Adventures in Bridge
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(34) Constructive Bidding: Opening 2
Date: March 2012 © AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
[email protected]General
An opening bid of 2 is strong, artificial and forcing. It shows a hand that has or almost has
game on its own and feels that it can’t afford to open with a simple 1-level natural bid. 2
opening bids are forcing to one level below game (“game minus 1.”) So even if partner has
nothing we must play at least 2NT, 3M, or 4m.
What Kind of Hands Open 2 and Why
Balanced hands with 22+ HCP
o There is no other way to show hands with this many HCP.
Single-Suited Unbalanced Hands with 20+ HCP (usually 9+ tricks.)
o These hands have 6+ card suits and are afraid that if they open at the one-level
they will play there when they can make a game.
Two-Suited (or Three-Suited) Unbalanced Hands with 10+ tricks and a large number of
HCP.
o These two-suited hands have at least game in their hand and are highly
interested in slam.
What Kind of Strong Hands Do Not Open 2 and Why
Two- and three-suited hands rarely open 2. This is because a 2 opening bid takes up a lot
of bidding space. If we open 2♣ and have two suits to show, it can become difficult to have
enough space to show our hand at a low enough level. When we have a very distributional
hand the opponents often have very distributional hands and thus can preempt us if we open
2 with this kind of shapely hands. This also makes opening at the one-level safer; your bid is
much less likely to pass out when everyone at the table has a distributional hand.
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Thinking About 2 Opening Bids
The most important thing about making good decisions when it comes to opening 2 is to think
about 2 openings properly. Most bridge players are excited to open the bidding with 2 and
they are proud to open 2. This is the wrong way to think about opening 2. You should
open 2 only when you have to or when you feel obligated to because you are afraid of getting
passed out at the one-level when you can make a game. If you think of opening 2 as
something you are forced to do and that is not a fun thing to do, then you will break the habit
of opening 2 when you should not.
Responding to 2 - Positive vs. Bust
When partner opens 2 the first thing we need to do is tell partner whether we have enough
to force to game (which opposite such a strong hand doesn’t take much) or we have a horrible
hand and we are willing to stop short of game.
2 2* Artificial Game Forcing – Shows at least an Ace, King, or two Queens.
2* Artificial “Bust” – Double negative. Less than a 2 bid.
2 5+c, usually 2/3 honors, 8+ HCP (often 2-suited and not wanting to wait to
show suits.)
3 6+c, usually 2/3 honors, 8+ HCP
3 6+c, usually 2/3 honors, 8+ HCP
Note: These positive bids usually have 2 of the top 3 honors, but could not if they have a good
hands w/ lots of playing strength (like they have a 5-5 hand.)
Some Examples of 2 Openings
Balanced Hands
In both of these auctions we play systems on. We respond as if partner opened 2NT by using
Stayman, Transfers, etc…
2 2 2NT
2 2* 2NT
Details
2 2/* 2NT 22 to a bad 24 points. Balanced Hand. 5-card Major Common.
2 2/* 3NT Good 24 to 26 points. Balanced Hand. 5-card Major Common.
2 2/* 4NT 27-28 points. Balanced Hand. 5-card Major Common.
(34) Constructive Bidding: Opening 2♣ 2
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Majors
2 2
2M This usually shows a 6+c Major Suit with 20+ HCP. It could be a 5-4 hand,
but this is much rarer.
Fast Arrival
2 2
2M 4M Since 2 is GF this is shows the worst possible 2 bid. It shows no Ace
or King.
2 2
2M 3M Since 2 is GF then 3M is forcing and stronger than a jump to 4M –
usually an outside Ace or King.
(34) Constructive Bidding: Opening 2♣ 3
