Double Club System

Auctions starting 1

What has been shown?

Opener has an unbalanced hand with no suit longer than diamonds or (in 1st/2nd position) a balanced hand with 5-card diamonds and less than 14 hcp. In 3rd/4th position a balanced opener may have only a 3-card or a 4-card diamond suit.

Strategy

Responder will bid a 4-card or longer major if he has one. With a 6-card major and 6-9 hcp he can jump to 2H/S. If unable to bid a major suit and without the values to make a two-level response, he bids 1NT.

If responder first bids 1H/S, any minimum suit rebid by him on the next round other than a raise of opener's suit is forcing for one round, ensuring that a strong responder can describe his hand without having to force in an artificial suit. Even a simple repeat of responder's own major suit is forcing for one round.

Continuations

1/1
Shows a 4-card or longer suit and 6+ hcp, although responder is at liberty to bid on any weaker hand where he has strong expectations of improving the contract.
1NT
Shows 6-11 hcp and absolutely denies a 4-card or longer major. Opener will only pass this wide-ranging bid if he is light or absolutely minimum.
2
Shows 4+ clubs and 12+ hcp. May have 5+ clubs and a 4-card major.
2 [Alert]
Forcing diamond raise: 4+ diamonds and either 8-11 hcp or 14+ hcp. Responder will not have a 4-card major. Opener continues with the assumption that responder has 8-11 hcp. When responder has 14+ hcp then he will make a further try after opener's eventual sign-off.
2/
Natural and game-forcing, 16+ hcp. The System requires that a game-forcing jump takeout response conforms to the Proper Use of the Game-Forcing Jump Takeout.
2NT [Alert]
Artificial diamond raise: 4+ diamonds and 12-13 hcp. Opener is expected to name the final contract after this narrowly-defined limit bid, except that 4 is RKB.
3
A 4-card pre-emptive raise, showing some shape but more than 9 losers.
three-level new suit [Alert]
Splinter. Shortage in the bid suit and good support for diamonds. Opener should bid 3NT if having wasted values in responder's short suit, otherwise cue bid controls if interested in a slam.
3NT
Natural and to play. Usually 14-15 hcp, but may be weaker with a long club suit.

Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club