Responses to Opening Two Clubs

A Game Force - Almost. Responder is forced to bid on the first round, of course, but the opening bid is not always forcing to game. (If responder is bust, the points are not there, so we don't have to bid game !)

Our responses to a 2 Club opener are designed to show HCP and concentrations of strength. Responses with a biddable suit are natural, but conventional without. Any response other than Two Hearts creates a game forcing sequence.

No Second Negative. We have no need for a second negative response as many systems do. Having bid 2©, responder need not respond to any rebid by opener except Blackwood or some equivalent Slam force.

The following conventions are all alerted, as indicated by the * following the bid.

2§ - P - 2¨* ...     A conventional bid, indicating 5+ HCP but no good suit. It does not mean Diamonds, but is referred to as a "waiting" bid. It is not weak.

You should ask what your opponents 2¨ bids mean to be sure. Most systems of responses start with 2¨, including those which can't distinguish between a weak response and a stronger one.

2©* ... A "bust" hand. Does not mean Hearts, and denies 5 or more HCP or any Ace. A single negative response; no further bids are required by responder, as this bid has told it all.

2NT* ... A Heart suit !   Obviously conventional. With a legitimate No Trump distribution of 6+ HCP, bid 2¨ first -- waiting -- and No Trump next round.

The following responses are natural, and so require no Alert:

2ª ....          A real Spade suit, with a concentration of HCP values in the suit, not just any 4-5 Spades. Usually means about 5 HCP and a good Spade stopper for a NT contract. Sometimes only three cards long.

3§ .... A real Club suit with concentration of values in Clubs.

3¨ .... A real Diamond suit, with concentration as above.

Sometimes, the 2© responder will have 3 - 4 HCP and a suit, or several trump cards in support of openers rebid. In this case, responder can bid freely after his initial 2© bid, secure in the knowledge that opener will remember the original Two Heart response means weakness in HCP.

Examples:

N	E	S	W
2§	P	2©*	P	A negative response.
2ª	P	3ª	P	"I'm weak, but I have Spades and 3-4 HCP.
4ª	P	P	P	"That's all I need !"

2§	P	2©*	P	Another negative response.
2ª	P	3§	P	"No Spades, but I have a Club stopper".
3NT	P			"All right !  No Trump should make".