Double Club System
Light Opening Bids
The Double Club System recognises the advantage of getting your bid in first.
Light opening bids are encouraged when the right type of hand is held.
The System is designed to stop the auction getting out of control opposite a light opening bid,
so the players can safely indulge whenever a suitable hand comes along.
In Spades, Hearts and Diamonds
In the Double Club System, you may have as many as 8 losers
when you make a light opening bid.
Your suit should always be of good quality, however.
After making a light opening bid in one of the three highest suits,
your strategy should be to rebid 1NT over a one-level response
and to rebid two of your suit over a two-level response.
Either of these bids shows a light or very minimal opening bid
and allows responder to pass at a low level if he feels that no game is likely.
Some examples of sensible light opening bids in the three highest suits are:
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A K J 6 5 |
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6 4 |
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Q 7 3 |
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9 6 2 |
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Open 1.
This hand has 8 losers and only 10 hcp,
but it is quite safe to open in any position.
If you defend, you want a spade lead.
If partner supports spades, you are in control of the auction.
If partner bids 1NT, you will happily pass (it could be an excellent spot).
If partner bids two of a new suit, you will show your light balanced hand by rebidding 2.
Responder can pass (or sign off in 2NT) unless he has extra values,
so you are protected from getting too high.
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6 4 |
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A K J 6 5 |
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Q 7 3 |
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9 6 2 |
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Open 1.
This is the same hand as previouly but with the suits switched, and the same comments apply.
Here, however, if partner bids 1 you will rebid 1NT,
showing a balanced hand with less than 14 hcp.
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6 4 |
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A K 8 6 5 |
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Q J 9 5 |
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9 2 |
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Open 1.
This hand has a bit more shape and only 7 losers,
but it has fewer than 12 hcp and so is most definitely a light opener.
If partner bids 1 you must rebid 1NT,
showing a light or minimum opening bid.
If partner bids 2 or 2,
you must show your light opening by rebidding 2,
even though you have a second suit that will remain hidden.
See the next example for more on this.
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6 4 |
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A K 8 6 5 |
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9 2 |
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Q J 9 5 |
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Open 1.
The same hand as the previous one except that the minor suits have been switched.
If responder bids 2 you are too weak to support him
(3 would be forcing and shows 12+ hcp),
so must rebid 2.
A minimal responder will pass if he has two or more trumps
but if not he will bid 2NT. You can then sign off in 3,
a known 4-4 or better fit.
If responder's suit had been diamonds, you would pass his 2NT rebid, of course.
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4 |
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Q J 9 5 |
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A K 8 6 5 |
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9 6 2 |
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Open 1.
Another 7 loser light opener.
If partner bids 1 you will be very glad that you opened
and can now consider your hand as having full values.
You need have no qualms about raising responder's major suit,
since you know that the contract will be in that suit and not in no trumps.
If partner bids 1 you will rebid 1NT with no worries,
while over 2 you should rebid 2,
showing a light opening bid and allowing responder to pass or bid 2NT to play if he has minimal values.
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In Clubs
Light opening bids are possible in clubs as well,
but a rebid of 1NT is not possible following a light 1 opening bid
since this rebid shows a genuinely strong balanced hand.
And because you should raise a major suit response with 3-card support,
you will often have to raise a major suit response.
But your raise will be taken as showing 7 losers,
and you risk getting too high if you have as many as 8 losers.
So a light opening in clubs should have only 7 losers, never 8 losers.
And if you may need to rebid 2 if nothing good happens,
you will need a 6-card club suit or a very good 5-card suit.
For example:
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9 5 3 |
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Q 8 7 3 |
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4 |
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A K J 9 5 |
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Open 1.
This hand has only 10 hcp and only 5 clubs,
but with 7 losers a light 1 opening is likely to pay off.
Over a 1 response you can rebid 1.
Partner is now required to bid 1 (to complete the Kokish Relay),
and your third bid of 2 completes the picture of your hand,
showing that both your club and heart bid were natural.
If you get a response in either major you can raise the suit.
And you can pass a 1NT or a 2 response.
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4 |
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Q 8 7 3 |
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9 5 3 |
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A K J 9 5 |
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Open 1.
You are not so comfortable when you are short in spades, but things are still OK to open light.
Over a 1 response you can rebid 1, as above.
Over a 1 response you will have to rebid 2, however.
But your suit should cope if partner then passes.
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4 |
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Q 7 3 |
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9 5 3 |
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A K J 9 8 5 |
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Open 1.
You have, in effect a good "weak two in clubs".
There is no such bid, of course, but you are safe to open 1
and it certainly makes sense to do so rather than to pass.
Your opening bid has no pre-emptive effect but it may help in many ways,
even if only by taking the opponents' opening bids and responses out of the equation.
Non-vulnerable you may choose to gain the genuine pre-emptive effect
by opening 3 with this hand, perhaps.
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Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club