Double Club System

Auctions starting 1C 2C; 2NT

What has been shown?

Opener has a strong balanced hand of 17-22 hcp or a powerhouse balanced hand of 25+ hcp. There is no upper limit to opener's strength, and the means by which opener shows extra strength is discussed below under Opener's Strategy.

Responder has a 4-card or longer club suit and either 8-11 hcp or 14+ hcp, and denies a 4-card major suit.

The auction is game-forcing.

Opener's strategy

Opener assumes that responder has 8-11 hcp. If opener has any hand within the range of 17-22 hcp, there is an absolute partnership maximum of 33 hcp and it therefore not worth advancing towards slam. Only perhaps with an absolute maximum of 21-22 hcp and a good club fit opener might invite slam with a natural bid of 4C after responder signs off in 3NT (we can play in 4NT if the invitation is refused).

If responder has the higher range of 14+ hcp, it is responder's responsibility for making a further try towards slam.

If opener has a powerhouse hand of 25+ hcp then, on the next round, he must ensure that a slam is reached by bidding 5NT, 6NT or 7NT. He bids 6NT with 25-26 hcp, 7NT with 29+ hcp, and 5NT (to invite a grand slam) with 27-28 hcp. These bids will happen very rarely, but responder cannot fail to recognise an unexpected natural high NT bid as showing the 25+ hcp balanced powerhouse.

Responder's strategy

Responder has denied a 4-card major but he should be aware that opener may have a 5-card major. With most hands having 3 cards in one or both majors, responder should look for a 5-3 major suit fit. The bids available to responder assist that, while giving opener the information he needs to determine whether 3NT will be a playable contract or not.

If responder has the higher range of 14+ hcp, our side has at least slam-invitational values. Responder must not allow the bidding to stop at game. He must make a further try towards slam by bidding beyond game. Opener will recognise this as showing 14+ hcp.

Examples

You can refer to these worked examples, Opener Balanced — Responder Raises Clubs, to see how these bids work in practice.

Continuations by Responder

3C
Shows at least 5 clubs and denies 4 diamonds. Opener can now show a 5-card major if he has one, in case responder has 3-card support. If opener has a worry about either major suit, he can relay with 3D (obviously not natural) to allow responder to bid major suit stoppers. Otherwise opener should bid 3NT if having no worries, or try for a club contract.
3D
Shows 4-card or longer diamonds, as well as the 4-card or longer club suit already shown, and shows a small doubleton or worse in one or both major suits. Responder is not interested in a major suit contract. Opener can bid 3NT with good stoppers in both majors, otherwise bid the major suit he has well stopped (asking responder to bid 3NT with help in the other).
3H/S
Shows a singleton or void in the bid major and exactly 3 cards in the other major. Responder will usually be 5-4 either way in the minors, but may be 5-5 if having a void in the bid major. After responder makes this bid, opener will know that he needs a very solid holding in responder's short major for 3NT to be a good bet. Without a suitable holding, opener can bid game in the other major with a 4-card or 5-card suit, or try for game in a minor suit. If opener does try for a game in a minor suit and responder is 6-3 in the minors, responder can correct a 4D bid by opener to 5C.
3NT
To play. Responder can bid 3NT if having no worries about a 3NT contract and not having 3 cards in either major. This effectively means that he must have Hx in both majors. It is also sensible to bid 3NT with 3=3=3=4 shape.

The remaining bids cover responder's action when he has the 14+ hcp higher range. They can occur immediately, but may also be used on the next round of the auction after responder has explored for some kind of suit fit. They are natural bids, and have the same meaning in any case.

4NT
A natural slam invitation, showing 14-15 hcp (a minimum partnership total of 31-32 hcp). Opener should pass with only 17-18 hcp but should accept the invitation with 19+ hcp. With a good 18 hcp, opener may reinvite with 5NT.
5NT
A natural grand slam invitation (forcing to small slam), showing 18-19 hcp (a minimum partnership total of 35-36 hcp). Opener should decline the invitation and bid 6NT with only 17-18 hcp but accept the invitation and bid 7NT with 19+ hcp.
6NT
To play, showing 16-17 hcp (a minimum partnership total of 33-34 hcp). Opener should obviously convert to 7NT if he has 21+ hcp.

Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club