Weak Two Bids and Responses - BridgeWebs

1 Stage 2 Conventions by Neil Rosen Weak Two bids and Responses I'M SURE you all play Weak Two bids Pre-empting Style round (you can of course factor in other rather than strong two bids already. What! considerations such as vulnerability and You don't? I really think you should .. Partnerships should agree various princi- obviously the quality of your hand!). a) Weak two bids are far more frequent ples for pre-empting, whether at the two So holding: than strong two bids . level or higher. Good partnerships decide b) They are much more troublesome for on all sorts of parameters to factor in If partner opens 2 , it the opponents. here are a few to think over: 32 is vital to raise to 3 . c) Strong two bids never seem to work K86 on the first round. that well anyway! a) The vulnerability (be more cautious t A872 This is not (repeat, not).

2 D) Weak two bids are great fun to play! when vulnerable etc.) K943 invitational to game, it b) Position at the table (1st seat = is purely raising the There are two mainstream systems aggressive, 2nd seat = sound, 3rd seat stakes before the people use: = fairly random) opponents have had a chance to establish c) Whether a side four-card major is their own fit and values. i) Benjy, or Reverse Benjy, Acol. These acceptable or not. were introduced by Albert Benjamin d) Whether you can open a Weak Two Responding to a 2t Opener (a redoubtable Scot who lived well with A-K-Q-x-x-x (my preference is into his 90s). Benjy goes like this: definitely not to do so partner can Since 3NT is often the desirable final desti- 2 = 8 playing tricks (unspecified never judge accurately). nation the Responses are geared accordingly: suit) or 21-22 balanced 2t = Game force Responding in a New Suit New suit = constructive, non-forcing, (or 23-24 balanced) to a Weak Two as discussed (typically a six- 2 = Weak two opener card suit with 10-14 HCP).

3 (six-cards in length) I like to recommend that in response to Jump in = natural and 2 = Weak two opener any Weak Two the bid of a new suit is new suit game-forcing (six-cards in length) constructive but not forcing. Generally 2NT = relay. The normal requi re- 2NT = 19-20 balanced opener can raise if suitable, or occasionally ment for this is about 15. In Reverse Benjy: rebid a semi-solid suit if maximum. To HCP (sometimes less with a 2 = Game force create a force, either jump or start with nice fit). The relay asks for (or 23-24 balanced) 2NT. features. A feature is defined 2t = 8 playing tricks (unspecified as a possible stopper for suit) or 21-22 balanced Raising the Weak Two Suit 3NT, A, K-x, Q-x-x, 2 = Weak two opener J-x-x-x etc. as opposed to (six-cards in length) 2t 3t, 2 3 and 2 3 are all a control or singleton etc.

4 2 = Weak two opener essentially barrage bids ' pre-emptive. The Responses are: (six-cards in length) It is so important to raise straight away New suit = feature 2NT = 19-20 balanced to the three level to make life difficult for 3t = minimum the opponents, rather than lamely passing, 3NT = maximum with ii) Weak Two bids in diamonds, hearts allowing them to find their fit and then a good suit (two and spades. This is my preferred bidding on the next round. of the top three option, I must say. It just gives you The level of the fit tells us roughly that honours). more opportunity for pre-emption with: Raising to 3t is essentially pre- and I have always felt that the coded emptive (usually three-card support element of Benjy doesn't work well at 8 trumps bid to the two level to conform to the level of the fit and all in uncontested auctions let alone 9 trumps bid to the three level anything between 8 and 14 HCP).

5 If the opponents interfere. I also do 10 trumps bid to the four level (or This bid is purely and simply trying not recommend any system which higher!) to throw a spanner in the opponents'. forces a balanced 19 count to open works and does not therefore need to 2NT; it works so much better to open This gives an indication of whether to be defined too closely other than it one of a suit and rebid 2NT (18-19). raise or even how far to raise on the first normally has fewer than 14 or 15 HCP. 26 English Bridge December 2012 Responding to 2 and 2 Openers If the opponents double: Redouble = strong hand, usually In my own preferred methods, most of the details from the 2t opener hold, but the seeking to penalise New suit = constructive and non- CLUB PLAYER'S. Responses to the relay of 2NT change: now, since usually the desired finishing spot is in 2NT.

6 Forcing = still a relay BIDDING QUIZ. the major opened, we show shortages in res- Supporting at the three level = pre- ON each of the following problems, ponse to the relay. So, after a 2NT enquiry: emptive you are West. What should you bid with each hand on the given auction? New suit = singleton/void, Example Julian Pottage gives his answers on non-minimum page 54. Return to major = minimum Here is an example of how well the system (usually no works: the key point I am trying to get shortage to show across is that this method is so much conveniently, better than others because rather than just Hand 1 W N E S. below the major) trying to describe overall strength and suit- A 1NT 3 . 3NT = maximum , no quality, it zooms in on using good judg- J2 ? shortage but ment to reach excellent contracts when the tAK9874.

7 Good suit (2 of cards fit well. Clearly if you have the values 10 6 4 3. top 3 honours) for game, do not use the relay simply for Four of major = maximum, no practice as so many seem to do just bid shortage, not game! Only use the 2NT relay if there is such good suit- uncertainty over whether to bid game (or Hand 2 W N E S. quality sometimes slam!). K876 1t Dble Pass You hold the following hand: K875 ? In common with methods such as splinters, tQ92. the key to this easy-to-play, efficient system If partner opens QJ. is to understand which holdings facing AJ7 2 , then rather shortage are either good or bad: J86 than using some t A872 other method to Good holdings: A-x-x, x-x-x, x-x-x-x, KQ6 get useless informa- Hand 3 W N E S. no wasted points and length (more tion, let's see how AKQ8 1 Pass 2 Pass ruffing potential) are good.

8 Our relay works. 6542 ? Bad holdings: K-Q-x, K-J-x, x, tA3. wasted points are very poor as is of K87. course duplicated shortage (if partner Hand A Hand B. and you both have a singleton in the 86 86. same suit, that is bad news!). A Q 10 7 5 2 A Q 10 7 5 2. t 3 t J963 Hand 4 W N E S. Dealing with Intervention after You J975 3 QJ 1 Pass 1 Pass Have Opened with a Weak Two Bid Q J 10 7 5 ? t K 10 8 5. All bids , wherever possible, retain their orig- If partner has Hand A, he will respond 3t A2. inal meaning. Doubles after intervention to your 2NT relay to show shortage, ma- are always penalties and not negative, the king game an excellent proposition. But if same as after higher pre-empts. partner has Hand B, he will advertise club W N E S. shortage with 3 , making game decidedly Hand 5 1 1 1NT.

9 If the opponents overcall at the two level: against the odds. Please note that other J95 2 3 Pass Pass Double = penalties relay systems such as Ogust (which ask K J 10 7 6 ? 2NT = relay about points and suit-quality) would treat tKQ4. New suit = constructive and non- these hands as the same, whether the short- 84. forcing as before age was in clubs or diamonds. Supporting at the three level = still Finally, an integral part of adopting the pre-emptive as before ethos of playing Weak Two openers is to play Weak Jump Overcalls as well. They put Hand 6 W N E S. If the opponents overcall at the three level: great pressure on the opponents and give a 6 1t 2 . Double = penalties partnership plenty of scope to gain confi- AQ86 ? New suit (below partner's) = con- dence and experience in having a regular t J 10 9 5.

10 Structive and non- opportunity to judge when to use them. Q865. forcing as before Do try these methods, they are easy to New suit (above partner's) = forcing learn, simple to use and deliver great Supporting = competitive results! r December 2012 English Bridge 27.