Weak 2's

[bab9]

On the weekend, I played against a pair who had on their convention card that they can open with a weak 2 with only 3-7 TP (as part of a multi-2).

 

I was under the impression that there were restrictions on how weak you can be to open. Does anyone know how weak you are allowed to be in competition and open a weak 2?

[Mbodell]

You probably want to specify where you are playing. In the ACBL you can do it (open a natural weak 2) with pretty much any agreed range. However, if your agreed range is too wide (>7 points) you can't play conventional follow ups (I.e., no feature ask, ogust, blackwood, etc.). I typically play 4-10 as my range in the acbl, but I'd rather play 3-9 than 5-11. And I've opened 3 point hands in a 4-10 (for instance with an extra card in a suit like QJT98xx I wouldn't need much else in the right seat/vulnerability).

 

So it depends on the conditions of contest where you play. There is nothing in the laws against it. And it isn't particularly "wrong" or hard to play (or play against).

[Cyberyeti]

I play 0-10 weak 2s with 4+ cards in suit in the UK. Perfectly legal.

 

Not sure if it's still the case over here, but there were different restrictions on weak 2s in the multi to straight weak 2s in some competitions, 5 point range, min 3 points or something like that.

[helene_t]

Your profile says you are from Australia. If that is where you play then almost everything goes, so surely any range of natural 2-bids is allowed.

 

Sometimes bridge teachers or textbooks will tell you that you should not make certain bids with certain hands (for example, not preempt with a side ace, or with zero points). This means that it would violate the agreements recommended by the author/teacher. Not that it is against the laws or against any local regulations.

 

That said, in most places there are restrictions on which agreements you are allowed to make. For example, in most pairs tournaments you are not allowed to have the agreement that a pass in first seat promises a strong hand.

 

When you ask questions about legal issues on the forum, make sure you state what kind of tournament you aim to play and in which country, since local regulations vary.

[lmilne]

The so-called "mini multi" (opening 2D with a very weak two, i.e 3-7) combined with a "constructive" weak two (opening 2M showing 8-11) is becoming very popular in Australia/NZ. It's completely legal in both these countries.

[Cascade]

The so-called "mini multi" (opening 2D with a very weak two, i.e 3-7) combined with a "constructive" weak two (opening 2M showing 8-11) is becoming very popular in Australia/NZ. It's completely legal in both these countries.

I played this style 15 or so years ago.

 

I am not sure of the Australian regulations but it is slightly misleading to say that it is completely legal in New Zealand. The New Zealand regulations contains a caveat

 

The multi must include a six-card major

 

"Any 2♣ or 2♦ opening that may show a weak hand in either major (6 cards) only or as an option among any number of strong hand types."

 

This is an exception to Brown Sticker Conventions. Otherwise these bids are BSC and may only be played in teams style tournaments (teams and some swiss pairs) where eight or more boards are played against the same pair. They are also licenced for finals and semifinal stages of some pairs tournaments.

 

My experience is that some pairs playing the mini-multi flout this restriction.

[lmilne]

Ah, thought the requirement was only an anchor suit of some kind. Didn't realise a 5-card suit meant it was a BSC. Strange regulation...

[Cascade]

Ah, thought the requirement was only an anchor suit of some kind. Didn't realise a 5-card suit meant it was a BSC. Strange regulation...

In general an anchor suit is required for a non-BSC.

 

The multi does not have an anchor suit but is a specific exception.

 

The New Zealand regulation specifically mentions having a six-card suit.

 

The WBF regulation just mentions "multi" from memory however in Sao Paulo last year I believe they ruled that if your multi was not as per the convention booklet then it was BSC. The convention booklet described multi as having a six-card suit.

[bab9]

Ah, thought the requirement was only an anchor suit of some kind.  Didn't realise a 5-card suit meant it was a BSC.  Strange regulation...

I play in Queensland, Australia. We were playing in a swiss pairs tournament at the time and they were playing ACOL. I am looking at playing in a variety of pairs and teams events.

 

My partner wants us to use a Multi-2 system in which 2M show 5/4 distribution (6-10HCP), with the bid suit not necessarily being the 5 card suit. Does this mean it is a BSC?

[Cascade]

Here are the relevant regulations in the ABF, NZ and WBF.

 

I have bolded the significant differences.

 

It seems that Liam was correct in that the weak multi can be played in Australia with five cards in the major but as I pointed out it is not legal in NZ in all events.

 

ABF

 

"a) Any opening bid of two clubs through three spades that: could be weak and does not promise at least

four cards in a known suit.

Exceptions:

(i) Where all the weak meanings guarantee at least four cards in one known suit and only the strong

options do not.

(ii) A two level opening bid in a minor may show a weak hand with 5+ cards in either major only, or

as an option among any number of strong hand types."

 

NZBridge

 

"1. Any opening bid of 2C through to 3S that

(i) could be weak (may, by agreement, be made with values below average strength) AND

(ii) does not promise at least 4 cards in a known suit.

EXCEPTION: When all the weak options guarantee at least 4 cards in one known suit and only the strong options do not.

EXCEPTION: A 2-level opening in a minor that may show a weak hand in either major (6 cards) only or as an option among any number of strong hand types."

 

WBF

 

"a) Any opening bid of two clubs through three spades that:

i) could be weak (may by agreement be made with values below average strength) AND

ii) does not promise at least four cards in a known suit.

EXCEPTION: The bid always shows at least four cards in a known suit if it is weak. If the bid does not show a known four card suit it must show a hand a king or more over average strength. (Explanation: Where all the weak meanings show at least four cards in one known suit, and the strong meanings show a hand with a king or more above average strength, it is not a Brown Sticker Convention.)

EXCEPTION: A two level opening bid in a minor showing a weak two in either major, whether with or without the option of strong hand types, as described in the WBF Conventions Booklet. Defensive measures are permitted for opponents as in 6 below. "

 

2M which does not show a specific suit would be a Brown Sticker.

 

So 2♥ = Two suits the same colour is BSC

 

But 2♥ = Spades and another is fine