ACBL05C – 2 Clubs: Responses Ward Trumbull
Feb 23, 2009
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The first use of the strong two club opening bid is credited to David Burnstine at the Raymond Club in New York City, in 1929. Bridge players have been tussled with responses to this bid ever since. Following is a list of some of these responses conventions.
Response Name Explanation
-------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Waiting A 2 diamond response that gives no information.
The responder is waiting for more data based on the
opener’s rebid. It is typically used when the 2 club
rebid could be a specific point count 2 notrump
hand, as in the Trumbull 2 Club convention.
Natural The responder bids a 4+ card suit, usually a major if
possible. However, some pairs prefer the responder
to bid the suit with the highest point count, which
might not have 4 cards.
Negative/Natural This is the same as the Natural response above,
except that 2 diamonds indicates a bust hand. Pairs
differ on what a “bust” point count might be, but it’s
usually 0-3 HCP.
Jacoby Step This convention uses the response bid to indicate
Response responder’s HCP. The sequence is in increments of
three. 2 diamonds is 0-3 HCP. 2 hearts is 4-6 HCP.
2 spades is 7-9 HCP, 2 notrump is 10-12 HCP, etc.
Control Step This convention plays kings as 1 (control) and aces
Response aces as 2. Thus 2 diamonds indicates 0-1 control.
At best, the hand may have one king. 2 hearts
means 2 controls, which is either one ace or two
kings. And so on…..
ACBL05C – 2 Clubs: Responses Feb 23, 2009
Page 2 of 2
Response Name Explanation
-------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Positive/Negative This is a quick-trick response system (aces or kings
only). The responder must indicate whether or not
he/she has 1 ½ quick tricks or better. There are
two versions.
1. 2 diamonds is the positive response indicating
1 ½ quick tricks or better.
2 hearts is the negative response indicating
the responder does not have 1 ½ quick tricks.
2. Some pairs reverse the meaning of the 2
diamonds and 2 hearts bids.
Alerting
All responses to 2 club opening bids should be alerted. Many players do not alert these bids, either because they don’t believe in them, or their playing skills have not reached the level of knowing when to alert. In any case, if they don’t, you should ask the meaning at your next turn to bid. You must wait till it’s your turn...
To game or not to game? That is the question.
In any of the above systems, a rebid of 2 notrump is not forcing to game. However, a rebid of a suit may or may not be forcing, depending
on:
1. Which response system is being played
2. Whether the partnership plays 2 clubs as forcing to game
3. Whether the pair has any agreement on at all
Most non-skilled players are the latter.