2C Opening Dec 3, 2011

Section I Summary of Responses to 2C Opening

(Sontag Power Precision + Amit Chakrabarti’s modifications)

·  2♦ = Artificial and Invitational with 10+ with the following types of hands:

1.  10+ balanced hands with no 4-card major

2.  10+ hands with one or both 4-card major

3.  12+ hands with one 5-card major or 5-card D suit

Corollaries: 2♦ denies the following types of hands:

a.  8-11 hcps with one 5-card major (bid 2H or 2S instead)

b.  Both majors 5-5 with invitational or better hand (bid 2N as a relay instead; see below)

c.  6+ card Major and invitational hand (bid 3H or 3S instead)

d.  6+ card D and invitational hand (bid 3D instead)

e.  6+ card M or D and a GF hand (bid 3C as a relay instead; see below)

Opener’s first responsibility is to look for 4-4 M fit. If no 4-4 M fit is found, responder would then try for 5-3 major fit if he has hand type 3 above; if that fails explorations continue for C or D fit or 3N. Sometime 4M with 5-2 fit will be a good option.

·  2♥/2♠ = Invitational; 5+ cards with 8-9 hcps and exactly 5-card if 10-11

hcps (should be announced as not forcing); Opener should raise or bid game in the major with 3+ cards support.

·  3♦/3♥/3♠ = 6+ card suit; 10-11 hcps; not forcing (3D bid denies a 4 card M)

·  2N = Relay to 3C which can be passed

Further Bidding shows 2-suiter hands

·  3C = Relay to 3D which can be passed

Further Bidding shows GF one-suited major (6+) or GF Diamonds (6+)

·  4C = Key Card ask in Cs

·  3N = To play

·  4D/4H/4S = Exclusion KC in Cs

Section II 2C – 2D Sequence

Opener’s rebids

2♥= 4 Hs, any strength; might have 4Ss

2S = 4 Ss, any strength; denies 4 Hs

3C = no 4-card major; 6+ Cs; all minimum (11-13)

2N = no 4 card major or 4Ds; 6+ Cs; maximum (14-15); -- GF

3D = no 4-card major; 6+ Cs and 4Ds; maximum (14-15) -- GF

A.  Responder’s second bid after a 2H response:

1.  H Fit is found

·  3H = Invitational with Hs

·  4H = To play

·  3S = (i.e. 3 level in other major) = slam try in H

Opener bids 3N to show no interest/min

2.  H Fit is not found

2S = exactly 4Ss and 10-11 hcps

Pass = to play; settling for a 4-3 fit (3415; min kind

of hand)

3S = 4Ss; Invitational; really bad 4405 hand

4S = to play

3C = 6+ Cs; denies 3S; min

Responder usually passes or corrects to 3D

With 6Ds and 0Cs

2N = maximum (14-15), willing to declare NT

3D = maximum (14-15); 6Cs; 3Ds; S void

3H = maximum (14-15); 6Cs; no 3Ds

·  2N = denies H –fit and GF; Either wants to play in NT or wants to explore further; can have 4 or 5 Ss; asks opener to further describe

3C = 6+ Cs; might have 3Ss

3D = asks

3S = yes

3H = no 3S; no 3D

3N = no 3S; but has 3D

3D = 3Ds; 1435 shape

3H = 3Ss; 3415 shape

3S = 4 Ss; 4405 shape

3N = 2425 shape

(After the appropriate response, 4C, 4D, or 4N by responder is KC ask)

·  3C = Not GF; hand is limited to 11 count; No major fit; no 5Ss; no 5 Ds; includes the 10-11 balanced hand with no 4-card major and no 5Ds; includes the invitational C-hand

·  3D = Not GF; hand is limited to 11 count; Invitational with 5Ds; No major fit; no 5Ss.

B.  Responder’s second bid after a 2S response:

1.  S Fit is found

·  3S = Invitational with Ss

·  4S = To play

·  3H (i.e. 3 level in Other major) = slam try in S

Opener bids 3S to show no interest/min

2.  S Fit is not found

·  2N = denies S –fit and GF; Either wants to play in NT or wants to explore further; can have exactly 5 Hs; asks opener to further describe

3C = 6+ Cs; might have 3Hs

3D = asks

3H = yes

3S = no 3H; no 3D

3N = no 3H; but has 3D

3D = 3Ds; 4135 shape

3H = 3Hs; 4315 shape

3S = Non-System

3N = 2425 shape

(After the appropriate response, 4C, 4D, or 4N by responder is KC ask)

·  3C = Not GF; hand is limited to 11 count; No major fit; no 5Hs; no 5 Ds; includes the 10-11 balanced hand with no 4-card major and no 5Ds; includes the invitational with Cs

·  3D = Not GF; hand is limited to 11 count; Invitational with 5Ds; No major fit; no 5Hs

C.  Responder’s second bid after a 3C response

Pass = to play

3H/3S = shows 5 cards and GF

3D = GF; stopper ask; what stopper do you have besides C?

3H = H can have a S stopper

3S = Bid 3N with a S stopper

3S = S no Hs

3N = no S or Hs but have a D stopper

D.  Responder’s second bid after a 2N response

3H/3S = shows 5 cards and GF

3C = GF; stopper ask; what stopper do you have besides C?

3D = D; can have a H or S stopper

3H = do you have a H stopper

3S = no but I have a S stopper

3N = yes

3H = No D stopper but H

3S = Bid 3N with a S stopper

3S = S stopper no D or Hs

3N = I can handle them all

3D = Interested in D fit

3H/3S = no 3Ds; stopper

3N = 3D

E.  Responder’s second bid after a 3D response

3H/3S = 5 cards; just in case opener is 0346 or 3046

Otherwise 3N, 4C, 4D are self-explanatory rebids

Section IV 2C – 2N Sequence

.

2 NT: Relay to 3♣. This is still on in competition.

3♣: Forced

Pass: Shows a weak club raise

3♦: 5Ds + 5 of a major

3H = 3+ Hs

3S = 3+ Ss

3N = 3+ Ds; denies 3 card major

4C = Long Cs; no 3 card side suit

3♥: 5-5 Majors Inv

4C = No fit

4D = Choose a game in Major

3♠: 5-5 Majors GF

3N = Slam interest in a major

4C = which major?

4C = no fit

4D = Choose game in a major

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Section V 2C – 3C Sequence.

3♣: Relays to 3♦, Game Forcing; This is still on in competition.

3♦: Forced

Pass = to play

3M = 6+ (or good 5) GF

3NT= 6+ diamonds

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Section VI Interference Over 2♣ opener:

·  2♣ - x - ? (1) All Systems are ON (2) XX = 10+ Points and a desire to penalize.

·  2♣ - 2 any - ? (1) X is negative; (2) new suits are forcing; (3) jumps are preemptive (4) 2N = same without interference (5) 3C = same without interference.

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