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Detail specifications 117K - Level 3

Strong 2♣ opening bid

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2 club openings cover several types of hand:
  • balanced hands with at least 22-23HCP (super NT),
  • third-zone one-suiter hands with a strong suit of at least 6 cards,
  • fourth-zone hands with a very strong 5-card major (minimum ace king queen x x).

Some advice:
Open 2 clubs if you hold the number of tricks for game minus 1
SWNE
2
K
3
3
A
J
3
A
K
Q
10
5
4
3
Problem E2508 2 clubs With a magnificent third-zone one-suiter (about 18HCP), open 2 clubs strong undetermined hand. If you open 1 diamond then jump to 3 diamonds that would indicate a second-zone one-suiter (15-17HCP)
 
SWNE
2
A
J
9
2
K
4
K
Q
4
A
K
Q
3
Problem E2506 2 clubsAll very strong balanced hands (22-23HCP) should be opened 2 clubs followed by a NT rebid.
 
 
Reponses to 2 opening
2 is forcing for at least 1 round. Reponses are:
  • 2 'negative or waiting' with any hand 0-7 HCP
  • 2,2,3,3with 8+HCP and a long suit (5+ in Major or 6+ in minor)... forcing to game

SWNE
2
Pass
2
8
7
6
5
7
5
4
8
6
3
2
9
8
Problem E4523 2 diamondsNegative in this case. You will probably pass next time round when the opener has described his 2 club hand.
 
SWNE
2
Pass
2
4
K
Q
10
9
5
8
7
5
A
J
9
5
Problem E4522 Do not delay. show your strength and nice suit... a slam could well be in the cards...
 
 
The opener's rebid after a 2 diamond response.
  • With a nice suit, a 2-suiter or a balanced hand 24+HCP, the opener bids 2 'Kokish relay' See below for bidding sequences after a 'Kokish relay'
  • With a balanced hand with 22-23HCP, the opener bids 2NT and the auction continues with Stayman and Texas (not forcing)
  • With a one-suiter hand, he bids his suit in general a 6-card suit headed by high honors... (and has to bid 3 if his suit is )

A
7
4
2
9
7
6
5
K
9
4
K
6
SWNE
2
Pass
2
Pass
2NT
Pass
3
Pass
3
Pass
4NT
Pass
6
Pass
Pass
Pass
K
6
A
Q
A
Q
J
10
5
3
A
9
5
Problem E6148 Example of a 2NT rebid by the opener of 2 clubs
 
K
8
6
5
K
Q
7
4
Q
7
4
2
5
SWNE
2
Pass
2
Pass
2
A
Q
J
10
9
2
A
A
K
J
10
9
8
Problem E5297 Bid your very nice suit. Your partner will decide the rest : stop, game, slam...
 
 
Bidding after a Kokish relay
After a Kokish relay, the responder must always bid an artificial 2 relay, to allow opener to better describe his hand
  • With a Game strength, the opener bids 3 ... with a weaker , he would have bid 3 directly
  • With a balanced hand with 24+HCP, the opener bids 2NT and the auction continues with Stayman and Texas, forcing to game
  • With a based 2-suiter hand, he bids 3 in his second suit (3, 3, 3) showing 4+ in his second suit..

8
5
4
3
9
8
5
6
4
3
6
4
2
SWNE
2
Pass
2
Pass
2NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
A
K
Q
J
10
A
9
7
2
A
K
Q
5
Not using the Kokish to show exactly 22-23HCP.. and let responder decide wether or not to bid game
 
SWNE
2
Pass
2
Pass
2
Pass
2
Pass
3
Pass
5
Pass
Pass
Pass
8
6
3
9
8
Q
4
3
J
10
6
4
2
    
    
    
5
A
Q
J
9
8
A
J
10
A
K
Q
5
Using the Kokish relay to show your - strong 2 suiter to find a game much more likely to make...