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Bridge Tutorial - Opening Strong 2's
Acol Lesson 19

Responding to Partners Opening 2 Bids 

If your partner opens 2, you can warn partner that you have a weak hand by responding 2 which shows 0-7 TP.   It is an artificial bid and you don’t promise any diamonds. You’ve still got to keep bidding to game but at least your partner won’t be expecting anything from you.

2

2 2 2 3

2NT
-2 an artificial bid showing 7 or less TP any distribution
-Bidding 2; 2; 3 or 3 shows partner 8+ TP and 5 card suit
-Bidding 2NT shows 8 or more HCP with a balanced hand







Partner opens 2. What do you respond?

Hand 1.
Opener (N)
A K 4
A Q J 8
K Q J 10
K 4
Bidding
North East South West
2 P 2NT P
3NT P P P

Responder (S)
A 8 4
K 10 6 4
9 7 6 5
J 4

Comments: Responder bids 2NT to show their 8+ HCP, Opener only has the bare 23 HCP so signs off in 3NT. It is responders job if they have more than 10 HCP to investigate whether "slam" is on. We will cover slam bidding later


Hand 2.
Opener (N)
A K Q 10
K J 9
A K 8
A 6 4
Bidding
North East South West
2 P 2 P
2 P 4 P

Responder (S)
6 5 4 3
6 4 3 2
6 5 3 2
2

Comments: Your 2 bid says nothing about your diamond suit it is an artificial bid and it tells partner you have 7 or less HCP. Openers 2 bid is just showing Responder his 4 card suit and responders raise to 4 is because the 2 bid is a game force


Hand 3.
Opener (N)
A K Q
A J
A K J 10 9 8
A 7
Bidding
North East South West
2 P 2 P
4 P P P

Responder (S)
J 9 8 7 6
K 8 7
8
K Q 6 2

Comments: The 2 bid tells opener that responder has 8+ HCP and a 5 card suit. The opener has 3 and so can happily bid 4's knowing that they have a fit.







Beginner Bridge Lessons - Opening Strong 2 Bids Acol Lesson 19

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