Double Club System

Auctions starting 1, 1NT

What has been shown?

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

Responder has shown 6-11 hcp and no 4-card or longer major suit. Responder may be somewhat weaker than 6 hcp if he has expectations of a likely improvement in the contract by his bidding.

Strategy

Opener may pass with light or very weak values. Most often, opener will make a minimum rebid — he needs to be very strong to make a forcing bid over a 1NT response.

After a minimum rebid by opener, a minimum responder (6-9 hcp) should pass or give preference. With maximum values (10-11 hcp), responder should bid again, simply making the most natural bid.

Continuations

pass

To play. Opener is light or minimum and balanced, or is light and unbalanced and feels that 1NT is a good place to play.

2

Natural, not forcing, though responder should only pass if absolutely minimum or with a misfit. Opener shows 4+ cards in clubs and 5+ cards in diamonds. Opener may be light but may be quite strong.

2

Natural, not necessarily strong but with good values at least. Usually a 6-card suit.

2/

A natural and forcing reverse.

2NT

Forcing, showing 18+ hcp and a semi-balanced hand (denies a singleton or void). Opener will either have a 6-card suit or will be 5-4-2-2 with his second suit lower-ranking than his first. Responder will usually bid 3NT, but he may bid three of a broken 6-card suit, non-forcing, if his suit will not be useful in 3NT opposite a doubleton. With a maximum 10-11 hcp, and interest in a slam if he can find a fit with opener's possible second suit, responder should bid three of opener's first suit, which is artificial and asking opener to bid his second suit if he has one, otherwise 3NT. After opener has shown a second suit at the four level, 4NT by responder is a sign-off, as is a bid of game in either of opener's suits, but any other bid is a cue bid agreeing opener's second suit as trumps.

higher suit bid

Natural and forcing to game. A strong distributional hand.

3NT

Natural and to play. A running suit. Responder can continue if strong, in which case opener's major suit is set as trumps.

Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club