Double Club System

Introduction

The Double Club System (so called because both the 1 and 2 opening bids are forcing) is a natural bidding system that introduces a separation between balanced and unbalanced hands that no other bidding system has managed. This simplifies your bidding decisions considerably in all auctions and, if the opponents compete, it puts you in a superior position to any other bidding system. And never again will you open one of a suit with a strong balanced hand and see your partner pass it out.

Balanced hands of 13-16 hcp are opened 1NT, and balanced hands of 23-24 hcp are opened 2 and rebid 2NT. All other balanced hands (17-22 hcp and 25+ hcp) are opened 1 and rebid 1NT or 2NT, whether responder makes a negative/waiting bid of 1 or any kind of positive bid. Furthermore, after a positive response, opener's rebid of either 1NT or 2NT is forcing. This means that opener can describe the balanced nature of his hand, and its exact strength, even if he has prime support for responder's suit, since he is guaranteed a further bid and can show his support on the next round.

Other opening bids show unbalanced hands, as do the 1 and 2 opening bids when opener fails to rebid 1NT or 2NT. All one of a suit opening bids promise a 5-card suit (although 1 and 1 may be a 4-4-4-1 shape) except when 1 is followed by a 1NT or 2NT rebid. Responder can assume that a 1 opening bid promises a 5-card suit and freely raise clubs if he has support, since if opener does not have clubs he will have enough strength (17+ hcp) to correct to a safe NT contract. This safety factor simplifies all auctions, but particularly the competitive ones.

A Description of the Double Club System

If you are new to the System, you should start by reading the following document:

• The Basic Double Club System: If you want to try out the System without having to learn it thoroughly, this short description will enable you and your partner to play a basic version of the Double Club System. You need read no more than this page, and you will be able to play the System. In any case, I recommend that all readers should start with this page, which you can print out on a single A4 sheet (using "shrink to fit") for handy reference.

For a more complete description of the System's strategic approach and its benefits, the following pages will help you. These pages are relevant whether you are using the Basic or the Full System.

• The Advantages of the Double Club System: Lists the benefits that the Double Club System gives you. I trust that they will whet your appetite!
• Opening Bid Strategy: One of a suit opening bids are natural, showing a probable 5-card or longer suit, except that 1 may alternatively be strong and balanced (17+ hcp). Light openings, with good suits, are playable in all positions.
• Responses to One-Level Suit Opening Bids: This section gives the general principles that the System follows. The System's two over one responses are game-forcing, except that there are certain sequences which can terminate the auction short of game if opener is light or weak and responder is minimum.
• Countering Opponents' Interference: We use their bids to add definition to ours, thereby recovering much of the bidding space they have taken away.

You will now be ready to look at a complete and detailed description of the Double Club System:

• The Double Club System's Complete Set of Bidding Sequences: Each opening bid is explained in detail, and the continuations are given using a "click-through" format which lets you navigate through bidding sequences, going deeper into the sequence by clicking on a bid that you wish to follow.
• Example Auctions: Some example hands, and how they will be bid in the Double Club System.

Note, however, that the easiest way to get started with the Double Club System is to use just the bids described in The Basic Double Club System, which is very simple and will see you through more than 95% of all auctions. The more detailed bids are necessary only for the other (less than 5%) of auctions — if you are using only the Basic System then you can muddle through (by bidding naturally) on those rare occasions. When you and your partner have tried out the Basic System and have decided to play the full Double Club System, then you can profitably learn the rest of the System, so that you can bid accurately and effectively in all situations. You may wish to refer to the list of Differences Between the Basic System and the Full System.

You can print the Basic System on a single sheet of A4 (shrink to fit one page in your browser). I would expect that, if you have significant experience of the game, you and your partner can learn the Basic System in about 10 minutes. Try it out next time you play at your club.

I will be pleased to receive any comments. Please email Chris Burton.

The Double Club System's Philosophical Approach

The System's philosophy is to handle balanced hands in a scientific manner, using narrow Milton Work Count strength ranges ("hcp" in this documentation), while keeping the bidding low. But with unbalanced hands a much freer strategy is appropriate and hcp often counts for little. We use the Losing Trick Count when a fit is found, together with the players' judgement of suit length and hand shape. By separating balanced and unbalanced hands, we begin using the right measures on the first round of bidding, making us far less vulnerable to competitive manoeuvres by the opponents and helping us to reach the best contract whether or not they compete.

The Double Club System opens all balanced hands with either 1NT (if in the 13-16 hcp range) or, if above that range, with one of the System's two forcing bids: 1 or 2. Opener will rebid in no trumps at his first opportunity, defining his hand exactly. All other suit bids are freed from the burden of carrying balanced hands that must be rebid in no trump to clarify their character. Opening bids of 1, 1 and 1 show strictly unbalanced hands, aiding partner's judgement when faced with competition.

There is one small exception: balanced hands with a 5-card diamond, heart or spade suit and 11-12 hcp may be opened freely if the suit quality is good. If responder can support opener's suit, great. If he cannot, or does not, opener will make a minimum rebid and try to end the auction at the earliest opportunity.

That leaves one final innovation to explain. Balanced hands with 12 hcp or less that are not suitable for an opening bid are passed in first or second position. In third or fourth position, a responder with a good 11+ hcp should find a bid, since we may have 23+ hcp, and to facilitate this we relax the suit-length constraints in 3rd/4th position. This is explained in the section covering bidding sequences starting with a third or fourth position major suit opening.

Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club