and then make a strong bid on the next round.
Opener has shown either a normal strength unbalanced hand with no suit longer than clubs, or a balanced hand with 17+ hcp, or a Game-Forcing hand with clubs as the longest suit (but not a GF hand with both minors, since that hand type is opened with 2NT), or Game-Forcing Three-Suited Hand with shortage in any suit other than clubs.
Responder's basic strategy is to assume that opener holds an unbalanced club hand of normal strangth and to respond accordingly (in either a contested or an uncontested auction). If it turns out that opener has any of the other types, then opener will have sufficient additional strength to ensure that the auction remains under control.
With 12+ hcp responder should bid a 4-card major if he has one.
Otherwise with 12+ hcp, he should support clubs with a 4-card or longer suit,
and failing that (if diamonds is his only suit) he should first bid 1
and then make a strong bid on the next round.
Otherwise, with less than 12+ hcp,
if responder has a 5-card major, we want to hear about it unless he is very weak.
Opener may have a good club suit but 3-card support for responder's major,
in which case his knowledge that responder's major is at least 5 cards
will solve any doubt he has about whether to support responder or rebid his clubs.
But with a 4-card major and fewer than 12 hcp,
we require responder to bid 1.
This leaves room for opener to show a 4-card major, so the fit will not be lost.
Any hand with no major suit requires 8+ hcp to make a positive response.
With clubs, the bid is 2
,
showing support for a natural club opener and promising game values opposite a 17+ hcp balanced opener.
With diamonds, a balanced hand bids 1NT and an unbalanced hand a non-forcing 2.
Both these bids are passable, but a balanced opener will know that game values are present opposite either.
,
even if holding a longer minor suit.
or 2NT (see below).
is RKB.
is RKB.
Do not make any higher responses than those given above. In particular, don't splinter in support of clubs, since opener may not have a club suit!
Like all systems where a 1 opening bid
may not (or does not) show clubs, the Double Club System is not invulnerable to enemy action.
However it does cope very much better than most.
Please read the general strategy for countering interference first,
since the general principles apply over a 1 opening bid also.
There are two special considerations relating to
the forcing 1 opening, however.
Firstly, since LHO has kept the auction open with his call,
we can remove the requirement of a weak responder to bid.
Secondly we can keep our system undisturbed over a double
or a 1 overcall,
neither of which remove any of our bidding space.
These special considerations are described here.
After action by opener's LHO, responder can (and should) pass
with fewer than 6 hcp and no suit to bid.
But with a 6-card suit (other than one shown by LHO), even a fairly weak one,
responder should bid it at the two-level even if too weak to have done so in an unchallenged auction.
We also permit standard pre-emptive action at the three-level and above in a contested auction,
including the bid of 3 with a 6-card suit.
Bidding long suits will help a strong balanced opener to bid game in the suit when appropriate,
and may locate a fit when opener has an unbalanced natural club hand.
All actions other than a pass or a pre-emptive bid show 6+ hcp (or 4+ hcp and a good suit if at the one level).
overcall
Whether a double is for takeout or anything else, we play "system on", i.e. essentially the same meanings as in an uncontested auction, except that 1♦ shows 6+ hcp and a 5-card or longer diamond suit. Responder should pass with fewer than 6 hcp, or a stronger hand with nothing to bid. In particular, it is right to pass with any hand having a 4-card major, since LHO is likely to bid and opener can then double that bid with interest in a major suit contract. A redouble by responder shows 10+ hcp and interest in playing for penalties.
Whether a 1 overcall is natural or artificial,
we also play "system on",
except that a 2 cue bid
(or a cue bid of a suit shown by LHO if his overcall is artificial) shows club support.
A double by responder shows 12+ hcp and interest in playing for penalties
(it shows diamonds if the overcall is natural, or a suit shown by LHO's bid if it is artificial).
After any higher overcall, the system listed above for uncontested auctions is entirely off. All continuations are according to the general strategy for countering interference.
In particular, it is safe and desirable for responder to support clubs if possible,
since opener is either strong or has genuine clubs.
With 3-card support or better
it is safe to support to 2 with 6+ hcp.
If opener's LHO overcalls at the two-level,
responder can bid 3
with 3-card support and 8+ hcp.
These bids may enable a strong balanced opener to get to 2NT or 3NT for a good score,
and will be reasonable or good spots opposite a natural club opener.
Unlike in the uncontested auction, where responder must keep the bidding low so that opener can complete the description of his hand, in a contested auction it is right and proper for responder to bid a natural 1NT, 2NT or 3NT with suitable stoppers.
When one-level interference comes back to opener, 1NT shows 17-19 hcp and 2NT shows 20-22 hcp. A double shows an unbid 4-card major and confirms a natural club suit. A new suit by opener shows a weak or moderate distributional hand, while a jump bid in a new suit is natural and shows a strong distributional two-suiter.
When two-level or higher interference comes back to opener, he should pass with a balanced 17-19 hcp unless responder has made some useful contribution. If responder has not shown any values, a rebid of 2NT shows a balanced 20-22 hcp. Other continuations by opener are as in the previous paragraph, but will need extra strength due to the higher level of the auction.
Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club