Double Club System

Auctions starting Pass, 1H/S

Note: The responses to a 1H/S opening bid in 3rd or 4th position (after partner has passed), which are described on this page, are significantly different to the responses to a 1H/S opening bid in 1st or 2nd position.

What has been shown?

Responder's initial pass shows that he doesn't have an opening bid. However, he may have a balanced hand of as many as 12 hcp, which the Double Club System does not open in 1st/2nd position. Therefore, to avoid missing a good part score, in 3rd/4th position, most hands with 12+ hcp should be opened and even some relatively balanced hands of 11 hcp may be worth an opening bid.

To assist this, we allow a balanced hand of 11-12 hcp to be opened with a 4-card major in 3rd/4th position. We also encourage ultra-light openings in 3rd position with a good suit. We use artificial Drury-like 2C and 2D responses to allow the auction to stop at the two-level when responder is strong or has support but opener is light or weak.

Strategy

Responder has 4-card or 3-card support and 7 losers

Responder bids an artificial 2C. This does not promise support, but it shows values for game unless opener is light.

Responder has 4-card or 3-card support and 8 losers

Responder bids an artificial 2D with 8 losers.

Responder has 4-card or 3-card support and 9 losers

Responder raises to 2H/S with 9 losers. Note that there is little need for a pre-emptive raise after a 3rd/4th position opening, but with long support and a distributional hand a raise to 4H/S is possible.

Responder has 12-13 hcp balanced

Unless able to bid 1S over 1H, responder bids an artificial 2C. This does not promise support (although without support responder will be balanced, so will always have at least a doubleton). It shows values for game, in spite of responder's initial pass, unless opener is light.

Responder has less than 12 hcp and does not have support

Responder bids 1S over a 1H opening if able, otherwise bids 1NT (showing 5-12 hcp), which is non-forcing since responder has passed initially. However, opener will only pass the 1NT response if he is balanced with less than 13 hcp (too weak to have opened 1NT). Opener is obliged to make a rebid if he is unbalanced (unless he has made an extremely light or psychic opening bid).

Continuations

1S (over 1H)
Shows a 4-card spade suit. Opener may have as much as 12-13 hcp, so responder should not pass this bid unless light and with at least 3-card support.
1NT
Shows 5-12 hcp. Denies a 4-card or longer major which could have been bid at the one level.
2C
Artificial. Shows 12-13 hcp and a balanced hand or 4-card support for opener's major suit and 7 losers or fewer. There should be a game available unless opener is light or weak. Opener rebids 2H/S with a light opener, which responder should pass, or 2D with a balanced hand of 12-13 hcp and only a 4-card suit. Any higher bid shows full values and is forcing to game.
2D
Artificial. Shows 4-card or 3-card support and 8 losers, may be balanced or unbalanced. Opener rebids 2H/S to play if he has more than 6 losers, even if he has opened with only a 4-card suit. Any other rebid is natural and shows full values and is invitational or forcing to game. The 2NT rebid shows full values and a good trump suit but a semi-balanced hand.
2H (over 1S)
Natural and weak, non-forcing. Shows less than 12 hcp with a good 5-card or longer heart suit. Opener should pass if having a doubleton or better and only moderate values.
2H/S
A 9 loser raise with 3-card or longer support.
2NT
This bid is not used.
3H/S
This bid is not used.
3NT
This bid is not used.
4H/S
A 5-card pre-emptive raise, showing little in the way of high card strength. It absolutely denies any ace or king, since if opener has good values an ace or king that fits with opener's suits may provide enough help to make a slam. A singleton or void is perfectly all right, however, since although a shortage may be a useful control it will not bolster opener's suit holdings.

Author: Chris Burton
Gravesend Bridge Club