Quick summary

Strong 2 openings:
8 tricks on your own?

When very strong, alert your partner immediately so she doesn't pass!

Opening 2 of a suit is a forcing bid. The denial is 2NT.

To open with a strong 2 you need to be able to make all the tricks on your own. You are promising

and

and

You can't open 2 with a 4441 distribution.

If you don't meet all the criteria, open 1 and jump later. Unless...

More advanced players use "Weak 2" openings

Super strong

With 23+ & 9/10 playing tricks, open 2club
(or 2diamond for advanced Benji players).

spadeheartdiamondclub

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

Example Deal


«  0026  »

Opening bid, Unbalanced, Strong cards

The point of opening at the two level in a suit is to force your partner to reply. That way you won't accidentally miss a Game or a Slam.

See "How to reply".

26. Un-Balanced hand: Opener's bids (using Strong 2s)
HCPoints Opening bid 2nd bid

A good 6-card suit, or a 5-4 with a good 5-card AND 8 playing tricks AND 16-22HCP or rule of 25. (With any less bid 1 and jump later). "Good" means 2 honours.

2 of the long suit, not club. Forcing.
(Advanced players can use “Weak 2s”)
Bid naturally. 
23+ with 9 playing tricks 2club Forcing to game, unless followed by 2NT rebid Longest suit.
reply to Strong 2 openings, suit choice for re-bid, Weak 2s,
Add to your customised cribsheet

Note that your bid also guarantees at least a good 5-card suit, so your partner can support with only 3 cards. This is helpful, since you have reduced bidding space for a conversation on the subject of which suit to play, having opened at the 2 level.

Another useful guide to opening with a Strong 2 is the rule of 25.

(But not after 2NT)

Your partner is NOT forced to respond when you have a balanced hand & you open 2NT

The problem 4441 distribution

Because an opening bid at the two level promises 5 cards, it won't be possible for opener to bid at the 2 level with the 4441 distribution and 20-22 points. You'll have to open at the one level, and hope the auction doesn't stop there.

More advanced players use "Weak 2s"

More advanced players use a non-forcing opening bid of 2 of the Major suits spadeheart to indicate a weak hand with a long suit, and use a forcing opening bid of 2 of the minor suits diamondclub to indicate a strong hand, but in a slightly different way to the method outlined above. See Weak 2s.

Now try the quiz

Can you put all this into action ? Try the quiz for this subject by clicking on the link at the top left of the page, just below the main menu.
(You can try quizzes for any other subjects too while you're there. Look out for the thin red line).

spadeheartdiamondclub

 

 


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