Double Club System
Auctions starting 1
/
, 2
/
What has been shown?
Opener has shown an unbalanced hand that is 5-4 or better in spades and hearts.
The hand may be a light or a full-strength opening bid.
Responder has shown a hand with the bid minor as the (possibly joint) longest suit
and 12+ hcp, although he may be a fraction weaker if having
3-card support for opener and 7 losers.
Strategy
A light or absolutely minimum opener will rebid 2/
which can be passed by responder if he is minimum.
If opener has a sound minimum opening bid or better, he must not rebid 2/.
He makes any other natural bid, or bids 2NT to show a sound single-suited opening bid.
The auction is unconditionally game-forcing and proceeds naturally.
Continuations by Opener
- 2
-
Natural and forcing to game, showing a 4-card or longer suit and full opening bid values.
Opener may not make this rebid when light.
- 2 (after a 1 opening bid)
-
Natural and forcing, showing a 4-card or longer heart suit, but not an absolute game-force.
A light opener with 5-4 in spades and hearts must be allowed to make this rebid
or otherwise a 4-4 heart fit will never come to light.
Responder should be aware that opener may be light and keen to pass on the next round,
so if strong he may want to make a fourth-suit forcing bid to ensure that the auction stays alive.
Most other lowest-level rebids by responder can be passed by a light opener.
- 2/
-
Opener shows a light or sub-minimum opening bid.
No additional suit length above 5 cards is promised.
Responder may pass if minimum, or if having the 3-card limit raise,
or he may convert to 2NT to play if having no fit with opener's suit and believing it a better contract.
Any other rebid by responder, including a rebid of his minor suit, is forcing to game.
- 2 (after a 1 opening bid)
-
A natural and game-forcing reverse, showing a 4-card or longer spade suit.
- 2NT
-
Opener has a full-strength opening bid with a 6-card suit
and does not have any other suit to show, so is semi-balanced.
This type of hand will not usually have more than 6 losers,
so the auction is game forcing.
Responder jumps to 4/
when holding the 3-card limit raise with 8 losers.
With a stronger hand with with 2-card or 3-card support,
responder bids 3/
to set the trump suit and leave room for slam investigation.
- higher suit bids
-
Splinter raise of responder's suit.
If responder has the 3-card limit raise he corrects by bidding 4/.
Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club