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The Weak Two |
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This is a 6 card suit and usually 6-10 points. Openings of 2♥ and 2♠ are commonly played as weak just about everywhere. The weak 2♦ is the most popular choice in USA for those who do not play Flannery. There's nothing wrong with having a weak 2♦ opener, but does it really have much of a pre-emptive effect? I believe that there is a much better use for the bid. So here I'll concentrate on 2♥/♠ although everything is equally valid for a weak 2♦. |
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| ♠ |
2 |
This is a classic 2♥ opener. It's nice to have most of your points in your suit, and intermediates in the suit are also important. |
| ♥ |
KQJ1086 |
| ♦ |
Q873 |
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| ♣ |
32 |
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| ♠ |
KJ73 |
But 2♥ would be a poor opening with hand. It is not recommended to open a weak two when you have a 4 card major as you may miss a 4-4 or better fit with partner. |
| ♥ |
KJ10862 |
| ♦ |
2 |
| ♣ |
32 |
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| ♠ |
1082 |
This is a fine 2♥ opener. It's one point shy of the minimum but the solidity of the ♥ suit is easily enough compensation. |
| ♥ |
QJ10876 |
| ♦ |
Q3 |
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| ♣ |
32 |
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| ♠ |
K102 |
This hand, however, is a little too good and I would open 1♥ or else pass. |
| ♥ |
KJ10876 |
It's probably a matter of style, but I don't like to have a gap betwen my 1♥/♠ opening and my 2♥/♠opening. So I'll never pass and would open 1♥. |
| ♦ |
93 |
| ♣ |
A2 |
In 3rd seat 2♥ would be acceptable as it's opposite a passed partner. |
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| ♠ |
104 |
This hand is an example from the club – it's owner opened 2♥. |
| ♥ |
KJ109874 |
This is a poor bid with 7 ♥ 's and a 3♥ opener is correct (pre-empt to the limit). |
| ♦ |
Q5 |
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| ♣ |
103 |
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Responses to a weak two opening |
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When partner opens a weak two (say 6-9 points and a 6 card suit) we have options. |
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A raise to the 3-level is pre-emptive, usually with 3 card support. This is the only weak bid (RONF – Raise Only Non-Forcing). |
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A raise to the 4-level may be anything. I could be a pretty strong hand or it could be a very weak hand with 4 card trump support. Only the bidder knows and he is in charge if the opponents bid anything. |
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A new suit is natural and forcing. |
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That leaves 2NT. In America it is common that 2NT asks for a feature, but I prefer the Ogust convention. Playing Ogust, 2NT is artificial and asks opener to specify how good his weak two is. So in reply to 2NT we have: - |
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| 3♣ |
min points, |
poor suit |
| 3♦ |
min points, |
good suit |
| 3♥ |
max points, |
poor suit |
| 3♠ |
max points, |
good suit |
| 3NT |
AKQxxx in suit |
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3NT as AKQxxx is rather rare as we have max 10 pts, but if we do have this holding, partner needs to know. |
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| Hand 1 |
Hand 2 |
Hand 3 |
Hand 4 |
Hand 5 |
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| ♠ |
AJ8653 |
♠ |
642 |
♠ |
AJ9542 |
♠ |
J8 |
♠ |
1064 |
| ♥ |
54 |
♥ |
KQJ862 |
♥ |
A3 |
♥ |
AKJ653 |
♥ |
AKQ653 |
| ♦ |
62 |
♦ |
76 |
♦ |
762 |
♦ |
76 |
♦ |
76 |
| ♣ |
953 |
♣ |
J5 |
♣ |
J9 |
♣ |
J95 |
♣ |
72 |
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With these five hands, after our weak 2♥/♠ opening partner bid 2NT and we rebid: - |
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| Hand 1 |
3♣ |
min points, |
poor suit |
| Hand 2 |
3♦ |
min points, |
good suit |
| Hand 3 |
3♥ |
max points, |
poor suit |
| Hand 4 |
3♠ |
max points, |
good suit |
| Hand 5 |
3NT |
AKQxxx in suit |
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Once responder has used Ogust, he may have enough information to either sign off in a partscore, 3NT or 4 of the major. Other bids, which are slam probes, are common to other sequences (cue bids, RKCB etc.) and are specified elsewhere. |
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Pattaya Bridge Club - |
www.pattayabridge.com |
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