Weak two bid

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The weak two bid is a common treatment used in the game of contract bridge, where an opening bid of two diamonds, hearts or spades signifies a weak hand with a long suit.[1] It is used in combination with the strong two clubs bid and is a form of preemptive bid. The term refers to an opening bid, and is not to be confused with the "weak jump overcall", which denotes a similar type of hand, but is bid over an opponent's opening bid.

The requirements for a weak two bid may vary by partnership agreement. The most common treatment is that it requires:

  • any good suit of exactly six cards in diamonds, hearts or spades; a longer suit should make a higher preemptive opening bid
  • no side 5-card suit or 4-card major
  • a total of about 5-11 high card points; some prefer a range of 6-10 points for a "weak two" bid, as a hand with six in a suit plus 11 points may be strong enough for a bid at the one level; see Rule of 20

What constitutes a "good" suit is a matter of partnership agreement. The American Contract Bridge League recommends that the opener hold at least two of the top three or three of the top five cards in the suit (that is, either K-Q or Q-J-10 or better). Others recommend at least three honors (J-Q-K).

History

A prototype of the weak two was used in auction bridge, and the principle was attested as early as 1910 by J.B. Elwell.[2] It was incorporated into the Vanderbilt Club system. In early 1940s, Howard Schenken developed the modern weak two-bid along lines similar to Vanderbilt's.[1]

In Charles Goren's original bidding system, when a player opened the bidding with two of a suit, this signified that the player held a very strong hand. (This later became known as the strong two bid.) Later players found it more effective to reserve only the conventional two clubs opening; to show a strong hand. That left the room for opening bids of 2♦, 2♥, or 2♠ to show a weak hand with a six-card suit. This became known as the weak two bid. In some systems, a bid of 2♣ shows a strong hand with a five-card suit, and a bid of 2♦ shows a hand that is similarly strong, but balanced. These alternate versions are less common.

Responses

Standard responses to a weak two opening bid are limited.

  • A raise of the bid suit extends the preempt, and is to play. The weak two bidder does not bid again.
  • A bid of 2NT is an inquiring bid, and thus forcing for one round.
  • A new suit at the lowest level shows a weak hand with a 7 card suit, and is to play. The weak two bidder does not bid again.

The responses to the 2NT inquiring bid are conventional.

  • The responses using Standard American Yellow Card methods are:
    • A bid of three of any suit other than the suit of the "weak two" bid shows a "feature" (typically either an ace or a king) in the named suit.
    • A bid of three of the suit of the "weak two" bid denies a "feature" in any other suit.
      What constitutes a "feature" is, of course, a subject of partnership agreement. Some partnerships consider "features" to include voids.
  • When using the Ogust convention, the following alertable responses apply:
    • 3♣ shows a "minimum" hand and a "poor" suit.
    • 3♦ shows a "minimum" hand and a "good" suit.
    • 3♥ shows a "maximum" hand and a "poor" suit.
    • 3♠ shows a "maximum" hand and a "good" suit.
    • 3NT shows A-K-Q of the preempt suit.
      Here, the definitions of "minimum" and "maximum" hands and "poor" and "good" suits are matters of partnership agreement.
    • A range of seven HCP or less for a "minimum" hand and eight HCP or more for a "maximum" hand is fairly typical.
    • Since "strict" preempts usually show either K-Q or better or Q-J-10 or better, partners who play "strict" preempts typically regard a "good" suit as something more (K-Q-J or better, for example). On the other hand, partners who are less strict in their preempts might define a "good" suit to have either K-Q or better or Q-J-10 or better and a "poor" suit to have anything less.
      There are several variations on the Ogust convention. Ogust's original definition, for example, had the swapped responses in the red suits and did not include the 3NT response. The responses shown here, however, are now pretty much standard.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Manley, Brent, Editor; Horton, Mark, Co-Editor; Greenberg-Yarbro, Tracey, Co-Editor; Rigal, Barry, Co-Editor (2011). The Official Encyclopedia of Bridge (7th ed.). Horn Lake, MS: American Contract Bridge League. p. 338. ISBN 978-0-939460-99-1. 
  2. ↑ History of Weak Two, Chris Ryall website
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