2¨/ 2©/ 2ª Weak Two Openings
These openings show an essentially single-suited hand not strong enough to open at the one level, but containing a decent 6-card suit precisely - and 6-10 HCP.
How ‘decent’? Containing at least two of the top four honours should be fine. In borderline cases, let the vulnerability be your guide. At ‘unfavourable’ (red vs green), for example, you should pass with
♠x ©Kxxxxx ¨Kxx §xxx,
but ©KJT98x would bring it up to scratch. And at no vulnerability should you open ªQxxxxx ©KJx ¨x §xxx. You want to have at least as many points in your suit as outside it so that partner can judge what to do because the responder is the master of the auction.
It is usually unwise to open a weak two when you hold a side 4-card major. You may well miss out on your best spot because responder will assume a single-suited hand.
Try also to avoid opening a weak two with a 7-card suit. Those hands may be more suited to an opening pre-empt at the three level (see next section). One exception might be made at unfavourable vulnerability when your suit quality is not quite up to a three bid as with ªKxxxxxx ©x ¨Kx §Qxx.
Responding to Weak Twos
Pass with a weak hand and no hope of game, even with a misfit and a long suit of your own. Cut your losses here and now at the two level. Wriggling around trying to improve the contract will only get you too high. Be happy to give the opponents room to enter the bidding. If you have a misfit, it is highly likely that they do too. And wouldn’t you prefer them to be in trouble?
Responding with a fit
With a moderate fit and better than minimum opening values (16+ TP) but too many likely losers for slam, raise a major directly to game. In the case of diamonds, consider 3NT before five of a minor.
e.g. Raise 2© to 4© with ªAJx ©Kxxx ¨KQxxx §x but over 2¨bid 3NT with ªAQx ©KQx ¨Kxxx §Kx
With 3 or 4-card support and a few scattered values raise to the three level. The single raise is not invitational to game - opener must pass. It is upping the ante, boosting the mildly pre-emptive effect of the two-level opening one step further. The idea is to make the opposition guess what to do at a less comfortable level.
e.g. Raise partner's 2© to 3© with
ªAxx ©Qxx ¨Kxxxx §xx
With a more shapely hand, especially one with 4+ support, even with few values, raise pre-emptively to game at all but unfavourable vulnerability. You don't expect to make game but they surely can. Your jump to game puts considerable pressure on your LHO because he will have quite a good hand but he won't know whether you have a strong hand or a weak and shapely hand. Do you have most of the missing points, or does his partner? If you can make the opponents guess whether to pass, or double, or bid higher, you give them the opportunity of guessing wrong!
e.g. Raise partner's 2ª to 4ª (whether RHO bids or not) with ªQxxx ©x ¨Axxx §xxxx
Inviting to game
In order to consider the serious possibility of game as responder you need the equivalent of a good opening hand. How do you proceed? You cannot raise to the three level – that is merely pre-emptive.
Instead you use an artificial ‘feature ask’ enquiry of 2NT, which opener cannot pass. This enables you to find out how good opener's Weak Two is, and where any outside strength is located if the hand is in the upper range.
Opener's reply to the forcing 2NT enquiry
Opener is required to do one of the following:
· with a minimum 6-8, rebid the opened suit
· with a maximum 8-10, bid the side suit in which you hold the ace or king, regardless of its length
· with a maximum & a solid suit (AKQxxx) and thus no room for a side suit honour, bid 3NT
e.g. You open 2ª. Partner inquires with 2NT.
Holding a minimum ªQJxxxx ©Kxx ¨xx §Jx, bid 3ª. Holding a maximum ªKQJxxx ©Kxx ¨xx §Jx bid 3©.
Responder is in charge and may pass, sign off in the opened suit, bid game or slam.
e.g. Holding ªAxx ©Axx ¨AQxx §xxx opposite a 2ª opening, inquire with 2NT, planning to pass 3ª or 3§ but to go to game opposite 3¨/© because of the fitting honour
Change of suit is another strong response. It is absolutely forcing over an opening weak two. Responder has a strong hand and a good 6-card suit of her own, or an excellent 5-card suit, and is looking for support. Opener should raise with Jx or better, otherwise bid 3NT or repeat her suit, or bid another suit with some values, whichever is cheaper.
e.g. Look for a ª fit by bidding 2ª over partner's 2© opening with ªAKxxxx ©x ¨Axx §KQx. You will raise 3ª to 4, or else give up on game & pass 3© or correct 2NT to 3©.
QUIZ
5. What do you bid as dealer, nil vul, with the following?
a. ªKQTxxx ©AQxx ¨xx §x
b. ªT9xxxx ©Kxx ¨x §AQx
c. ªxx ©KQTxxx ¨xxx §Kx
d. ªx ©Qx ¨KQJxxxx §xxx
e. ªKJTxxx ©- ¨Kxxxx §xx
f. ª Jxx ©x ¨Kxx §KJTxxx
6. Partner opens 2©, green vs red. RHO passes. Your bid?
a. ªKxx ©Jxx ¨Axx §KJxx
b. ªxx ©AKx ¨AQJxxx §Kx
c. ªx ©Qxxx ¨Axxxx §xxx
d. ªAQxx ©KTx ¨xx §KQxx
7. What is your rebid after 2ª-2NT (inquiry)?
a. ªAKQxxx ©xx ¨xxx §xx
b. ªAQTxxx ©x ¨Kxx §xxx
c. ªKJxxxx ©xx ¨QJx §xx
8. What is your rebid after 2¨: 2©?
a. ªJxx ©xx ¨KJTxxx §Kx
b. ªxx ©xxx ¨KQJTxx §xx
c. ªx ©xx ¨KQTxxx §Qxxx
ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨
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