Double Club System
Auctions starting 1
, 1NT or 1, 2
What has been shown?
Opener has shown either an unbalanced hand with no suit longer than clubs
or a balanced hand with 17+ hcp.
Responder has shown 8-11 hcp with diamonds as the only suit.
If he bid 1NT he has a balanced hand with 4 or 5 diamonds.
If he bid 2
he has an unbalanced hand with at least 6 diamonds.
Strategy
An immediate rebid of 2NT by opener shows a 17+ hcp balanced hand and is forcing to game.
Responder will normally rebid 3,
so that opener can show a 5-card major if he has one.
Neither the 1NT nor the 2 response is forcing, so opener may pass.
Any bid of diamonds or clubs by opener or responder is non-forcing,
and so is any bid of 2NT by either partner later in the auction.
A bid of a major suit is stopper showing, asking partner to bid NT with the other major stopped.
If one player invites game by bidding 2NT and the other player rejects the invitation,
he can do so by bidding either
3 or 3,
which may be preferable to 2NT.
Continuations
- pass
-
To play.
- 2 (over 1NT)
-
To play.
- 2 (over 1NT)
-
To play.
- 2
/
-
Stopper showing.
Opener is strong with a 5-card club suit and has 15+ hcp,
enough to invite game opposite responder's 8-11 hcp.
Responder should bid 2NT (minimum) or 3NT (maximum) with a good stopper in the unbid major,
otherwise return to clubs or diamonds.
- 2NT
-
Forcing.
A balanced hand of 17+ hcp (with no upper limit).
Opener may have a 5-card major
so, if responder has a 3-card holding in either major,
his rebid should leave room for opener to show a 5-card major suit if he has one.
- 3
-
Invitational to 3NT, asking responder to pass 3 if the invitation is not accepted.
- 3
-
Invitational to 3NT, asking responder to pass 3 if the invitation is not accepted.
- 3NT
-
To play.
Opener is unbalanced but is strong enough to want to play in 3NT
and has no worries about stoppers.
Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club