If balanced, 2C traditionally shows:
This assumes that an immediate 3NT opening bid shows 25-27 HCP. Hence the gap between HCP ranges. However, if you play some sort of Gambling 3NT, you must lump 25-27 balanced HCP into your 2C opening. Either way, you can open 2C and plan to rebid some number of no-trumps depending on your strength. If unbalanced, 2C shows:
"A trick short of game" means at least 9 playing tricks with a 5+ card major (i.e. one trick shy of making /
),
/
).
Examples:
Holding 23 points, open 2 and plan to rebid 2NT.
With 20 points and 9 tricks (6 spades, 2 hearts and 1 diamond), open 2 and plan to rebid
.
With 20 points and 10 tricks (5 clubs, 3 hearts and 2 diamonds), open 2 and plan to rebid
.
This hand "only" has 17 HCP, but is a trick short of game (7 spades, 2 hearts).
Open 2 and plan to rebid
.
Before the strong 2 bid was invented, all opening bids at the 2-level were strong two bids, natural and forcing.
The benefit of the strong
The opening 2 bid is forcing. There are three popular approaches for responder's bids:
Approach | Meaning |
---|---|
2![]() | This is the approach officially supported by the ACBL in their Standard American Yellow Card, so it is the main approach that I'll describe. |
2![]() ![]() | In this approach, both ![]() ![]() |
Control-showing responses | 1 king = 1 control, and 1 ace = 2 controls. This is the most complex of the three approaches. |
Let's go over these one by one...
Playing this approach, the conventional responses to
Response | Meaning |
---|---|
2![]() | 0-7 points, artificial. This is called the "negative" or "waiting" response, because it usually expresses a weak hand. However, responder will occasionally have 8+ points but no good bid, such as with 4441 distribution. |
2![]() | 8+ points and 5+ hearts. |
2![]() | 8+ points and 5+ spades. |
2NT | 8+ points and a balanced hand. |
3![]() | 8+ points and 5+ clubs. |
3![]() | 8+ points and 5+ diamonds. |
With the exception of the artificial 2, all other responses are natural and game-forcing.
Examples:
Opener | Responder | |||||
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2 ![]() |
2 ![]() |
Opener | Responder | |||||
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2 ![]() |
2 ![]() |
Same as above, except that a 2 response is 3-7 points (at least one king), whereas a 2
response is a "double negative", showing a very bad hand (0-3 points, and no king). Example:
Opener | Responder | |||||
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2 ![]() |
2 ![]() |
Note this means that responder must bid 3 if holding a good hand with 5+ hearts.
Control-showing responses are completely different than the above two methods. One "control" = one king. Two "controls" = one ace or two kings. Using basic arithmetic, responder tallies his number of controls and bids thusly:
Response | Meaning |
---|---|
2![]() | 0 or 1 controls |
2![]() | 2 controls |
2![]() | 1 ace and 1 king (3 controls) |
2NT | 3 kings (3 controls) |
3![]() | 4 controls |
After hearing a 2 reply, opener's suit rebids are natural and forcing for one round. Any no-trump rebids, however, are non-forcing.
Meaning | |
---|---|
2![]() | 17+ points and 5+ hearts. |
2![]() | 17+ points and 5+ spades. |
2NT | 22-24 points and a balanced hand. Note that this assumes an opening 2NT bid of 20-21 points. |
3![]() | 17+ points and 5+ clubs. |
3![]() | 17+ points and 5+ diamonds. |
3NT | 25-27 points and a balanced hand. |
4NT | 28-30 points and a balanced hand. I have never seen this come up. |
5NT | 31-32 points and a balanced hand. Ditto! |
The one hand pattern that doesn't fit into the above bids is 4441. It is recommended to treat it as a balanced hand, and bid no-trumps accordingly. For instance, rebid 2NT with a 4441 23-pointer such as:
If responder makes a positive suit response (2/
or 3
/
, the partnership is committed
to reaching a game contract. Opener's rebids are natural.
Meaning | |
---|---|
2NT | 23-24 points and a balanced hand. |
3NT | Over 3![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Any raise | Natural, 17+ points, 3+ card support. |
Any new suit | Natural, 17+ points, 5+ cards. |
If responder bids 2NT to show 8+ points and a balanced hand, then the partnership's no-trump response system is on: Stayman,
Jacoby Transfers, etc. Opener must bid accordingly, as if responder is the one who opened no-trumps.
Examples:
Opener | Responder | |||||
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2 ![]() 2NT 2 3 ![]() |
2 ![]() 3 ![]() 4 ![]() |
Opener | Responder | |||||
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2 ![]() 3 ![]() 3NT |
2NT 1 3 ![]() 6NT |
If opener rebids no-trumps (e.g. 2NT), then the partnership's no-trump response system is on: Stayman, Jacoby Transfers, etc.
As already stated, any suit bid by opener is forcing for one round. Responder can bid as follows.
With a good hand, it's better to bid "slowly" and save space for slam exploration. With a poor hand, it's less important to save space. Thus the distinction between single raises and double raises, which is based on the principle of "fast arrival".
Examples:
Opener | Responder | |||||
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2 ![]() 2 ![]() |
2 ![]() 3 ![]() |
Opener | Responder | |||||
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2 ![]() 2 ![]() |
2 ![]() 4 ![]() |
The "second negative" is rather intricate, so some examples are in order:
Opener | Responder | |||||
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2 ![]() 2 ![]() |
2 ![]() 3 ![]() |
Opener | Responder | |||||
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2 ![]() 2 ![]() 3NT |
2![]() 2 ![]() |
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