DUPLICATE BRIDGE: 2-CLUBS OPENING BIDS.

STRONG 2C OPENING BIDS:

An opening bid of 2C (artificial) can show an unbalanced hand of 21 or more points or a strong hand that can win 9 or more tricks.
If playing (Loser Trick Count)*, a hand with 4 losers qualifies to open 2C.
This hand qualifies to be open 2C.

A K 9                              Open 2C
A K Q 9 7 6
A 5
K 5

The above hand has 3 losers therefore it can be opened a strong 2C.

Note:  The responder of the 2C opener cannot pass.

Some of the responses are:      a) 2D; a waiting bid used to ask partner to describe his hand.
                                                 b) Step responses:
                                                      0 to 4 points  -  2 diamonds.
                                                      4 to 7 points  -  2 hearts.
                                                      6 to 10 points - 2 spades.
                                                      10 or more    -  2NT.

Strong balanced hands can also be opened 2C planning to rebid 2NT at the next opportunity but, it is also customary to open strong balanced hands 2NT.  The down down side to this system is that sometimes partner with 0 points or a hand with 2 or 3 points will pass partner's 2NT opening bid because unlike 2C, 2NT is not a forcing bid.

EXAMPLES OF STRONG 2C OPENING HANDS:

A K J 10 9 7 5     Open  2C
K 9 2
A K
5
This hand does not have the required 20+ points but it has only 4 losers.  Open 2C.

K Q J 9 8 5 4         Open 2C
A K 5
A 9
J
Again, this hand does not have the required points but has only 4 losers.  Open 2C.

A K Q                     Open 2NT
A K
A J 10 5
K 10 9 5
This hand has 24 high card points but is balanced.   Open 2NT.

A K Q 10 8 7 5 3
K Q 5 2
A
VOID
This hand has 18 points but qualifies to be opened 2C because it has only one loser trick.

OPENER'S REBID:

1.  Opener's rebid in a suit is forcing.
2.  Opener's rebid in NT shows a balanced hand and is not forcing.


RESPONDER'S REBID AFTER BIDDING 2D WAITING.:

1.  With 4+ points, raise opener's suit with 3-card or longer support.
2.  With 4-card support and no aces, kings, singletons or voids, jump raise opener's suit.
3.  Bid a new 5-card or longer suit  (J 10 9 6 5 or better).
4.  Bid NT at the lowest level.

EXAMPLES:      2C  -  2D
                            2S   -  ??  You have the following hands.

K 7 5                   Raise to 3S.
10 5
Q J 7 6 3
8 7 6
A forcing bid, opener must bid again.

J 8 4 2                 Raise to 4S.
Q 8 7 5
10 3
J 7 5
With excellent support jump bid opener's suit.

9 8                        Bid 3H.
K J 9 7 5
J 9 6 4
7 5
You have no spade support, show your 5-card heart suit.

J 8                         Bid 2NT.
J 10 9
9 8 7 5
Q J 7 5
you must say something to keep the auction going, 2NT shows a weak hand.

RECAP:

A 2C opening is artificial.
Open a 21+ points balanced hand 2NT.
A 2C opening usually has 4 loser tricks.

Responding to 2C:

With a good 5-card suit and 8+ points, responder bids 2H, 2S, 3C or 3D.
Wit 8+ points and a balanced hand, bid 2NT.
Bid 2D waiting for all other hands.

Opener's rebid:

Bid your longest suit.
Bid the high-ranking of two 5-card suits.

NOTE:  If opener rebids a suit after the 2D response, the partnership is forced to the game level.












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