2§ Openings
A hand such as ªAKQxxx ©AKQxxx ¨ - §x is likely to make not merely game, but small slam, opposite a feeble assortment like ªxx ©xxx ¨ xxxx §Qxxx.
If you open a mere 1ª (telling yourself you have only 18 HCP) partner will of course sensibly pass with the above garbage. And you will weep.
The solution is to open 2§ instead on any hand where you want to be in game even if partner has less than normal requirements (a good 5+) for a response to a one-level opening.
You open 2§ whenever you'd have good reason to cry if partner passed your one of a suit opening!
The guiding rule is to open 2§ on less than 22 HCP only when you have 3 or fewer losers. With 22 or more HCP and 4 losers, we usually open 2§ as well.
e.g. ªAKJx ©AKxxx ¨x §AKx
The shapely hand at the top of this column has one loser. Losers are counted by looking at the first three cards only in every suit. For every one that is not an ace, king or queen, count one loser.
A queen with no other honours, however, is demoted and counted as two and a half losers.
QJxxx counts as 2 losers. AKxx, KQJxx and AQxxx are all counted as one loser.
2¨ Negative response
2¨ is the artificial negative response to 2§. It is made with all hands of 0-7 HCP no matter what their shape. But AKxxx qualifies as a positive, likely to be far more useful cards than, say, three queens and two jacks, which I’d be much happier to call a negative. And it is used as a waiting bid with some slightly stronger hands that have no clear-cut bid e.g. ªQxxxx ©Axx ¨xxx §Kx.
Remember that a 2§ opening is forcing to game, even after a negative 2¨response. It has to be! Opener did not want to be passed at the one level if responder had less than 6HCP, so responder must not wimp out now.
The only exception is 2§: 2¨ followed by a 2NT rebid, showing 22-24. (With 25-27 rebid 3NT. With more, make it up!) With no points, responder may choose to pass.
After 2§:2¨a suit rebid by opener shows at least a 5-card suit and an unbalanced hand. Responder should raise a major at once with 3+ support.
Since the auction is game-forcing, the Principle of Fast Arrival applies. This useful treatment means that in a game-forcing situation a raise of a suit below game is stronger than a raise immediately (i.e. fast arrival) to game.
Thus a ‘slow’ raise suggests that you have some card(s) of value – at least one first or second round control (an ace or a king or a void or singleton) - that your original negative response did not suggest. A ‘fast’ raise to game shows 3+ support but no first or second round control. This means that 2§:2¨, 2ª:3ª is stronger than 2§:2¨, 2ª:4ª. (Don’t confuse this with other non-forcing auctions – e.g. 1§:1ª, 3ª is not as strong as 1§:1ª, 4ª)
With no support, the 2¨ responder next makes the most natural bid according to shape. Partner won’t expect much in the way of high cards after the original 2¨response.
Positive responses
Any bid other than 2¨shows a good 8+ HCP. A suit response shows a 5+-card suit headed by at least KQ. You may respond 2NT with a scattered good 8+.
QUIZ
1. Partner opens 2§. What is your response?
a. ªKQxxxx ©xx ¨xxxx §x
b. ªKQx ©Axx ¨KJxxx §xx
c. ªAQxxx ©Qx ¨Jxxxx §x
d. ªQx ©Qxx ¨KJx §JTxxx
e. ªxx ©AJxxx ¨Axxxx §x
2. You open 2§. What is your rebid after partner’s 2¨ response?
a. ªAQJx ©A ¨Ax §AKJxxx
b. ªAKQx ©x ¨AKJx §KQJT
c. ªx ©AKQ ¨AKQJx §QJxx
d. ªQ ©AKJTxx ¨AK §KQJx
3. After 2§ - 2¨ - 2ª what is your rebid?
a. ªxx ©xxx ¨xxxx §xxxx
b. ªQxxx ©Jx ¨xxx §Qxxx
c. ªAxx ©x ¨xxxx §xxxxx
d. ªx ©Qxxxxx ¨xxx §Jxx
4. You open 2§ and partner responds 2©. What is your rebid?
a. ªx ©KQxx ¨ AKQJx §AKQ
b. ªx ©AKx ¨ AKQxxx §KQx
c. ªA ©Kx ¨ AKQJxx §AKxx
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