The Strong 2♣ Opening

One of my big pet peeves is the notion of putting a number of points on a2♣opening. As you can see, I refuse to put a range onto the convention card.

If balanced, I can easily give you a range. Since I would open 2NT with 20-21, I have to open2♣with 22+ HCP. So,whenbalancedwith 22 or more, the opening bid is2♣(followed by a rebid of 2NT or 3NT). [Kokish relayis not part of LC Standard.]

If unbalanced,the HCP range is a matter of judgement. I do need some aces and kings--I wouldn't open2♣with, say 10 spades to the AKQJ and no other high cards. I would open2♣with this "18" point hand: ♠AKQ10876♥AQ32 ♦K2 ♣--. I couldn't stand the thought of being passed out in 1♠. I wouldnotopen2♣with this "22" count: ♠AKJ2 ♥AKJ2 ♦2 ♣AQ32. It will be too hard to show this hand after starting with2♣; I'll risk that it doesn't go1♣-P-P-P.

Responses

I am strongly against step or control responses (they take up too much space and often wrong-side the contract). While I don't mind using2♥as an immediate "bust", I prefer:

• 2♦= Waiting (0+ HCP -- any distribution).

This leaves room for opener to further describe his hand.

When would I not respond with the catchall/waiting2♦? Only with a good handanda good suit. By good, I mean 8+ HCP and a decent (2+ high honors) 5+ card suit. So, I would respond2♥to2♣with, say: ♠32 ♥AQJ87 ♦K32 ♣432.

After the2♦waiting bid, opener's rebids (other than in notrump) are a one-round force. The only way to stop short of game (other than2♣-2♦-2NT) is if responder offers a "2nd negative." After opener bids a suit, the cheapest new suit on the 3-level isartificialand allows responder to pass if opener repeats his suit. Examples of auctions with 2nd negatives where the partnership can stop below game:

These "stop in a part-score" auctions come up once a decade.

If responder does anything other than issue a 2nd negative, the partnership is forced to game. If responder issues a 2nd negative and then repeats his "suit", it is natural.

For example:

means: "I am cancelling the 2nd negative and showing you that I really have clubs" -- something like: ♠32 ♥2 ♦J432 ♣KJ9876

If responder raises opener's rebid, the principle of fast arrival is used. So,2♣-2♦-2♥-4♥is weak (maybe ♠32 ♥Q32 ♦8765 ♣Q432), while2♣-2♦-2♥-3♥is stronger (maybe ♠A2 ♥Q32 ♦Q10876 ♣543).

In Competition

After an overcall:

• Responder's doubleshows a terrible hand (0-3).
• Passshows a game-forcing hand.
• Responder's free bid shows 8+ HCP and a good 5+-card suit.
• If it's passed back to opener, double istakeout.

Next time : weak two bids.