Help
At my club there seem to be a variety of situations when people open a strong 2C. For some people it's a game force where you want to be in game regardless of your partner's hand. Some people it's 20+ unbalanced or 23+ balanced. Some people it's 8 playing tricks. Some people it's 4 losers. Some people it's the rule of 29 - sum points plus length of two longest suits being 29 or more.
e.g.
nz bridge beginner lessons
Playing two over one what is the "best" or optimal way to play the 2C opening.
Should you have an "escape system" where responder can pass before game is reached.
If you have a 25 point balanced hand, should you rebid 3NT instead of 2NT so that you partner can pass 2NT with no points. I've been told not because it denies responder a chance to bid stayman or transfers.
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How and when to open strong 2C
#2
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Posted Yesterday, 23:31
Best solution to balanced hands is Kokish or birthright (same thing, alternative names).
2♣-2♦-2♥(hearts or bal)-2♠(pretty much forced)-2N is balanced stronger than 2♣-2♦-2N, hands with hearts bid something other than 2N.
You should play some system over 2♣-2♦-3N, what you can't do is play puppet.
2♣-2♦-2♥(hearts or bal)-2♠(pretty much forced)-2N is balanced stronger than 2♣-2♦-2N, hands with hearts bid something other than 2N.
You should play some system over 2♣-2♦-3N, what you can't do is play puppet.
#3
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- Posts: 1,237
- Joined: 2014-June-01
Posted Today, 06:54
The question about 2C GF or not (and.can we stop before game) partially depends on what you do with the following strong hands but not quite stirring enough to be GF on their own (ie 24+ bal or 9 tricks in M, 10 in m)
- a one suiter such as game minus 2
AQJTxx
Kx
AQx
Axx
Opening 1S risks a general pass while partner with some 4-5 HCP hands makes game a good bet (SK and a minor doubleton, the HA and a fit, DJ plus something useful, etc.). Still with 0 opposite 2S is the max.
- 22-23 bal if your NT ladder is 2NT = 20-21
Some systems have 2 strong openings, one GF and one not GF, but lose some offensive bids at the 2 level. There is always a trade off somewhere.
2C ambiguous allows to stop but multiple systems exist (2D positive, 2D waiting and cheaper minor negative, etc.).
In all cases, the 2C opening should have enough defensive values on the side, to go back to your question.
For example, AKQ 10th of H and out is indeed 2 tricks more than the almost GF hand I posted above; and produces game on its own, but it is definitely not a 2C opener.
For unbal hands, a not too quacky 16 is probably the minimum.
There are also legal constraints to respect.
- a one suiter such as game minus 2
AQJTxx
Kx
AQx
Axx
Opening 1S risks a general pass while partner with some 4-5 HCP hands makes game a good bet (SK and a minor doubleton, the HA and a fit, DJ plus something useful, etc.). Still with 0 opposite 2S is the max.
- 22-23 bal if your NT ladder is 2NT = 20-21
Some systems have 2 strong openings, one GF and one not GF, but lose some offensive bids at the 2 level. There is always a trade off somewhere.
2C ambiguous allows to stop but multiple systems exist (2D positive, 2D waiting and cheaper minor negative, etc.).
In all cases, the 2C opening should have enough defensive values on the side, to go back to your question.
For example, AKQ 10th of H and out is indeed 2 tricks more than the almost GF hand I posted above; and produces game on its own, but it is definitely not a 2C opener.
For unbal hands, a not too quacky 16 is probably the minimum.
There are also legal constraints to respect.
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