Weak two: responder's options

[NickToll]

Over a natural weak two bid, responder would like to have multiple options after opponent's pass: raise opener's suit preemptively or constructively, look for support or tolerance for a suit of his/her own, inquire about a specific stopper, show where his/her values are located implying a fit ("fit non jump"). A lot of things, given the limited bidding space available.

 

How do you cope with this? Do you prefer to focus on some of the items above (i.e., 2NT positive relay and change of suit FNJ) or are you able to handle all of them?

 

I know, a lot depends on your weak two style. My preference: in 1st or 2nd seat opener promises a fair hand (about 6-9 pts) and would like his suit to be led; five cards are OK, but with KJTxx or better.

 

Thanks.

[hrothgar]

Double post deleted

[hrothgar]

Here's my preferred approach. Its decidedly non standard, but I'm reasonably

happy with it

 

Over a 2♠ opening

 

4♣ = RKCB

3N = Either a strong balanced hand or preemptive Spade raise

3♠ = Preemptive

3♥ = 5+ Hearts, forcing

3♦ = 5+ Diamonds, foricng

3♣ = OGUST type bid

3♦ = any minimum

3♥ = maximum with good trump

3♠ = maximum with bad trump

2N = Asks for shortness (not necessarily strong)

 

Over a 2♥ opening

 

4♣ = RKCB

3N = Either a strong balanced hand or a preemptive Heart raise

3♠ = Natural, invitational

3♥ = Preemptive

3♦ = 5+ Diamonds, forcing

3♣ = 5+ Spades, forcing

2N = OGUST type bid

2♠ = Shortness ask (not necessarily strong)

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

We play RONF, i.e. raise only Non forcing,

new suits natural and forcing, 2NT being

feature ask, jumps would be splinter.

 

This is a fairly standard set of respondes to

a weak two.

 

You can improve this, e.g. switch the meaning

of 2NT with the cheapest free bid, i.e. after a

weak two in hearts, switch the meaning of 2NT

and 2S, after a weak two in diamonds, switch the

meaning of 2NT and 2H, this will give you some

additional space for the 2NT answers.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[gnasher]

In an uncontested auction I give up on the "fit non jump" type, though I play fit jumps. In contested auctions, I play all new suits as fit-showing.

 

If your methods include 2S-2NT as a feature or shortage ask, you can improve significantly (in my opinion) on standard methods, like this:

 

3C = C feature, any strength / H feature, min. After this, both 3D and 3H ask.

3D = D feature, any strength. After this, 3H asks.

3H = H feature, max

3S = nothing to show

 

After 2S-2NT-3C-3D:

  3H = H feature, min

  3S = C feature, min

  3NT = C feature, max

After 2S-2NT-3C-3H:

  3S = C feature, any strength

  3NT = H feature, min

Responder uses the 3H relay on hands where he wants to go to game opposite hearts but not opposite clubs.

 

After 2S-2NT-3D-3H:

  3S = min

  3NT = max

 

You can do the same thing after 2H, but with 2S as the enquiry.

 

An alternative scheme using the same principle:

3C = C feature, max / H feature, max / a bad hand

3D = D feature, max / a sound minimum

3H = max, 5-card suit, no side feature

3S = max, 6-card suit, no side feature

 

The precise hand types can be varied to suit your preferences. The 3C rebid has to include one hand that responder will always regard as worse than one of the other options.

[Apollo81]

How about this for major suit weak twos:

 

2NT: relay to 3♣, showing either a club signoff, forcing bid in a new suit, invitation with 2 or fewer support, or choice-of-games hand. For example, if 2♠ was opened, you would bid 2NT then 3♠ to invite game but show bad (1-2) trumps, or 2NT then 3NT if you want partner to pass with a good suit (2/3 top honors or maybe AJ10)

 

3♣: OGUST, but also showing 3+ support. This will allow partner to better judge whether he has a min or max.

 

other new suits NF

[Free]

I prefer the following style:

2NT = relay, asking for a feature

3♣ = relay, asking for shortness

3♦ = invite+ with fit (may be general slam try)

 

Responses over 2NT are fairly natural (3NT showing solid suit nothing outside)

 

Responses over 3♣ are simple as well (3♠ denying shortness, 3NT shows ♣ shortness)

 

Responses over 3♦ depend on the opening:

2♥-3♦-?

3♥ = min

other bids are max with cue

 

2♠-3♦-?

3♥ = med

3♠ = min

other bids are max with cue

 

Note that this structure only works after 2M openings. It loses both natural 3m bids, but you can ask whatever you need below 3NT: feature, shortness and min/max.

[WrecksVee]

The misadventures of Jay and Rex have used an idea from Kent Feiler's website fro several years. We play 2NT as Ogust. New suits ask Opener to bid NT with a stopper or show lenght by steps without a stopper.

 

Check out Feiler's site if this seems interesting for his original idea.

 

Kent Feiler

[benlessard]

We play low requirement preempt (sound much better then crappy preempt !). So quite often responder want to play in his suit instead of opener suit so we play a transfer lebensohl type.

 

2H---???

 

2S all inv hands

2Nt--Clubs GF or to play

3C -- D Gf or to play

3D-- H+S Gf

3H preempt

3S S GF no H tolerance

 

However we havent play that for long enough so that i can make a judgement of the method.

[Cascade]

We play very aggressive weak twos that are frequently only a five-card suit.

 

Hence our responses need to cater to getting to alternative strains. On most hands the only force we have is 2NT.

 

new suits - non-forcing

 

raise - constructive (partner is allowed to bid four)

 

3NT - to play

 

4minor - natural and forcing

 

3♠ over 2♥ - natural and forcing

 

4♥ over 2♠ - to play

 

2NT artificial force the responses are:

 

3♣ three cards in the other major

 

3♦ five-cards minimum

 

3Major six-cards minimum

 

3other Major six-cards maximum

 

3NT 5-cards maximum

 

4minor natural usually a 5-6 hand but could be a super maximum 5-5 hand