2c strong opening

[debussyl]

First of all, playing 2d waiting does not mean you have to bid 2d over 2c AUTOMATICALLY with every hand. That is not what 2d waiting means. With a suit as good as AQxxx, why wait? Bid it (2h/2s etc.) immediately over 2c. Do not wait.

 

IMHO, using 2nt as an artifical bid (to show spades or clubs etc.) is not a good idea, because most likely you will play an NT contract from the wrong side. Also, I am a strong believer of "the best bid is the one that reflects your holding most".

 

Also, you do have some idea about what you pard has with the 2d response (he denies a good suit). Since your 2c open promises 22+ or/and 9+, with 9 tricks and every suit covered (a solid minor suit), simply bid 3nt ( do the same even if you miss stops on one suit -- what else?). Otherwise, bid 3c/3d. Your pard would still assume you had either 9+ tricks (would be something like solid minor but missing stops on two suits -- too much to try a gambling 3nt), or something similar to those examples I gave (a broken minor suit). If your pard was broke, do not force him to do anything again. If he's got something, I am sure he would do something intelligently. Even if you have 10 tricks but cannot try 3nt, it is still safe to bid 3c/3d (why jump to 4c/4d?) without having to worry about being passed by your pard -- he will do something intelligently if he is not broke.

 

Don