Let’s explore some rare – but wonderful – hands. Holding 22 or more HCP, open the bidding with an artificial two clubs bid – even holding zero clubs! Crazy, but artificial AND forcing! This is the strong two club convention. There are two mainstream forms for responder’s bid – both artificial and forcing.
No. 1: The two diamonds waiting response says absolutely nothing about your hand – it allows the strong hand to more fully describe his hand.
For example, (a) holding 23 points and five hearts, the strong hand would rebid two hearts, looking for support. Suppose responder holds three hearts and four HCP – in this case, responder raises to four hearts. (b) Same example, but responder holds three hearts and only two HCP. In this case, responder raises to three hearts showing heart support but weak points. (c) Same example, but responder holds three HCP and only two hearts. In this case, responder raises to three notrump. (d) Same example, but responder holds only two HCP and two hearts. In this case, responder raises to two notrump allowing the strong hand to rebid or pass. Note: there are some variations where Responder’s 2 heart bid describes a complete “bust”, while a 2 diamond response indicates “some values”.
No. 2: Using steps, responder bids two diamonds showing zero to three HCP; two hearts showing four to six HCP; two spades showing seven to nine HCP; or two notrump showing 10 or more HCP. This gives the strong opener a very good idea of total points held by the partnership and whether they should go for game or even slam.
For example, (a) holding two HCP, responder would bid two diamonds – at least the strong hand has some room to find a safe landing spot. (b) Same example, but responder holds five HCP. In this case, Responder bids two hearts. The strong opener knows they belong in game and still has bidding room to find the right strain. (c) Same example, but responder holds eight HCP. In this case, responder bids two spades. Now the strong opener might even entertain the thought of slam. (d) Same example, but responder holds 10 HCP. In this case, responder bids two notrump – now the strong opener knows they belong in slam leaving only the task of finding the right strain.
With two common systems of the strong two club convention and several variations, I recommend you do some more research and decide as a partnership exactly which system you prefer and how you want to handle these variations.
Charles Goren originally intended to use the entire two-level to indicate strong hands. But these hands came along so infrequently that all strong bids were condensed into the strong two club convention, leaving bidding space for a new category of bids. “Weak two bids” will be the subject of the next column.
Good luck and good bridge. See you next time.
