Structure 7G74 Main

Responses to Two Clubs

by Richard Pavlicek

In a Nutshell

The bane of any system of natural one-bids is the 2 structure for strong hands; there just isn’t enough room to describe every hand no matter what structure you use. Having experimented with many ideas, I settled on what I believe works best. The basic idea is to give the 2 response a dual meaning, either ultra weak (0-4 HCP) or positive (8+); and to bid 2 on in-between hands (5-7). Other responses are used to show suits of specific length and quality.

In Detail

An opening bid of 2 is strong, artificial and forcing, typically 23+ points or within a trick of game in hand.

Responder must either categorize his HCP range or show a suit headed by K-Q or better.

2 Pass ?

2
2
2
2 NT
3 suit
3 NT
4 suit
4 NT

•
•

•

• 0-4 HCP (no ace) or 8+ HCP or A+K
5-7 HCP or an ace (no A+K)
any 5 card suit, 2 of top 3
any 5 card suit, A-K-Q
6 cards, 2 of top 3
any 6 card suit, A-K-Q
7 cards, 2 of top 3
any 7 card suit, A-K-Q

After two-diamond response

Responder is presumed to have 0-4 HCP for all rebids. With 8+ HCP (or ace + king) he bids the same as with 0-4 under game but must continue voluntarily past game to show it.

2
? Pass 2 Pass

2 *
2 3 3
2 NT
3 NT •

• 5+ hearts or 25+ HCP balanced
5+ cards, F
23-24, balanced, NF (system on)
6+ card minor, game in hand, NF

*forces 2 (Kokish relay)

2
2
? Pass
Pass 2
2 Pass
Pass

2 NT
3 3 3
3 4
3 NT

25+, balanced, GF (system on)
4+ cards, 5+ hearts, F
6+ hearts, NF
5-6 hearts, balanced or semi, NF

2
2 Pass
Pass 2
? Pass

2 NT
3 3 3
3
4 4 4
4

waiting
5+ cards
3+ spades
splinter raise
2-4 HCP, 4+ spades, no side-suit control

2
2
? Pass
Pass 2
2 NT Pass
Pass

3 3 3
3 4
3 NT

4+ cards
6+ spades, NF
5-6 spades, balanced or semi, NF

2
3 Pass
Pass 2
? Pass

3
3 3
3 NT
4
4 4 4

•

waiting
5+ cards
5+ diamonds, NF
3+ clubs
splinter raise

2
3 Pass
Pass 2
? Pass

3
3
3 NT
4
4
4 4 •

•

waiting
5+ spades
5+ hearts, NF
6+ clubs
3+ diamonds
splinter raise

After two-heart response

2
? Pass 2 Pass

2 3
2 NT
3 NT

5+ cards, GF
23+ HCP balanced, GF (system on)
6+ card minor, game in hand, NF

2
2 Pass
Pass 2
? Pass

2 NT
3 3 3
3
4 4 4

waiting
5+ cards
3+ spades
splinter raise

2
3 Pass
Pass 2
? Pass

3
3 3
3 NT
4
4 4 4

•

waiting
5+ cards
5+ diamonds, NF
3+ clubs
splinter raise

2
3 Pass
Pass 2
? Pass

3
3
3 NT
4
4
4 4 5 •

•

waiting
5+ spades
5+ hearts, NF
6+ clubs
3+ diamonds
splinter raise (must have 1 ace)

2
3 Pass
Pass 2
? Pass

3
3 NT
4 4
4
4 5 5 •
•

waiting
5+ spades, NF
6+ cards
3+ hearts, NF
splinter raise (must have 1 ace)

Note that responder’s cheapest rebid is always waiting, and 3 NT shows 5+ cards in the waiting suit.

After suit-showing response

2
? Pass 2 Pass

2 NT
3 suit
3 NT

23+ HCP balanced, GF (system on)
5+ cards
6+ card minor, game in hand, NF

If opener rebids in a suit, responder bids his suit at the 3 level if possible.

2
3 Pass
Pass 2
? Pass

3 3
3 NT
4
4

my suit
no fit, my suit is clubs, NF
3+ diamonds, clubs are A-K or A-Q
3+ diamonds, clubs are K-Q

2
3 Pass
Pass 2
? Pass

3
3 NT
4 4
4

my suit
no fit, my suit is a minor, NF
3+ hearts, suit is A-K or A-Q
3+ hearts, minor suit is K-Q, NF

2
3 Pass
Pass 2
? Pass

3 NT
4 4 4
4

no fit, NF
3+ spades, suit is A-K or A-Q
3+ spades, suit is K-Q, NF

2
? Pass 3 Pass
analogous for any suit response of 3 or 4

Other suit
3 NT
Raise

5+ cards, F below game
misfit, NF
F below game

2
? Pass 2 NT Pass
analogous for 3 NT or 4 NT response

Any suit*
Notrump*
fit or 5+ cards, F
natural, F

*Opener is presumed to know responder’s A-K-Q suit, and slam must be reached.

After interference

2 Dbl ?

Pass
Rdbl
Other

3+ clubs
4+ clubs (Q-10-x-x or better)
unchanged

2 2 ?
analogous for other overcalls

Dbl
2 NT
3 3 3
3

penalty (Q-10-x-x or better)
5+, stopper
5+ HCP, 5+ cards
5+ HCP, 3-suiter, short spades

2
? 2 Pass Pass
analogous for other overcalls

Dbl
2 NT
3 3 3
3
3 NT*
4 NT*

penalty
23-24, balanced, NF
5+ cards, F
3-suiter, short spades
25-28, balanced, NF
29-30, balanced, NF

*if responder bids again, follow opening 2 NT structure 1 or 2 levels higher.

All doubles by opener or responder are penalty, and all direct passes are forcing.

If opener bids an enemy shown suit that he could not double for penalty, it is natural (enemy bid was probably a psych).

If responder has not acted, a suit bid by opener below game is forcing, and the cheapest response is an artificial waiting bid.

Opener’s suit jumps

If 2 opener jumps in a suit at his second turn (including an enemy shown suit that he could not double for penalty) it is natural and sets trumps.

Below game
Game
F, partner should bid any control
NF, no slam opposite expected range

Structure 7G74 Main Top Responses to Two Clubs