Opening the Bidding With Powerhouse Hands
An opening bid of 2♠, 2♥, or 2♦ indicate a weak hand with a long suit. Strong hands (22 or more points) or hands with 9 or more playing tricks are
opened with a 2♣ bid.
Consider the following examples:
(1) 9 playing tricks 4 hearts 5 diamonds and 1 club
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
8 A A A
K K 4
J Q
7 6
4 3
(2) 10 playinc tricks 6 hearts 3 clubs and 1 spade
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
A K 8 A
Q K
J Q
10 5
6
4
2
(3) Very strong no trump hands are opened 2 ♣ as well
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
K A A K
Q K Q 4
J J 5 2
7
Responding to an Opening Bid of 2 ♣
The 2♦ Response
An opening bid of 2 ♣ is artificial and forcing. The 2 ♣ bidder’s partner is forced to keep the bidding open, to allow the opener to describe the strong hand.
If RHO passes, the 2 ♣ opener’s partner must bid, even with a very weak hand, such as this one.
(4)
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
9 10 8 8
4 5 7 4
3 3 5 2
2
The most common response to a 2♣ opening bid is 2♦. This bid is called a waiting bid. It simply keeps the bidding open so the strong hand can be described fully. The bidding will look like this:
North East South West
2♣ pass 2♦ pass
South bid is artificial. It says nothing about south’s hand. It keeps the bidding open so the strong hand can be described.
After a 2♦ response, responders may bid a 5- card suit, if they have one, but their main responsibility is to support the opener’s suit whenever possible.
North East South West
2♣ pass 2♦ pass
2♥
(5)
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
Q 10 K 8
9 7 4
7 5 2
5 3
2
Consider the bidding shown in example 5, you will bid 2♠ to show a 5-card suit and that you don’t like partner’s hearts.
(6)
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
Q 10 K 8
9 3 7 4
7 2 5
5
2
With hand 6, however, you have 3-card support for partner’s hearts, you would not bid your spade suit. You should support partner’s hearts.
(7)
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
Q 10 K 8
9 3 7 4
7 5 3
5 2
With hand 7, you do not have adequate support for partner’s hearts and have no 5-card suit to bid, you will bid 2nt.
The Positive Response
When you have a good 5-card or longer suit and 8 or more points, you may bid that suit directly over partner’s 2♣ opening. This is called a positive response.
(8)
♠ ♥ ♦ ♣
A 10 K 8
J 3 7 4
10 5
5 2
4
You have 8 hcps., plus 1 length point. Your hand is good enough to make a positive bid of 2♠.
Positive responses to a 2♣ opening bid are: 2♠, 2♥, 3♦ and 3 ♣. Note that:
a) you must bid 3♦ to show a positive response, because 2♦ is the waiting bid.
b) A good suit is defined as having 5 or more cards and 2 of the top three honor cards or 3 of the top 5 honor cards.
Showing a Strong Balanced Hand
2♣ followed by 2 nt = 22-24 hcps., with balanced distribution.
2♣ followed by a jump to 3 nt = 25-27 hcps., with balanced distribution.
Responders my use Stayman or transfers after partner shows a strong no trump hand.