Bidding and conventions
Weak two bids
Six spades and seven points is a hand you cannot open at the one level and should not pass. The weak two exists for it, and for the far more useful job of stealing a whole round of bidding from opponents who probably own the deal.
What a weak two promises
- Exactly six cards in the suit. Not five, not seven — seven is a three-level preempt.
- 5–10 points, and the good ones are concentrated in the suit.
- A suit worth leading. Partner will lead it if you end up defending.
7 points, all of them in the suit. Six likely tricks and a clear lead for partner.
11 points with an ace and queen outside. Too strong, too defensive, and the suit is ragged.
When not to open one
- With a four-card major on the side. Preempting can talk your own side out of a major fit.
- With a void. Two-suited hands have better bids, and partner cannot judge a preempt that might be shapely.
- With defensive values outside. Two aces elsewhere is a hand that wants to defend, not to preempt.
- In fourth seat. Everyone has passed. If you do not expect to make something, pass it out.
Third seat is the exception to all of this — partner has passed, so your side is not making game, and the only player an undisciplined preempt can hurt is an opponent.
Answering one — you are the captain
Partner has described their hand almost completely: a known suit, a known narrow range. Every decision from here is yours, and they are not allowed another opinion.
- Raise to the level of the fit. Three-card support means nine trumps, so bid three — on any point count. This is preemptive, not an invitation.
- Bid game when you can count it. Do not invite; partner has already told you everything.
- A new suit is forcing and shows a real suit and a real hand.
- 2NT asks. The one enquiry available.
Ogust: what 2NT asks
2NT asks opener to say two things at once: how good the hand is, and how good the suit is.
- 3♣ — weak hand, weak suit.
- 3♦ — weak hand, good suit.
- 3♥ — good hand, weak suit.
- 3♠ — good hand, good suit.
- 3NT — a solid suit, A K Q and three more.
When they open one against you
The bid has done its job: you are guessing at the two level with no information. Take the guess rather than pass.
- Double is takeout — an opening hand, shortage in their suit, support for the rest. See takeout doubles.
- An overcall shows a real suit and real values; you are at the two level unaided.
- 2NT shows about 15–18 balanced with their suit stopped.
- Passing with a good hand is how the preempt wins. If it worked, it worked because you did nothing.
Lebensohl is the refinement for the auctions after partner doubles one.