The 2 opened bid is a cornerstone of traditional American bidding. It is solid and artificial, promising either: 22+ HCP through a well balanced hand, or 17+ HCP and no much less than "a trick short of game" with an unbalanced hand"A trick brief of game" means at the very least 9 play tricks with a 5+ card significant (i.e. One cheat shy of do 4/), or at least 10 play tricks with a 5+ map minor (i.e. One trick shy of do 5/). Some players be sure this necessity to it is in 8 1/2 and 9 1/2 playing tricks, respectively.Examples:AKQAK6A32KT94Holding 23 points, open up 2 and also plan to rebid 2NT.AKQ987AK6A325With 20 points and 9 tip (6 spades, 2 hearts and 1 diamond), this hand must open 2 and also plan come rebid 2.5KQJTAKAKT987With 20 points and also 10 tricks (5 clubs, 3 hearts and also 2 diamonds), this hand need to open 2 and also plan to rebid 3.AKQJ987AKT653—This hand "only" has 17 HCP, but is a trick short of video game (7 spades, 2 hearts). Open up 2 and also plan to rebid 2.Before the solid 2 bid was invented, all opened bids in ~ the 2-level were strong two bids, natural and also forcing. The advantage of the solid 2 bid is the it deserve to be play in conjunction v weak 2 bids, i m sorry occur an ext frequently and preempt the opponents.
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Short club opening bid in bridgeResponses to 2
The opening 2 bid is forcing. There space three popular approaches for responder"s bids:
ApproachMeaning
2 "waiting" | This is the approach officially supported by the ACBL in their typical AmericanYellow Card, so the is the main method that I"ll describe. |
2 "waiting", and 2 together an immediate an unfavorable bid | In this approach, both 2 and also 2 space conventional relays, yet the latter shows only 0-3 points. |
Control-showing responses | 1 king = 1 control, and also 1 ace = 2 controls. This is the most complicated of the three approaches. |
Let"s go over these one by one... 2 "Waiting"Playing this approach, the conventional responses to 2

room as follows.
ResponseMeaning
2 | 0-7 points, artificial. This is called the "negative" or "waiting" response, since it typically expresses a weak hand. However, responder will occasionally have 8+ points however no great bid, such just like 4441 distribution. |
2 | 8+ points and 5+ hearts. |
2 | 8+ points and also 5+ spades. |
2NT | 8+ points and also a balanced hand. |
3 | 8+ points and 5+ clubs. |
3 | 8+ points and 5+ diamonds. |
With the exception of the synthetic 2, all various other responses are natural and also game-forcing.Examples:
| | | Opener | | | Responder |
| | KQJ53 | | 642 | |
| | AK | | QT3 | |
| | AJT9 | | 876 | |
| | AQ | | 5432 | |
| | 2 | | 2 1 |
Artificial, "negative" or "waiting". 0-7 points.
| | | Opener | | | Responder |
| | AQ9 | | KJT74 | |
| | AK5 | | Q986 | |
| | AJT9 | | 72 | |
| | KQ4 | | A5 | |
| | 2 | | 2 1 |
5+ spades, 8+ points. Game-forcing.2 "Waiting", and also 2 as the "Double Negative"Same as above, except that a 2 solution is 3-7 clues (at least one king), conversely, a 2 solution is a "double negative", mirroring a an extremely bad hand (0-3 points, and also no king). Example:
| | | Opener | | | Responder |
| | AQ9 | | JT74 | |
| | AK5 | | Q986 | |
| | AJT9 | | 72 | |
| | KQ4 | | 876 | |
| | 2 | | 2 1 |
The dual negative bid, reflecting 0-3 points. No aces, no kings.Note this method that responder need to bid 3 if hold a good hand v 5+ hearts.Control-Showing ResponsesControl-showing responses are totally different than the over two methods. One "control" = one king. Two "controls" = one ace or 2 kings. Using straightforward arithmetic, responder tallies his variety of controls and also bids thusly:
ResponseMeaning
2 | 0 or 1 controls |
2 | 2 controls |
2 | 1 ace and 1 king (3 controls) |
2NT | 3 queens (3 controls) |
3 | 4 controls |
~ a 2 "Waiting" ResponseAfter hearing a 2 reply, opener"s fit rebids space natural and forcing because that one round. Any kind of no-trump rebids, however, room non-forcing.
Opener"s RebidMeaning
2 | 17+ points and 5+ hearts. |
2 | 17+ points and also 5+ spades. |
2NT | 22-24 points and also a well balanced hand. Note that this presume an opening 2NT bid of 20-21 points. |
3 | 17+ points and 5+ clubs. |
3 | 17+ points and 5+ diamonds. |
3NT | 25-27 points and also a well balanced hand. |
4NT | 28-30 points and a well balanced hand. I have never watched this come up. |
5NT | 31-32 points and also a well balanced hand. Ditto! |
The one hand pattern that doesn"t fit into the above bids is 4441. The is recommended to treat it together a well balanced hand, and bid no-trumps accordingly. For instance, rebid 2NT through a 4441 23-pointer such as:AK93KQJTQAKJ5After a confident Suit ResponseIf responder makes a confident suit solution (2/ or 3/, the partnership is committedto reaching a video game contract. Opener"s rebids room natural.
Opener"s RebidMeaning
2NT | 23-24 points and a well balanced hand. |
3NT | over 3/, this mirrors 23-24 points and a well balanced hand. Over 2/ (i.e. A jump rebid that 3NT), this reflects 25-27 points and also a balanced hand. |
Any raise | Natural, 17+ points, 3+ map support. |
Any brand-new suit | Natural, 17+ points, 5+ cards. |
After a confident 2NT ResponseIf responder bids 2NT to present 8+ points and a well balanced hand, then the partnership"s no-trump response system is on: Stayman,Jacoby Transfers, etc. Opener should bid accordingly, as if responder is the one who opened no-trumps.Examples:
| | | Opener | | | Responder |
| | KQJ5 | | A642 | |
| | AKQ | | J87 | |
| | AJT9 | | 87 | |
| | K6 | | T752 | |
| | 2 2NT 2 3 | | 2 1 3 3 4 |
Artificial, "negative" or "waiting". 0-7 points. 23-24 points, balanced. Non-forcing. Stayman.
| | | Opener | | | Responder |
| | KQ5 | | A642 | |
| | AKQ87 | | T5 | |
| | AJ | | Q75 | |
| | KJ6 | | A752 | |
| | 2 3 2 3NT | | 2NT 1 3 6NT |
Natural, balanced, 8+ points. Jacoby transport to hearts.
after Opener"s No-Trump RebidIf opener rebids no-trumps (e.g. 2NT), then the partnership"s no-trump solution system is on: Stayman, Jacoby Transfers, etc.After Opener"s fit RebidAs currently stated, any suit bid through opener is forcing for one round. Responder have the right to bid together follows. Solitary raise - natural, 3+ card support. This shows a sustaining hand with slam interest, also if responder"s first bid to be 2. double raise - natural, 3+ card support (frequently 4+).
This is a signoff if responder"s first bid to be 2. v a good hand, it"s far better to bid "slowly"and save an are for slam exploration. V a negative hand, it"s less essential to save space. Thus the difference between single raises and dual raises, i beg your pardon is based upon the rule of "fast arrival".Examples:
| | | Opener | | | Responder |
| | KQ5 | | A642 | |
| | AKQ87 | | T952 | |
| | AJ | | Q543 | |
| | KJ6 | | 5 | |
| | 2 2 | | 2 1 3 2 |
Negative. A best hand (at the top of the 0-7 range) through slam attention in hearts. In practice, 6 is a reasonable contract.
| | | Opener | | | Responder |
| | KQ5 | | T642 | |
| | AKQ87 | | T952 | |
| | AJ | | Q543 | |
| | KJ6 | | 5 | |
| | 2 2 | | 2 1 4 2 |
Negative. A weak hand (at the bottom the the 0-7 range) through heart support but no slam interest. All other bids - these deserve to be play in two various styles... Natural. Every one of responder"s rebids space natural. Brand-new suits show 5+ cards, and also no-trump bids show balanced hands. This is basic and straightforward to remember. The "Second Negative". numerous players use a conventional 2nd bid by responder to present a truly poor hand of 0-4 points. This is done by one of two people bidding: The "cheapest" (i.e. Lowest-available) boy suit, in solution to 2/ or 3 3NT in solution to opener"s 3 rebidThe "second negative" is rather intricate, for this reason some instances are in order:
| | | Opener | | | Responder |
| | KQ5 | | T642 | |
| | AKQ87 | | T3 | |
| | AJ | | Q543 | |
| | KJ6 | | 542 | |
| | 2 2 | | 2 1 3 2 |
Waiting. If agreeing come play second negative bids, then 3 is the cheapest minor, artificial and also showing 0-4 points.If not playing second an adverse bids, responder would certainly be required to bid 2NT, natural.
| | | Opener | | | Responder |
| | KQ5 | | AT642 | |
| | AKQ87 | | T3 | |
| | AJ | | Q53 | |
| | KJ6 | | 542 | |
| | 2 2 3NT | | 2 1 2 2 |
Waiting. Natural, 5+ spades. If agreeing to play second an unfavorable bids, then this mirrors 5-7 points. If not playing the 2nd negative, climate this mirrors 0-7 points, i m sorry is less useful for opener.
If 2 is doubled, responder can redouble with 4+ great clubs, or merely make his traditional response.If 2 is overcalled, responder"s bids space natural. Dual is because that penalty, brand-new suits are natural, and also no-trump bids promise a stopper in the adversary suit.There is no much longer a an adverse 2 bid; responder just passes with a poor hand.
External Articles
Mike Lawrence. Bidding much more to show Less.
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