, as in standard,
but we add a forcing 1 opening bid
that deals with all balanced hands that are too strong to open 1NT and not strong enough to open 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 and not strong enough to open 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.
It should be alerted and described as "natural, or strong and balanced, forcing".
may be 17-22 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 will be strong enough to correct to NT.
is standard,
artificial and game-forcing unless opener rebids 2NT (23-24 hcp).
We use the Kokish Relay and then 2NT to show a balanced 25+ hcp.
, 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 singleton or void.
The 1 opening bid is forcing.
Responder 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.
Any other bid by opener confirms both clubs and hearts as natural bids.
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):
| 11-12 hcp: | Open if having a good 5-card diamond, heart or spade suit, otherwise pass. Note: You must pass with a balanced hand of 12 hcp that lacks a 5-card suit. | ||
| 13-16 hcp: | 1NT | ||
| 17-19 hcp: | 1, 1; 1NT | or 1, 1/; 1NT or 1, 2; 2NT | |
| 20-22 hcp: | 1, 1; 1*, 1*; 1NT | or 1, 1/; 2NT or 1, 2; 2NT | |
| 23-24 hcp: | 2, 2; 2NT | ||
| 25+ hcp: | 2, 2; 2*, 2*; 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.
After a 1NT opening bid or an auction that starts with
1, 1
and a rebid of 1NT by opener,
our 1NT response system applies.
After an auction that starts with
2, 2
and a rebid of 2NT by opener,
our 2NT response system applies.
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.
If responder makes a natural bid and opener rebids 1NT or 2NT then all further bidding is natural.
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