Our Two-level Opening Bids |
Bolted on to our one-level opening system (which is Acol), we use a variant of Lucas Twos. It is compliant with the EBU's Level Two (for novice events) but is not well-known. We have found it crops up roughly twice an evening in a session of 24 boards.
2♠ is our strong, artificial bid, which promises either 23+ points balanced or a hand of 4 losers or fewer. It says nothing about our spade holding. 2NT is our relay response, whatever responder holds.
2♣ , 2♦ and 2♥ are all weak, natural openings, promising 4+ cards in the suit bid and 5-9 HCP and either a second suit or 6 cards in the suit opened. If opener has a two-suited hand, his second suit may be longer or shorter than the suit opened, but he will have 9+ cards in the two suits.
- Responses: 2NT is a strong and forcing. On the other hand, the next bid up — i.e. 2♣:2♦, 2♦:2♥, and 2♥:2♠ — is a non-forcing weak response promising 3+ cards in the suit bid.
We call these two-level openings 'antispades' because you cannot immediately show a normal Weak Two in spades.
One possible defence to the three weak opening bids is as follows:
- Double with 16+ points and any shape, or 11-15 points and tolerance for each of the other three suits.
- 2 of a New Suit shows a good 6+ card or very good 5-card suit, along with 7 losers or fewer.
- 2NT shows a two-suited hand in any of the three unbid suits, 6 losers or fewer.
- 3 of a New Suit shows a good 6+ card suit or very good 5-card suit, along with 6 losers or fewer.
Gavin and Kay 8-SEP-17
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