Strong Two Clubs Opening
Only Strong. Because we use Weak Twos, then we need some way to open strong hands, and that is with Two Clubs for all hands that are not suited for No Trump openings.
In other words, hands that would open Two Clubs, Two Diamonds, Two Hearts or Two Spades in old-fashioned Standard American will all open with Two Clubs. The subsequent rebid by opener will show his true suit. As in Standard American, it is (usually) forcing to game. We play it as forcing to game or to 2NT with a bust response, or to 4 of a minor with no fit or with insufficient stoppers for 3 NT.
Usage: Virtually universal in advanced play, except for systems such as Precision, which open a strong One Club. The 2 Diamond "waiting" response is also very common.
Strength: Generally, the HCP range is 22+ and up. With a balanced 20 or 21 HCP hand, we open Two No Trump - not Two Clubs. With a balanced 22+ HCP hand, we open Two Clubs and bid No Trump on the next round. Forcing, of course, usually (90+%) to Game.
Any hand within one trick or so of game should open Two Clubs, regardless of HCP's.
Since a Two Clubs opening is artificial, the responses are somewhat different than Standard American.Responses to Two Clubs Openings
Responses With a Bust Hand
We use Two Hearts as a negative response - meaning less than 5 points and no Aces.
If Hearts is a true suit that should be bid, we bid 2 No Trump to indicate Hearts. Thus, we have no real 2 NT bid in response to 2 Club openings.
More common Duplicate usage is to use 2 Diamonds as a 'waiting' artificial response when there is no useful suit bid, and on the second response, bid the 'other minor' - Clubs -- as a "second negative" to indicate a useless hand.
(We don't use this system because it requires responder to make two negative bids, neither of which show any cards. )
Typical Treatment - Weak response to 2 Clubs opening:
N
E
S
W 2§ P 2¨* P 2©
P
3§
2¨ tells partner nothing. 3§ says "I have a bust hand, North"
Our Treatment - Weak response to 2 Clubs opening:
2§
P
2©*
P
"I have a bust hand, North."
4ª
. . .
"OK, I heard you, South."
Responses to Two Clubs With 4+ PointsThe 2¨ ResponseTwo Diamonds is usually used as a "waiting" bid - it means, "Partner, I have a few scattered values, but basically I am just keeping the bidding open for you to name your real suit." Some treat it a negative bid, promising nothing.
In our treatment, we use 2¨ as a positive bid denying any useful suit bid. Thus, our use is truly (always) a 'waiting' bid, promising a game level contract.
N E S W
2§ P 2¨* . . . South has something, so game is on.
Suit Responses
If the responder has a useful suit with a "concentration of values" - 5 points in a suit, such as
§KQxx, that suit is bid directly over the 2§ opener:§ P 3§ . . . "North, I have something in Clubs"N E S W
2
2
§ P 2ª . . . "Spades is my suit, North"
Notrump Responses
With 8+ points and scattered values, bid 3 Notrump - not 2NT. With 5 to 7 points, bid 2¨ - waiting - and 2NT or 3NT on the next round.
§ P 3NT . . . Game values; Notrump distribution.2
2
§ P 2¨* . . . Something of value. NT on the next round.
Example Two Clubs Opening Sequences
N E S W
2§ P 2¨* P "I have something, but no useful suit".
2ª P 4ª P "I have a fit for Spades, North"
4NT P 5¨ P "I have one Ace, North".
6NT "Good, South, we can make 6 NT".
2§ P 3¨ P "I have stuff in Diamonds".
3NT "That’s all I need for a NT game"
2§ P 3NT P "I have a scattered 8 or more".
6NT "Great - let's go slamming !"
2§ P 2NT* P "Careful - I really have Hearts!.
3ª . . . My real suit is Spades, South"
P P 4ª P "That sounds OK with me, North".
2§ P 2¨* P "Something again, North".
2NT . . . "I have NT distribution, but 22 plus".
P 3NT P "NT's fine with me, North".
2§ P 2©* P South is showing a bust.
2NT P P P Not forced to bid again, South stops
2§ P 2©* P South with another bust hand.
2ª P 3ª . . . South can bid again with a few points and 3+ Spades.