Double Club System

Auctions starting 1, 2

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.

Responder has 12+ hcp and a balanced or an unbalanced hand in which clubs is strictly the longest suit.

Strategy

Opener will rebid naturally if he has a balanced hand or a one- or two-suited unbalanced hand.

If opener has a three-suited hand that is short in clubs, he will treat it as balanced and rebid a forcing 2NT.

Opener's Continuations

2
Shows 5+ diamonds, non-forcing, and either light or with minimum full opening values. Opener must make this rebid if he has opened light, although he may be also use this rebid with as many as 14 hcp, since responder has plenty of bidding space to make a further game try. Responder will only pass if minimal and with a possible misfit.
2/
Natural and forcing, showing at least full opening values but not necessarly "reversing" values (since a reverse is not especially strong after a two-over-one response). May be just an attempt to locate stoppers for a no trump contract.
2NT
Natural and forcing, showing at least full opening values. Does not deny a 4-card major, since this is the bid that opener will usually make with a three-suited hand. If responder rebids either 3C or 3D he shows that his hand is unsuitable for 3NT in some way and his bid is non-forcing. However, opener should still continue if he has extra values or stoppers.
3
A natural raise of clubs, showing 4-card or better support.
3
Shows a good 6-card suit and the values for game. Responder should bid 3NT with stoppers in both majors, otherwise bid the stopper he has (if any), or bid 4C or 4D to set the trump suit.
3/
Natural, strong, distributional and forcing, showing at 6-5 or better in diamonds and the major suit.
3NT
Natural and to play.
higher bids
Natural, and forcing if not a game or slam bid.

Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club