Bidding and conventions
Weak two bids
A weak two is an opening bid of 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠ that shows a good six-card suit and about 5 to 10 points. It describes a hand too weak to open at the one level, and it takes a round of bidding away from the opponents.
What a weak two promises
- Exactly six cards in the suit. Not five, and 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. That is too much strength and defence for a weak two, 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 can't judge a preempt that might be shapely.
- With defensive values outside. Two aces elsewhere is a hand that wants to defend rather than preempt.
- In fourth seat. Everyone has passed. If you don't expect to make something, pass it out.
In third seat you can bend these rules. Partner has passed, so your side isn't making game, and a looser preempt mostly makes life harder for the opponents.
Answering one: you are the captain
Partner has described their hand almost completely: a known suit, a known narrow range. Most decisions from here are yours.
- Raise to the level of the fit. Three-card support means nine trumps, so bid three, whatever your point count. It's preemptive and invites nothing.
- Bid game when you can count it. Don't invite. Partner has already told you everything.
- A new suit is forcing and shows a real suit and a real hand.
- 2NT asks. It's the only way to ask partner for more.
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
A weak two leaves you starting at the two level with little information. When you have a reasonable call, make it.
- 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, because you're bidding at the two level without help from partner.
- 2NT shows about 15–18 balanced with their suit stopped.
- Passing with a good hand is what the opener hopes you will do.
Lebensohl is the refinement for the auctions after partner doubles one.