I know that when a strong hand is opened 2♣, most of the time (unless responder has a strong hand) responder will make a waiting bid 2♦. If opener has an unbalanced hand, he/she then bids his/her longest suit: a major suit at the 2 level or a minor suit at the 3 level. I am confused, however, about how the auction continues from there, especially if opener bids a minor suit. First of all, I know that if opener bids a major suit (at the 2 level), responder has the following options: Raise to 4 level: support for opener's major, but weak hand (will probably end auction) Raise to 3 level: support for opener's major, decent hand (slam is possible) Cheapest minor (3♣ in this case): second negative, weak hand, no support for opener's major New suit: No support for opener's major, but a decent hand (not as strong if you had bid that suit initially) My 2 questions are: 1. What do you do if you have a decent hand but no support for opener's major, but clubs are the suit that you want to show? You can't bid 3♣ since that is the second negative. Is there an artificial way to show clubs, or is it not possible to show clubs in that case? 2. What does it mean if responder bids 2NT in response to opener's major? What I really don't understand is, how does the bidding continue if opener bids a minor (which must be at the 3 level). 1. With a fit for opener's minor, what do you do? The cheapest level that you could raise to would be the 4 level, which would bypass 3NT. Is there another way to show a fit with either a weak hand or a decent hand? 2. If opener bids clubs, I know that 3♦ would be the cheapest minor second negative. If opener bids diamonds, I know you have to go to 3NT to show a weak hand with no support. 3. If opener bids clubs, if you have a decent hand but no support, I assume you can bid a major suit. Am I correct? Is there a way to show diamonds? I assume not. Would responder ever bid 3NT in response to 3♣? 4. If opener bids diamonds, if you have a decent hand but no support, I assume you can bid a major suit. Am I correct? Is there a way to show clubs? I assume not. Thank you for your help.
