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Playing Strong Two Opening Bids
With a hand containing 23 or more points, you typically open with the artificial strong 2♣ convention.
Because this bid is artificial, it does not indicate the opener’s club holding. The responder must keep the bidding open for at least one round, allowing the opener to describe the hand more accurately. By contrast, opening 2♦, 2♥, or 2♠ shows a very different type of hand and point range.
Because this bid is artificial, it does not indicate the opener’s club holding. The responder must keep the bidding open for at least one round, allowing the opener to describe the hand more accurately. By contrast, opening 2♦, 2♥, or 2♠ shows a very different type of hand and point range.
Strong Opening Two's Overview
If you play a system in which all opening bids at the two level are strong, a 2♣ opening has a different meaning from an opening bid of 2♠, 2♥, or 2♦. The bids of 2♠, 2♥, and 2♦ are natural bids and follow their own set of rules.An opening bid of 2NT is also treated differently, as it shows a specific point range and a balanced hand distribution. This system is known as playing "strong twos" each of the 2 level openings is strong they have different strengths from each other.
Opening 2 Clubs - Game Forcing Bid
A 2♣ opening bid is the strongest it says nothing about your
club suit but promises a minimum of 23+ TP and is forcing partner to keep the bidding going
until game is reached. Of course with 10 points partner will probably want to keep going to slam in
which case they will probably use Blackwood or Gerber Convention to ask about your aces.
Opening a Strong 2 Spades, 2 Hearts or 2 Diamonds.
Strong Opening 2♠or 2♥ or 2♦ shows less points than a 2 Club bid but more points than opening at the 1
level. So you will have 17-22 HCP better than 8 or 9 playing tricks but not enough for a 2♣. Usually these bids show a good suit, partner is not forced
to bid game, but depending on partners cards and point count decides whether to end in part-game, game or
slam.
Opening 2NT.
Opening the bidding with 2NT tells partner you have 20-22 HCP and a balanced hand. This is not a game
force bid. Partner can use the Stayman
Convention, make a negative takeout bid or can bid game or slam.
Instant Progress Quiz - Check all the correct answers
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Exercise: You and partner are playing Strong Two's and you pick up this hand, what do you bid?
Your Hand
- ♠ A
- ♥ A K Q J 8
- ♦ K Q J 9 6
- ♣ K J
Answer: Bid 2♣. With 24 HCP you have enough points to open the bidding 2♣.Don't be tempted to open the bidding 1♥ as your partner will pass if they have less than 6 HCP and you will miss out
on finding a game contract
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Count it — is this a 2♣ opener?
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Practise Standard American bidding free
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Extra for Experts
A different game on the same subject as this lesson, with questions for community discussion in the comments area below.
PLAY