Double Club System
Auctions starting 2♣, 2♦
What has been shown?
Opener has shown a game-forcing (or almost game-forcing) hand.
If opener has a balanced hand, he will rebid 2NT (non-forcing)
and his hand will have 23-24 hcp.
A strong balanced hand of a different strength would have been opened with 1♣.
Opener will not (if playing the full Double Club System) have a hand with a long club suit,
since that hand would be opened with a forcing 1♣ or,
if he has a minor two-suiter, with 2NT (showing both minors, weak or strong).
If he is single-suited or two-suited, opener's longest suit will be diamonds, hearts or spades.
Responder has not shown nor denied any values.
If your partnership is new to the Double Club System
then you can quite easily play what you normally play after a game-forcing 2♣ opening bid.
The full Double Club System, however, as described here,
gives you superior methods for dealing with minor-suit oriented hands and three-suited hands.
Opener's Continuations
- 2♥
-
Natural (not a Kokish Relay), showing a 5-card or longer suit.
Responder now bids 2NT if he has negative values,
while any other bid is natural and positive.
- 2♠
-
Natural, showing a 5-card or longer suit.
Responder now bids 2NT if he has negative values,
while any other bid is natural and positive.
- 2NT
-
Natural and balanced, 23-24 hcp.
Not forcing — a very weak responder can pass.
Responder's continuations follow our 2NT Response System.
- 3♣ [Alert]
-
Artificial.
Shows a strong three-suited hand short in clubs.
The bidding of all strong three-suiters is described in Strong Three-Suited Opening Bids.
The link on the 3♣ bid above
takes you to the relevant specific section of that document.
- 3♦
-
Natural.
Shows a game-forcing diamond single-suiter,
and denies a 4-card major suit.
Opener may have a 3-card major, however,
so if responder continues by bidding a major suit
he is showing a 5-card or longer suit
and looking for 3-card support.
- 3♥ [Alert]
-
Semi-artificial.
Shows a game-forcing diamond single-suiter
with a 4-card heart suit in addition.
- 3♠ [Alert]
-
Semi-artificial.
Shows a game-forcing diamond single-suiter
with a 4-card spade suit in addition.
Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club