Double Club System

Auctions starting 1, 1; 2

What has been shown?

Opener has shown either a strong to Game-Forcing club single-suiter or a Game-Forcing Three-Suited Hand with short hearts. Responder must relay with 2 to allow opener to show which hand type he has.

Responder is unlimited at this stage, though he could have nothing. If he has some values, he may have 6-11 hcp with a 4-card major (but no 5-card major), or he may have a strong hand (12+ hcp) with diamonds as the longest suit.

Responder's Strategy

In most cases responder should relay with 2, to allow opener to show which hand type he has.

There is one circumstance in which responder should break the relay. If responder has a weak hand (less than 5 hcp), and he has a 4-card or longer diamond suit, he should show this hand by breaking the relay to 2NT. That enables opener to choose a diamond part score instead of a club part score when he also has a 4-card diamond suit.

Please see Examples of Auctions Starting 1, 1; 2 for full information.

Responder's Continuations

2♥ [Alert]

Artificial completion of the relay, allowing opener to describe his hand. Responder may or may not be weak. If he knows of enough values for game opposite the strength that opener has shown, he will make a further bid after opener's potential sign-off. If he is weak, he will pass opener's next bid.

2NT [Alert]

Artificial: Responder shows less than game values and 4+ diamonds. If opener's next bid is 3 or 3, responder indicates that he is planning to pass. By showing 4+ diamonds he is giving opener the opportunity to select a diamond contract when opener has a club-diamond reverse rebid.

Memory Guide: Responder's 2NT cannot be natural (he would not bid 2NT if there was any possibility that NT might be the final denomination). It is artificial, and shows that responder has more interest in the unbid minor (diamonds) than in clubs.

Responder should not make any other bid.

Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club