT |
| 27+ HCP | 2 |
The above table presumes the popular 15-17 1 NT opening. If you prefer the traditional way, the first four ranges become 13-15, 16-18, 19-20 and 21-22 (higher ranges are the same).
| Lesson 3L Main |  | Top Strong Two-Club Bid |
The Negative ResponseMost of the time the partner of the 2 bidder will have a weak hand and he should make the negative response of 2 . Count high-card points only at your first response.
With 0 to 7 HCP respond 2 regardless of your hand pattern.
After the negative 2 response opener must describe what kind of hand he has for his 2 bid.
With an unbalanced hand opener should bid 2 , 2 , 3 or 3 . These rebids are forcing.
1.  | ||
| A 2 A K J 4 3 A K Q 10 4 3 | 
| K J 4 3 10 8 2 4 3 9 7 6 5 |
| 2 2 4 | Pass Pass Pass | 2 3 Pass | Pass Pass |
East responds 2 (0-7 HCP) then West shows his real suit. East raises to show three trumps and West goes to game.
| 2. | ||
| A K Q 7 4 — A K J 8 4 K 8 3 |
| 2 Q 7 6 4 Q 10 9 2 J 9 7 6 |
| 2 2 3 5 | Pass Pass Pass Pass | 2 2 NT 4 Pass | Pass Pass Pass |
East does not like spades so he rebids 2 NT. When West shows his second suit, East raises and West bids game.
| 3. | ||
| 2 K Q 7 2 A K J A K Q 10 9 |
| K 9 8 4 3 8 6 3 Q 10 4 2 3 |
| 2 3 3 NT | Pass Pass Pass | 2 3 Pass | Pass Pass |
West shows his longest suit (clubs) then, when East indicates a spade suit, he uses good judgment to bid 3 NT.
Confucius say: Man with strength for two clubs is one mean dude.
| 4. | ||
| A K 2 A K J K Q J 10 9 3 3 |
| Q J 4 Q 9 6 5 4 2 9 7 6 4 |
| 2 3 4 | Pass Pass Pass | 2 3 Pass | Pass Pass |
West is happy to raise East’s heart suit, rather than play in a minor.
With a balanced hand opener should bid 2 NT with 23-24 HCP or 3 NT with 27-28 HCP. These rebids are nonforcing.
| 5. | ||
| A Q K Q 8 A Q J 9 2 A J 3 |
| 10 8 3 7 3 10 8 4 Q 9 8 6 2 |
| 2 2 NT | Pass Pass | 2 3 NT | Pass |
West shows 23-24 HCP. East is not required to bid again, but with 2 HCP he correctly continues to 3 NT.
| 6. | ||
| K J 9 5 A Q A K 9 3 A Q 4 |
| Q 10 8 4 10 9 7 3 8 2 J 6 2 |
| 2 2 NT 3 | Pass Pass Pass | 2 3 4 | Pass Pass |
After the 2 NT rebid the bidding is just as if the opening bid were 2 NT. Hence 3 is Stayman; opener indicates a four-card spade suit, and East raises to game.
| 7. | ||
| A J 9 A K 9 A K Q 3 K Q J |
| 10 6 2 Q 8 2 9 7 2 A 9 7 2 |
| 2 3 NT | Pass Pass | 2 6 NT | Pass |
West shows 27 or 28 HCP and East does his arithmetic to bid a slam.
| Lesson 3L Main | | Top Strong Two-Club Bid |
The Second NegativeYou may have noted in examples 1-4 that responder’s hand had some potential even though it was weak. A problem arises when responder has a worthless or near-worthless hand and he is forced to bid again. The recommended procedure is to use what is commonly called the “second negative.”
After a 2 response to 2 and a suit rebid by opener, a rebid of 3 (or 3 over opener’s 3 ) is an artificial waiting bid. This indicates 0-4 HCP.
| 8. | ||
| A K A Q 9 7 5 A 4 A K 9 2 |
| 8 6 4 2 J 4 2 8 2 10 6 4 3 |
| 2 2 3 NT | Pass Pass Pass | 2 3 4 | Pass Pass |
East intends to support hearts (after 2 ) but he first bids 3 to indicate a terrible hand. Compare example 1.
| 9. | ||
| A K Q 9 8 5 3 J 3 A K 9 3 |
| 6 4 10 8 6 5 4 8 7 3 8 7 2 |
| 2 2 3 | Pass Pass Pass | 2 3 Pass | Pass Pass |
West rebids his spade suit to indicate “within a trick of game in hand.” East can contribute nothing so he passes.
| 10. | ||
| A K 10 4 A K 2 4 A Q J 10 3 |
| Q 8 5 3 9 7 6 3 8 6 2 8 2 |
| 2 3 3 | Pass Pass Pass | 2 3 4 | Pass Pass |
East’s 3 is a waiting bid, West shows his second suit and East raises to game. In this case West’s 3 bid is a new suit and it is forcing. Compare example 9.
| Lesson 3L Main | | Top Strong Two-Club Bid |
Positive ResponsesIf responder has at least 8 HCP, he should make a positive response to the 2 opening. This not only indicates that game is assured but also that a slam is probable (23 + 8 = 31 points) unless each player has the minimum strength for his bid.
With 8+ HCP bid a five-card or longer suit (2 , 2 , 3 or 3 ) or 2 NT if balanced.
| 11. | ||
| A K J 2 K 2 A K Q 9 7 4 2 |
| 4 A J 10 8 4 J 10 8 Q 9 8 7 |
| 2 3 4 NT 6 | Pass Pass Pass Pass | 2 4 5 Pass | Pass Pass Pass |
East shows a positive response with five hearts, West shows his long suit and East raises. West uses Blackwood to bid the excellent slam.
| 12. | ||
| 5 4 3 A K Q J 8 7 4 A A 8 |
| 6 2 2 K Q 8 5 4 K 10 7 6 4 |
| 2 3 4 | Pass Pass Pass | 3 4 Pass | Pass Pass |
West’s hand qualifies for 2 because it is within a trick of game. East shows both of his suits and then gives up on slam when opener can only repeat his heart suit.
| 13. | ||
| A 2 K Q 3 A Q J 4 A K 7 5 |
| K 9 7 3 A J 9 8 3 2 Q 10 2 |
| 2 3 NT | Pass Pass | 2 NT 6 NT | Pass |
East shows a balanced hand of 8+ HCP. West shows minimum values by bidding 3 NT, but East knows that 23 + 10 = 33. Without the Q, East would pass 3 NT.
| Lesson 3L Main | | Top Strong Two-Club Bid |
Enemy InterferenceThe opponents do not always go quietly when you open 2 . They will often make overcalls to direct a lead or suggest a sacrifice, or just to be a nuisance. It is important to have a few simple rules to contend with this interference.
After an enemy bid, responder needs only 5 HCP to bid directly.
| 14. | ||
| K J 5 A K J 7 A K 10 5 A 3 |
| 4 Q 8 2 9 6 4 2 K J 10 8 4 |
| 2 3 NT | 2 Pass | 3 Pass | Pass |
Without the overcall East would bid 2 negative, but in competition it is important to be able to show a decent suit. West bids the obvious game with his spade stopper.
All doubles or redoubles are for penalty, and all direct passes of enemy bids are forcing.
| 15. | ||
| A K Q 7 6 K 2 A K 3 A J 4 |
| 3 2 Q 10 8 4 J 7 4 10 8 6 2 |
| 2 Pass | 2 | Dbl | Pass |
Very little strength is required to double as responder, as long as you have trumps. The double warns opener not to bid, and the opponents are in serious trouble.
| 16. | ||
| A K Q 4 A J 8 4 A 2 K Q 4 |
| 3 2 10 9 7 6 5 4 3 9 6 5 2 |
| 2 Pass 4 | Pass Pass Pass | 2 3 Pass | 3 Pass |
West’s pass over 3 forces East to do something, so he bids his suit and a good game is reached. Note that if opener doubled 3 it would be for penalty.
| Lesson 3L Main | | Top Strong Two-Club Bid |
© 2012 Richard Pavlicek