Double Club System

Auctions starting 1H/S, 2NT

What has been shown?

Opener has shown opening bid values (although he may be light) and a 5-card major suit.

Responder has shown 4-card support for opener's major suit and either a game-invitational hand of 8 losers or a strong slam-invitational hand of 6 losers or better.

Opener's Strategy

Opener assumes that responder has the game-invitational 8-loser hand. If opener has a 7-loser or weaker hand, so that he does not wish to accept the game invitation, he signs off in 3H/S. With a 6-loser hand he should bid 4H/S. When opener has a stronger hand of 5 losers or fewer he should cue bid his cheapest ace or king (but not a short suit), to help responder evaluate the degree of fit, or make a jump bid in a second 5-card suit, showing a source of tricks.

Responder's Strategy

If responder has the 8-loser hand that opener has assumed, he respects opener's decision about whether game is playable or not. If opener bids a new suit, showing extra values, responder should sign off in game if there is no fit but he should co-operate (by making a cue bid himself) if he can identify a good fit.

If responder has the stronger hand, 6 losers or fewer, he will convert opener's part-score sign-off to game and make a slam try (probably by bidding 4NT, RKB) over opener's game bid. Over any stronger bid by opener a slam is likely, possibly a grand slam, and responder will take the lead in driving the partnership there if the right controls are present.

Continuations by Opener

new suit [Alert]
Opener accepts the game-invitation and shows a strong hand with slam interest, and promises the ace or the king of the bid suit. This is likely to be a second 4-card suit, or at least a 3-card fragment, where any honour card in responder's hand will very likely be pulling its weight and worth a trick.
Note: Opener must not cue bid a singleton or void at this stage. Responder should value honour cards in the suit opener has cue bid, which he cannot do if opener may be cue bidding a short suit.
3H/S
Opener rejects the game invitation and shows a light or minimum hand. If responder has 8 losers he should pass, but if he has the stronger hand of 6 losers or better he should correct to 4H/S or, with a very strong hand, make a slam try.
3S (after 1H, 2NT)
Natural, promising game values and a good 4-card spade suit. Responder's 2NT has not ruled out a 4-card spade suit and, if he has one, spades will probably play for a trick more than hearts. If responder has an 8-loser minimum, he should choose 4S if he also has a 4-card spade suit, or sign off in 4H. When responder has the stronger 6-loser hand, he bids 3NT (rejecting spades and asking for a minor suit cue bid with hearts as trumps) or make a cue bid (or bid 4NT, RKB) in support of spades if he has 4-card spade support and slam interest.
3NT [Alert]
Accepts the game invitation and asks responder to bid a short suit. Responder bids any short suit that he has, otherwise he bids 4C. If opener needs to find out whether 4C shows a short club suit or no short suit he relays with 4D: responder signs off in game with no short suit but bids the other major if he has short clubs.
jump new suit
Natural, showing a second 5-card suit in a strong hand. Opener is letting responder know of a possible source of tricks for a slam contract, and responder is encouraged to advance towards slam if he has a fit with this suit, even with an 8-loser minimum. Responder should sign off in 4H/S if he does not have a fit with opener's second suit.
4H/S
Opener accepts the game invitation but shows no slam interest opposite the assumed 8-loser hand. Responder should continue (probably with 4NT, RKB) if he has a 6-loser or better hand.

Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club