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Convention HELP

Defense Against Weak2 Openings

Source

  • Melih Özdil - Melih Özdil

 

                                   DEFENSIVE BIDDING AGAINST WEAK2 OPENINGS

 

Take out double

 

Against weak2 openings take out double asks for a suit and usually shows unbalanced hands with a

five card suit or a very strong balanced hand

 

Responses after T/O double

 

* After T/O double to 2Major openings, 2NT forces partner to bid 3§ unless he has an exceptionally   

  strong hand

* 4Major is to play, showing 11 HP average with a 5-6 card suit

* 5minor is to play, showing 11 HP with a long suit and  an unbalanced hand

* 3NT shows stoppers and a 4 card in the other major with average 13 HCP

* Cue-bid is game forcing, showing an average 13 HCP without any stoppers. If (5-4) in minors, can be      

  stronger

* 4minor is game forcing with 5 cards in the minor bid, and 5 cards in the other major, average 13 HCP

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2©       X         ----         ?

 

 


                     Q862             Q6                 73               A107

                                                                                          Q953             7543            J84                   84       

                                                                                          K104              K84 K1062   KQ96

                                                                                          J7                  10852          KQ94    AJ53

 

                     2ª                 2NT*              3§               3©      

 

S          W         N           E   

2©       X         ----         ?

 

                                                                                         

                     K10852          A753              KQ95          2

                     Q7                 QJ2               A63             Q3       

                     J64                J6                  7                 KJ109764

                     A93               AQ105           KJ642          AJ8

 

                                                                     3ª                 3NT               4§               5¨

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2ª       X         ----         ?

 

 


                                                                     Q754             962                853              K103

                     J853              Q8653            J642                        K1084  

                     962                K964              AKJ8           AJ6

                     J10                5                   KQ               QJ7

 

                     2NT*              3©                3ª               3 NT

 

S          W         N           E   

2ª       X         ----         ?

 

                                                                    

                     75                 84                  962              K3

                     KJ106            A7                 AKJ4           J10863 

                     Q10952          AQ862           AJ1085        92

                     103                KQ93             7                 AQ85

                                                                    

                     3©                3ª                4¨               4©

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2¨       X         ----         ?

 

 


                                                                     KJ94              K104              J1075          82

                     752                J6                  K9               KJ105  

                     10863            A1075            A63             1063

                     Q7                 J863              AQ82           AQ74

 

                     2ª                 2 NT              3¨               3©

 

After Responders direct cue-bid

 

* 3NT shows stopper

* 4minor shows 4..card in that minor

* After 2ª opening, 4© shows a good 4 or 5 card suit

* After 2© opening, 3ª shows a good 4 or 5 card suit

* 4NT asks for aces

* Cue-bid at the 4 level asks key card for the other major

 
 
W         N           E         S 

                                    2ª

X          ----        3ª        ----

?

 

 


       K7                94                 Q7                 A4                    

       A104             KJ108            AJ973            AQJ83              

       KJ86             AK7              AK64             KQ7                  

       K1062           K642             K2                 QJ5

 

       3NT              4©                4©                4ª        

 

                                              

W         N           E         S 

                                    2©

X          ----        3©        ----

?

 

       QJ82             KJ964            KJ10              J8                     

       964               8                   84                 A4                    

       AQ5              AQ105           AKJ7             AQ                   

        AJ7              AK7               K1053           KQ109762

 

        3ª                3ª                 4§                4NT

 

 

Responders 2nd bid after his initial cue-bid

 

* If T/O doubler rebids 3NT

   - 4minor shows (4-4) in the minor bid and the unbid major

   - 4Major shows a very good 4 card suit

- Cue-bid at the 4 level shows (5-4) minors and 1st or 2nd  round control in the suit opened

- 4NT shows 5-4 minors without any controls in the suit opened

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2©       X         ----         3©

----        3NT      ----        ?

 

 


                     K73               J752              K104            K6       

                     84                 63                 5                  73

                     AQ96             AQJ8             KQ108         AQJ9   

                     KQ105           AQ6              AKJ73          AQ1082

 

                     Pass             4¨                4©               4NT

 

* If the player who doubled for T/O bids 4minor

   - After 2ª openings 4© shows 4 card in hearts

   - Cue-bid at the 4th level shows 5-4 minors and 1st or 2nd  round control in the suit opened

   - 4NT shows (5-4) minors without any controls in the suit opened

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2ª       X          ----        3ª

----        4¨       ----         ?

 

 


                     J3                  A5                 62               

                     Q1052           K7                 KJ   

                     K84               AQ83            KJ964                    

                       AKJ7              KJ1072       AKQ5

 

                                                                     4©                4ª                4NT

 

* If the player who doubled for T/O bids 3ª or 4©

   - Raising to 5th level shows (4-1-4-4) distribution and average 14 HCP and invitation to slam

   - Cue-bid at the 4th level shows (5-4) minors and 1st or 2nd round control in the suit opened

   - 4NT shows (5-4) minors without any controls in the suit opened

 

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2ª       X         Pass      3ª

----        4©        ----        ?

 

 


                     853                7                   64                4         

                     K107             Q63               A7               K1082

                     AQ84             AKJ103         KQ105         AK106

                      KJ6                KQ104          AQJ83          KJ73

 

                                                                     Pass              4ª               4 NT             5©

 

 

After 3§ bid to Lebensohl 2NT, by the player who doubled for T/O

 

* Pass, 3¨ and after 2ª openings, 3© is to play

* 3NT shows no good stoppers and no 4 card in the other major but a hand sufficient for game

* 4minor is invitation to slam with a good long suit

* 4Major shows 13 HCP with a good 5 or 6 card suit

* Cue-bid at the 3rd level forces partner to bid 3NT

 
 
S          W         N                      E           

2©       X         Pass     2NT

----        3§        ----        ?

 

 


                     J8                  K63               K1073          K3

                     K642             Q84               J84              J86      

                     754                J6542            A5               Q1094

                       J1073             107                Q862         AQJ5

 

                                                                      Pass             3¨               3ª               3NT

                       

 
 
S          W         N           E       

2ª       X         Pass      2NT

----        3§        ----        ?

 

 


                     J643              Q6                Q5               762      

                     972                KJ3               A                 AQ1083            1074     J7542                     AQJ8642        KJ5              

                      Q106            AK8              KQ3            A10

 

                                                                      Pass             3NT              4¨               4©

 

 

After Lebensohl and cue-bid, if T/O doubler bids 3NT

 

* Pass shows good stoppers to play at 3NT

* 4minor shows the cheaper 4 card minor (Baron) and invitation to slam without any 5 card suit

* 4Major shows 15 HCP and a good 5-6 card suit and invitation to slam

* 4NT asks for keycards for the other major

* 5(other) Major is invitation to slam without stoppers in suit opened                    

S          W         N           E       

2©       X         Pass      2NT

----        3§        ----        3©

----        3NT      ----        ?

 

                                          

                                                               J6                  4                   AQ72               AQ9652                               KQ10                             A752           A103            863

                                                               KJ853            QJ962           KQJ5                K5

                                                               Q107             AKJ6             K4                     AJ

 

                                                               Pass             4§                 4¨                    4ª

 

S          W         N           E       

2ª       X         Pass      2NT

----        3§        ----        3ª

----        3NT      ----        ?

 

                                                              

                                                              K1063            K73               A1053               J53                                    Q62                             KJ1062          KJ1084       AK10862

                                                               Q1085            AJ                             A107                 AQ

                                                               AQ                A95               A                      K9

 

                                                                     Pass              4§                 4¨                    4ª

 

 

 

Game and slam try with 5-5 minors

 

*  Bidding 4NT directly shows possible (6-5) minors and and average of 8 HCP.

*  Cue-bidding directly at the 4th level shows (5-5) minors, Kx support in the suit opened and and 

   average of 13 HCP. 

*  First applying Lebensohl, then after the 3§ relay, bidding 4 NT, shows 5-5 minors, xx in the    

   suit opened, and an average of 13 HCP.

*  First applying Lebensohl, then after the 3§ relay, cue-bidding at the 4th level, shows (5-5) minors,

   shortness in the suit opened, and an average of 13 HCP.  

*  First transferring to 3NT, then cue-bidding, shows (5-5) minors, an ace in the suit opened, and an

    average of 13 HCP.

*  Cue-bidding directly at the 5th level shows a void in the suit opened, and an average of 13 HCP;

    is forcing to slam.

*   Bidding 5NT directly shows (5-5) minors, a void in the suit opened, and an average of 15 HCP;

    is forcing to slam.

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2©       X         ----         ?

 

 


                     6                   9                   Q103           AQ4

                     K5                 7                   ----               ----       

                     AJ962            KJ543            KJ962          KQ962

                     KJ1053          KJ8652          AK1083       KJ853

 

                     4©                4NT               5©              5NT

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2ª       X         ----         ?

 

 


                     K6                 3                  

                     7                   J                         

                     AQ854           QJ9652         

                     KJ762            AJ864

 

                     4ª                 4NT              

 
 
S          W         N           E       

2©       X         ----         2NT

----        3§        ----        ?

 

 


                     Q4                 J                  

                     5                   J3                

                     AJ962            KJ762           

                     KQJ83           AKJ85

 

                     4©                4NT              

 

 
 
S          W         N           E       

2©       X          ----        2NT

----        3§        ----        3©

----        3NT      ----        4©

 

 


                                                              J4                  3

                                                              A                   A8                      

                                                              KJ962            QJ962                   

                                                               Q1073           KQJ74                                                                            

 
 
S          W         N           E       

2ª       X         ----         2NT

----        3§        ----        3ª

----        3NT      ----        4ª

 

 


                                                              A4                     A63

                                                              5                   ----                                  

                                                              AQJ62           K10852                 

                                                              Q10873          AJ1094

 

 

Sequential bids:

 

* If the responder shows (5-5) minors, (Kx) in the suit opened, 4NT, 5§, 5NT, and 6§ shall be   

  used to transfer to the minor above the bid used.

 

If the Doubler shows strength over Lebensohl

 

* If the doubler bids a new suit over Lebensohl;

   - Cue-bid is a trial for 3NT, or a slam try in partners suit.

-   A new suit is game-forcing.

 

 Overcalling with a suit

 

Overcalling at the second level shows at a minimum, a fairly good five card suit; overcalling at the third level a good five card or a fairly good six card hand and opening strength.

 

Sequential bids:

 

*  If partner overcalls at the third level, the rule of the two trick discount shall be applied. If, after

    deleting two quick tricks and/or 8-9 HCP, there is another trick left, then the bidding shall proceed;  

    otherwise passed.

*  2NT shows stopper(s) in the opening suit, is game try with an average of 11 HCP.

*  New suit bid is forcing for one tour.

*  Cue-bid is game try.

*  3NT is to play, contract chosen, with an average of 13 HCP, and a minimum stopper strength of 

    one, one and a half.

*  Jump bid with a new suit shows 4 card fit and shortness, is slam try.

*  Jump cue-bid shows 4 card fit and shortness, is slam try.

*  4NT asks for aces.

S          W         N           E   

2©       2ª       ----         ?

 

                                                                                 

                     95                 J7                  53               5

                     J62                QJ93              A94             Q6       

                     AQ754           J874              106              AQJ94

                     Q83               AQ5               AKJ1074      KQ1083

 

                     Pass             2NT               3§               3¨

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2©       2ª       ----         ?

 

 


                                                                     J95                1083              K1083         J9865

                                                                     74                 J96                6                 A7542  

                     K1082            AKJ74            AKQ4          3

                     AQ103           105                J1075          AK

 

                     3©                3ª                 4©              4NT

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2¨       2ª       ----         ?

 

 


                     J                   62                  QJ73           10742

                     QJ93             AQ1083         AQ104         AQJ65 

                     Q1052           A104              A862           83

                     AJ64              KJ5                5                 K7

 

                     2NT               3©                4§              4ª

 

S          W         N           E   

2ª       3§       ----         ?

 

                    

                     Q75               72                  A7               K108

                     J64                KQ965           QJ82           AQ5    

                     AQ862           AQ7               A1063         Q10962

                     73                 Q94               K54             Q4

 

                     Pass             3©                 3ª              3NT

 

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2ª       3¨       ----         ?

 

 


752                A3                 J85              K863

                     AJ84              AKJ94            1062            4         

                     K103             4                   K10             A1072

                     J96                AKQ82           AKJ103       AQ106

 

                     Pass             3©                 3ª              4©

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2ª       3©       ----         ?

 

 


                     J52                A72               QJ93           62

                     A73               J4                  J5                Q3       

                     A864             AK85             AJ8             AQ754

                     965                Q1063            K1074         A976

 

                     Pass             3ª                 3NT             4©                  

 Overcalling with 2NT

 

2NT shows 15-18 HCP, a balanced hand and stopper(s).

 

Sequential bids:

 

*  Standard system shall be applied.

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2©       2NT     ----        ?

 

 


                     KJ96              Q9652            AQ3                        J1086542

                     A5                 84                  K7               4         

                     Q10854          AQ73             4                 7

                     73                 Q6                 QJ96542      KJ63

 

                                                                      3§                  3©                3ª             4©      

Overcalling with 3NT

 

3NT shows 18+ HCP, a solid long suit, and stoppers in the opening suit.

 

 
 
W         N           E         S 

                                    2ª

3NT

 

 

 


                                               K10               A10                                                              J63               K3                                                                                      A8       AKQ1076                                                                                                AKQJ85       Q94

                                                                   

                                               ----                 ----

 

Sequential bids:

 

*  4¨ and 4© are transfer bids, 4NT is slam invitation.

*  4§ asks for aces, 5NT thereafter is used to ask for preference at the 6th level.

S          W         N           E   

2ª       3NT      ----        ?

 

                                                             

                     52                 75                  J3   

                     Q9653           KQ102           KQ109652             

                     84                 AKJ93            7    

                     A1073            86                  J104

 

                     Pass             4§                 4¨

 

A three level jump bid with a major

 

Jumping to the third level with a major bid shows an average of 15 HCP and a quality suit

W         N           E         S 

                                    2©

3ª      

 

                                              

                                               AKJ964          AQJ975                                                             5       62                                                                                   AQ3     AK10

                                                J82                53

 
 
W         N           E         S 

                                    2¨

3©      

 

 


                                               5                   73                                                                AJ10986        AKQJ64                                                                   AQ3     K2

                                               K107             Q105

         

  Direct cue-bid over a weak 2¨ bid

 

Direct cue-bid over 2¨ shows a minimum of (5-5) majors and a fairly good hand.

 
 
W         N           E         S 

                                    2¨

3¨      

 

 


                                               KJ1062          AK852                                                          AQ1075        QJ973                                                                     6          K4

                                               Q4                 5

 

Direct cue-bid over two major openings

 

A direct cue-bid over a 2Major opening shows a solid long minor, and asks for stopper(s) in the opening suit, wishing to play 3NT.

 
 
W         N           E         S 

                                    2©

3©      

 

 


                                               A7                 J103                                                                                                     52       4                                                                                                                                    K4        AKQJ106

                                               AKQ10952     AK8

 

Sequential bids:

 

*  3NT shows stoppers in the opening suit.

*  3ª over 3© cue-bid shows a five card spade suit and no stoppers, is forcing for one tour.

*  4© over 3ª cue-bid shows a good six cards suit, is not forcing.

*  4§ shows a very weak hand with no stoppers.

*  4¨ shows a good  hand that will play either game or maybe slam, with no stoppers.

*  Cue-bid at the 4th level shows a singleton, void or ace in the opening suit, and is slam try.

*  4NT shows a king in the opening hand; is slam try.

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2©       3©       ----         ?

 

 

 


                     QJ972            Q85               J853                        AK74

                     864                Q1063            764              8543    

                     K103             J74                Q852           K7

                     85                 82                  96               1062

 

                     3ª                 3NT               4§               4¨

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2ª       3ª       ----         ?

 

 

 

 


                     J1083            965                A863           K103

                     965                QJ10862        K5               AJ82    

                     KJ82              Q103             74               64

                     74                 4                   KJ1062        KQ105

 

                     3NT               4©                 4ª              4NT

Bidding at the 4th level with a minor suit

 

Bidding at the 4th level with a minor suit shows a fairly good hand with that minor and the major, at least (5-5).

 
 
W         N           E         S 

                                    2©

?         

 

 


                                               AJ1062          KJ983                                                               5       K7                                                                                              Q10      AQJ64

                                               AQ1083         8                  

                                                                   

                                               4§                 4¨

 

                           

W         N           E         S 

                                    2ª

?         

 

                                          

                                               A103             4                                                                  KQ986          KQ1076                                                                               ----        AJ9852

                                               KJ1097          7

 

                                                  4§                 4¨

 

Sequential bids:

 

* Bidding pass, returning to the major suit, or raising the minor suit indicates contract choice, is to 

  play.

* 4NT for the minor suit, and raising to the 5th level for the major suit are both slam tries; they both   

  show a lack of control in the opening suit.

* Cue-bid is slam try; shows control in the opening suit.

* Raising the other minor to the 5th level shows a hand without fit, and a long quality suit.

      

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2©       4§       ----         ?

 

 


                     85                 Q6                 72               K5

                     KJ106            A1085            10865          754      

                     Q753             K107              A94             AJ62

                     J42                J63                K1063         K1073

 

                     Pass             4ª                 5§               4NT

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2©       4¨       ----         ?

 

 


                     A                   Q8642            J5                QJ96

                     Q96               865                A1063         5         

                     KJ73              K7                 KJ85           A10

                     A10642          AK3               A74             AJ8743

 

                     4NT               5ª                 4©              4©

 

 
 
S          W         N           E   

2ª       4¨       ----         ?

 

 

 


                     AQ74             J75                AK84           852

                     862                AQ93             K8652         4         

                     J5                  4                   6                 J7

                     KJ93              AJ972            J73              AKQ10986

 

                     4©                5©                 4ª              5§

 

 

 

 

After the responders cue-bid

 

*  Returning to the major or minor suit next in line shows a hand that lacks quality.

*  4NT asks for aces. There after, if 4 aces and the King of trumps is available, 5NT will be rebid,

   otherwise the minor will be rebid at the 6th level, and the choice of contract will be left to partner.