Acol Lesson 21
Responding to Partners Weak 2 Openings
| 3-card support, no game interest |
Raise to 3 |
| 4-card support OR 16+ TP, and at least 2-card support
|
Raise to 4 |
| Good suit, 16+ TP |
New suit |
| Good hand, 16+ HCP, good cards in all outside suits |
3NT |
| A FORCING inquiry as to partner’s strength |
2NT |
The only Responder bids forcing for one round are:
- A new suit response
- 2NT response
If partner changes suit, support that suit if possible.
If partner bids 2NT, bid game in your suit if you are maximum (8-9) or a minimum rebid with less.
Hand 1.
Opener (N)
♠ K J 10 9 8 3
♥ 5
♦ 6 4
♣ Q 7 4 3
| |
Bidding |
|
| North |
East |
South |
West |
| 2♠ |
P |
3♠ |
P |
| P |
P |
|
|
Responder (S)
♠ 7 5 2
♥ A J 10
♦ K 8 7
♣ J 10 8 5
Comment:
Raise the bidding to 3 ♠ requires a minimum of 6 HCP. You have 3 card support but you have no interest in game because your 9 HCP this is not enough to play in game. Remember your partner has a maximum of 10 HCP
Hand 2.
Opener (N)
♠ K J 10 9 8 3
♥ 5
♦ 6 4
♣ Q 7 4 3
| |
Bidding |
|
| North |
East |
South |
West |
| 2♠ |
P |
4♠ |
P |
| P |
P |
|
|
Responder (S)
♠ 7 6 5 2
♥ A J
♦ K 8 7
♣ J 10 8 5
Comment:
Raise bidding to 4 ♠ as you have 4 card support, this is a pre-emptive bid which can shut the opposition out of their best contract.Your point count should be 6+ HCP just as if your partner had opened the bidding
Hand 3.
Opener (N)
♠ K J 10 9 8 3
♥ 5
♦ 6 4
♣ Q 7 4 3
| |
Bidding |
|
| North |
East |
South |
West |
| 2♠ |
P |
4♠ |
P |
| P |
P |
|
|
Responder (S)
♠ Q 7
♥ A K J 10
♦ 10 9 3
♣ A K 9 5
Comment:
Raise to 4 ♠ as you have a fit with your 2 spade cards and 17 HCP
Hand 4.
Opener (N)
♠ K J 10 9 8 3
♥ 5
♦ 6 4
♣ Q 7 4 3
| |
Bidding |
|
| North |
East |
South |
West |
| 2♠ |
P |
3♦ |
P |
| 5♦ |
P |
P |
P |
Responder (S)
♠ 7
♥ J 10
♦ A K Q J 9 8 3
♣ A K 10
Comment:
With this hand the responder has 17 HCP's and a strong suit so they can change the suit to 3♦ a new suit response forcing for at least one round, in this case the opener would support partners diamonds (as they have 2 diamond suit cards and probably enough points for game)
Hand 5.
Opener (N)
♠ K J 10 9 8 3
♥ 5
♦ 6 4
♣ Q 7 4 2
| |
Bidding |
|
| North |
East |
South |
West |
| 2♠ |
P |
3NT |
P |
| P |
P |
P |
P |
Responder (S)
♠ 5 2
♥ Q J 10 9
♦ A K 8
♣ A K 8 5
Comment:
South has a good hand, 16+ HCP, good cards in all outside suit and the 2 low spades are solid playing entries to partners long spade suit
Hand 6.
Opener (N)
♠ K J 10 9 8 3
♥ 5
♦ 6 4
♣ Q 7 4 3
| |
Bidding |
|
| North |
East |
South |
West |
| 2♠ |
P |
2NT |
P |
| 3♠ |
P |
P |
P |
Responder (S)
♠ Q 2
♥ J 10 9 8
♦ A J 8
♣ A K 8 5
Comment:
When responder bids 2NT, this is a forcing response. Opener bids game in their suit if they are maximum (9-10). Opener should rebid 3 in their trump suit with minimum HCP(6-8). In this instance opener has a minimum point count so would bid only 3 ♠. If opener had 9-10 HCP their rebid would be 4♠. In this instance responder has 15 HCP and some support for spades, responder wants to know if there are enough points to safely bid game
PREVIOUS LESSON - Opening Weak 2 Bids
Learn to Play Bridge - Responding to Opening 2 Bids Acol Lesson 21
