Double Club System

Auctions starting 1, 1 and 1, 1NT

What has been shown?

Opener has an unbalanced hand with no suit longer than his bid major suit.

Responder has shown 6-11 hcp (although he may be stronger with a flattish hand). 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 not pass responder's bid. Although it is likely that responder is weak, he may in fact be strong enough to bid or invite game with his next bid.

Most often, opener will make a minimum rebid — he needs to be very strong to make a forcing bid over a potentially very weak 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

1NT [Alert] (after 1H, 1S)
Artificial but non-forcing: Opener shows a 4-card spade suit in a hand too weak to reverse (so opener is 4=5 or 4=6 in the majors) and responder can pass if he wishes. Responder should correct to 2S with a 4-card spade suit, and should give preference to hearts with most other hands that do not have stoppers in the minors.
2/2
Natural, not forcing, though responder should only pass if absolutely minimum or with a misfit. Opener shows 4+ cards in his second suit and 5+ cards in his first suit. Opener may be light but may be quite strong.
2 (after 1S, 1NT)
Natural, not forcing, though responder should only pass if absolutely minimum or with a misfit. Opener shows 4+ cards in his second suit and 5+ cards in his first suit. 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 (after 1H, 1S)
A natural and forcing reverse. Note that responder's 1 did not preclude his holding a 4-card spade suit, so it is possible that spades may yet be the trump suit.
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