| Weak Two |
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Andrew’s favourite conventions (two)
The second in my series of Top Ten Conventions is The Weak Two opener. Almost universally played outside Britain, an opening bid of 2 ♦, 2 ♥ or 2 ♠ shows a six-card suit and 5-10 points. It is primarily an obstructive bid and essentially the Weak Two does not bid again unless his partner replies 2 NT. This special response shows 15 or more points and asks the Weak Two to show whether he has a minimum (by rebidding his suit at the lowest level) or a maximum (by making any other – descriptive – bid).
South Deals
E-W Vul |
| ♠ |
J 10 8 7 |
| ♥ |
5 |
| ♦ |
A K J 5 3 |
| ♣ |
J 4 2 |
|
| ♠ |
A |
| ♥ |
K 7 4 3 |
| ♦ |
9 6 4 2 |
| ♣ |
K 8 7 3 |
|
|
| ♠ |
9 4 |
| ♥ |
A Q 9 8 2 |
| ♦ |
10 |
| ♣ |
A Q 10 6 5 |
|
| |
| ♠ |
K Q 6 5 3 2 |
| ♥ |
J 10 6 |
| ♦ |
Q 8 7 |
| ♣ |
9 |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
|
2 ♠ |
| Pass |
4 ♠ |
Pass |
Pass |
| Pass |
North increased the disruptive effect of South’s Weak Two by raising to game. East-West had no idea whether he was bidding to make or to spoil and neither bid. Can you see what they would have been able to make? East-West could have made 12 tricks - a Small Slam - with either ♥s or ♠s as trumps!
West led ♦ 6 – second top from a bad suit – to 4 ♠. Declarer won dummy’s ♦ A and ran ♠ J to West’s ♠ A. West switched to ♣ 3 – he could not know that East’s ♦ 10 was singleton – and East won ♣ A. In a desperate effort to put his partner back on lead for as second ♦ play, East switched to ♥ 8. West beat ♥ 10 with ♥ K, and worked out why East had risked underleading ♥ A. He switched to ♦ 2 and East gratefully trumped with ♠ 9. One down – but hardly a victory with 6 ♥ or 6 ♣ making.
ANDREW’S FAVOURITE CONVENTIONS: (2) The Weak Two Opener
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