, as in standard,
but we add a forcing 1 opening bid
that deals with all balanced hands that are too strong to open 1NT
(other than 23-24 hcp which is opened with 2NT).
Hence "Double Club" — both the 1
and 2 opening bids are forcing.
In summary, the System is 5-card Majors and Two-Over-One Game-Forcing,
with a 13-16 hcp 1NT opening bid.
The System's strong bid is 2, as in standard,
but we add a forcing 1 opening bid
that deals with all balanced hands that are too strong to open 1NT
(other than 23-24 hcp which is opened with 2NT).
Hence "Double Club" — both the 1
and 2 opening bids are forcing.
is forcing and two-way:
it is either a natural club opening or a balanced hand of 17-22 hcp
or 25+ hcp.
It should be alerted and described as "natural, or strong and balanced, forcing".
may be 17-22 hcp
or 25+ hcp balanced.
But note that, after a 1 opening bid,
in a competitive auction responder can assume that opener has genuine clubs and bid accordingly,
since if opener doesn't have clubs he will have 17+ hcp
and so will be strong enough to correct to NT.
is artificial and game-forcing
unless opener rebids 2NT (23-24 hcp).
When playing the Basic Double Club System
you can play 2 the way you are used to.
The full Double Club System assigns some extended meanings for strong hands
to the 1
and 2 opening bids.
, 2
and 2
are weak.
Responder's 2NT is Ogust, while new suit bids are constructive but non-forcing:
opener should raise responder's suit with Hx or better but pass with a lesser holding.
The 1 opening bid is forcing.
Responder must not pass and usually bids 1,
waiting (alert as "artificial, waiting"),
but can bid 1 or 1
if having 5+ hcp and a 5-card or longer suit,
or raise to 2 with club support (forcing),
promising 8+ hcp, and denying any major suit.
After a 1 response,
1 by opener is a Kokish Relay
demanding and 1 from responder.
Opener then rebids 1NT with 20-22 hcp
or 2NT with 27+ hcp.
Any other bid by opener confirms both clubs and hearts as natural bids.
After a 1 response,
opener rebids 1NT with 17-19 hcp
or 2NT with 25-26 hcp.
Any rebid by opener other than 1NT or 2NT (whether via the Kokish Relay or directly)
confirms that opener's 1 is natural
and that opener's rebid is also natural.
Standard responses, except that 2 is a forcing raise,
promising 8+ hcp, and denies any major suit,
while 3 is a pre-emptive raise.
or 1
A two-over-one response is game forcing.
1NT is forcing, 5-12 hcp.
Raises to 3/
and 4/
are pre-emptive.
An invitational raise is shown with 2NT and a balanced game raise with 3NT.
An unbalanced game raise is shown by splintering.
The System's no trump ladder is (the bids marked * are a Kokish Relay):
| 13-16 hcp: | 1NT | ||
| 17-19 hcp: | 1, 1; 1NT | or 1, 1/; 1NT or 1, 1NT/2any; 2NT | |
| 20-22 hcp: | 1, 1; 1*, 1*; 1NT | or 1, 1/; 2NT or 1, 1NT/2any; 2NT | |
| 23-24 hcp: | 2, 2; 2NT | ||
| 25-26 hcp: | 1, 1; 2NT | or 1, 1/; 1NT or 1, 1NT/2any; 2NT | |
| 27-30 hcp: | 1, 1; 1*, 1*; 2NT | or 1, 1/; 2NT or 1, 1NT/2any; 2NT |
If responder shows a major suit and opener has support for responder's major, opener should still rebid no trump. Opener's 1NT or 2NT rebid is forcing, so opener will be able to show support on the next round.
Although our 2NT opening bid is artificial (both minors), we still need a 2NT response system for use after opener's 2NT rebids. Clearly we also need a 1NT response system. The Double Club System recommends a 1NT Response System and a 2NT Response System but, if you are new to the System, you and your partner can play what you currently play and are comfortable with.
In any auction when opener rebids 1NT or 2NT
after having opened 1
(or 2),
our 1NT or 2NT response system applies.
Note that this is true even if responder has made a natural bid.
Direct jump raises are pre-emptive. A cue bid shows a value raise of partner's suit. A jump new suit is a fit jump (not a splinter — in competition we can only splinter in the opponent's suit).
Doubles of all suit bids below the three level are for takeout, even if partner has bid 1NT. Higher doubles are primarily for takeout but the higher the double the less partner needs to pass it for penalties.
Use Lebensohl after an overcall of our 1NT and after our takeout double of their two-level bid.
Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club