Stage 2 Conventions by Neil Rosen Weak Two Bids and Responses I’M SURE you all play Weak Two bids Pre-empting Style round (you can of course factor in other rather than strong two bids already. What! considerations such as vulnerability and You don’t? I really think you should . Partnerships should agree various prin ci - obviously the quality of your hand!) a) Weak two bids are far more frequent ples for pre-empting, whether at the two So holding: than strong two bids. level or higher. Good partnerships decide b) They are much more troublesome for on all sorts of parameters to factor in – If partner opens 2 ™, it the opponents. here are a few to think over: ´ 3 2 is vital to raise to 3 ™ c) Strong two bids never seem to work ™ K 8 6 on the first round. that well anyway! a) The vulnerability (be more cautious t A 8 7 2 This is not (repeat, not) d) Weak two bids are great fun to play! when vulnerable etc.) ® K 9 4 3 invitational to game, it b) Position at the table (1st seat = is purely raising the There are two mainstream systems aggressive, 2nd seat = sound, 3rd seat stakes before the people use: = fairly random) opponents have had a chance to establish c) Whether a side four-card major is their own fit and values. i) Benjy, or Reverse Benjy, Acol. These acceptable or not. were introduced by Albert Benjamin d) Whether you can open a Weak Two Responding to a 2 t Opener (a redoubtable Scot who lived well with A-K-Q-x-x-x (my preference is into his 90s). Benjy goes like this: definitely not to do so – partner can Since 3NT is often the desirable final desti - 2® = 8 playing tricks (unspecified never judge accurately). nation the responses are geared accordingly: suit) or 21-22 balanced 2t = Game force Responding in a New Suit New suit = constructive, non-forcing, (or 23-24 balanced) to a Weak Two as discussed (typically a six- 2™ = Weak two opener card suit with 10-14 HCP) (six-cards in length) I like to recommend that in response to Jump in = natural and 2´ = Weak two opener any Weak Two the bid of a new suit is new suit game-forcing (six-cards in length) constructive but not forcing. Generally 2NT = relay. The normal requi re- 2NT = 19-20 balanced opener can raise if suitable, or occasionally ment for this is about 15 In Reverse Benjy: rebid a semi-solid suit if maximum. To HCP (some times less with a 2® = Game force create a force, either jump or start with nice fit). The relay asks for (or 23-24 balanced) 2NT. features. A feature is defined 2t = 8 playing tricks (unspecified as a possible stopper for suit) or 21-22 balanced Raising the Weak Two Suit 3NT, i.e. A, K-x, Q-x-x, 2™ = Weak two opener J-x-x-x etc. as opposed to (six-cards in length) 2t –3t, 2 ™ –3™ and 2 ´ –3´ are all a con trol or singleton etc. 2´ = Weak two opener essentially ‘barrage bids’ i.e. pre-emptive. The responses are: (six-cards in length) It is so important to raise straight away New suit = feature 2NT = 19-20 balanced to the three level to make life difficult for 3t = minimum the opponents, rather than lamely passing, 3NT = maximum with ii) Weak Two bids in diamonds, hearts allowing them to find their fit and then a good suit (two and spades. This is my preferred bidding on the next round. of the top three option, I must say. It just gives you The level of the fit tells us roughly that honours) more opportunity for pre-emption with: Raising to 3 t is essentially pre - and I have always felt that the coded emptive (usually three-card support element of Benjy doesn’t work well at 8 trumps – bid to the two level to conform to the level of the fit and all in uncontested auctions – let alone 9 trumps – bid to the three level anything between 8 and 14 HCP). if the opponents interfere. I also do 10 trumps – bid to the four level (or This bid is purely and simply trying not recommend any system which higher!) to throw a spanner in the opponents’ forces a balanced 19 count to open works and does not therefore need to 2NT; it works so much better to open This gives an indication of whether to be defined too closely other than it one of a suit and rebid 2NT (18-19). raise or even how far to raise on the first normally has fewer than 14 or 15 HCP. 26 English Bridge December 2012 www.ebu.co.uk Responding to 2 ™ and 2 ´ Openers If the opponents double: Redouble = strong hand, usually In my own preferred methods, most of the seek ing to penalise CLUB PLAYER’S details from the 2 t opener hold, but the New suit = constructive and non- responses to the relay of 2NT change: now, forcing BIDDING QUIZ since usually the desired finishing spot is in 2NT = still a relay the major opened, we show shortages in res - Supporting at the three level = pre - ON each of the following problems, ponse to the relay. So, after a 2NT enquiry: emptive you are West. What should you bid with each hand on the given auction? New suit = singleton/void, Example Julian Pottage gives his answers on non-minimum Return to major = minimum Here is an example of how well the system page 54. (usually no works: the key point I am trying to get shortage to show across is that this method is so much conveniently, i.e. better than others because rather than just Hand 1 WNES below the major) trying to describe overall strength and suit - ´ A 1NT 3´ 3NT = maximum , no quality, it zooms in on using good judg - ™ J 2 ? shortage but ment to reach excellent contracts when the t A K 9 8 7 4 good suit (2 of cards fit well. Clearly if you have the values ® 10 6 4 3 top 3 honours) for game, do not use the relay simply for Four of major = maximum, no practice as so many seem to do – just bid shortage, not game! Only use the 2NT relay if there is such good suit- uncertainty over whether to bid game (or Hand 2 WNES quality sometimes slam!). ´ K 8 7 6 1t Dble Pass You hold the following hand: ™ K 8 7 5 ? In common with methods such as splinters, t Q 9 2 the key to this easy-to-play, efficient system If partner opens ® Q J is to understand which holdings facing ´ A J 7 2™, then rather shortage are either good or bad: ™ J 8 6 than using some t A 8 7 2 other method to Good holdings: A-x-x, x-x-x, x-x-x-x, ® K Q 6 get useless infor m a - Hand 3 WNES i.e. no wasted points and length (more tion, let’s see how ´ A K Q 8 1´ Pass 2´ Pass ruffing potential) are good. our relay works. ™ 6 5 4 2 ? Bad holdings: K-Q-x, K-J-x, x, i.e. t A 3 wasted points are very poor – as is of ® K 8 7 course duplicated shortage (if partner Hand A Hand B and you both have a singleton in the ´ 8 6 ´ 8 6 same suit, that is bad news!). ™ A Q 10 7 5 2 ™ A Q 10 7 5 2 t 3 t J 9 6 3 Hand 4 WNES Dealing with Intervention after You ® J 9 7 5 ® 3 ´ Q J 1™ Pass 1´ Pass Have Opened with a Weak Two Bid ™ Q J 10 7 5 ? t K 10 8 5 All bids, wherever possible, retain their orig - If partner has Hand A, he will respond 3 t ® A 2 inal meaning. Doubles after intervention to your 2NT relay to show shortage, ma - are always penalties and not negative, the king game an ex cellent proposition. But if same as after higher pre-empts. partner has Hand B, he will advertise club WNES shortage with 3 ®, making game decidedly Hand 5 1® 1´ 1NT If the opponents overcall at the two level: against the odds. Please note that other ´ J 9 5 2® 3® Pass Pass Double = penalties relay systems such as Ogust (which ask ™ K J 10 7 6 ? 2NT = relay about points and suit-quality) would treat t K Q 4 New suit = constructive and non- these hands as the same, whether the short - ® 8 4 forcing as before age was in clubs or diamonds. Supporting at the three level = still Finally, an integral part of adopting the pre-emptive as before ethos of playing Weak Two openers is to play Weak Jump Overcalls as well. They put Hand 6 WNES If the opponents overcall at the three level: great pressure on the opponents and give a ´ 6 1t 2´ Double = penalties part nership plenty of scope to gain confi - ™ A Q 8 6 ? New suit (below partner’s) = con- dence and experience in having a regular t J 10 9 5 structive and non- opportunity to judge when to use them. ® Q 8 6 5 forcing as before Do try these methods, they are easy to New suit (above partner’s) = for cing learn, simple to use and deliver great Supporting = competitive results! r www.ebu.co.uk December 2012 English Bridge 27.