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5. Two Clubs Strong


Two clubs is strong, artificial and forcing. A forcing bid means that
responder can NOT pass 2 opening. Responder's 2 response is negative or waiting.

5.1  Opening Of Strong 2C

All strong hands (22+ points) are opened 2

Above hand opens 2.

Above hand also opens 2.

Also any good playing hand (able to make at least 9 tricks)  with a very good suit can be opened 2

5.2 Responding to Strong 2C

5.2.1 Responder's "Negative or Waiting" Bids

Responder bids 2 (negative or waiting) with almost all other hands than below natural bids..


5.2.2 Responder's Strong Responses

Responder bids 2 or 2 with 5+ card suit with two of top three honors and at least 8 HCP

Responder bids 3 or 3 with 6+ card suit with two of top three honors and at least 8 HCP

5.3 Rebids by 2C Opener

5.3.1 Rebids After Responder's 2D Response

Rebids With Balanced Hands

The level of the no trump rebids depends on the number of his points. 

Opener with
22+  points
Responder's waiting bid Opener's rebid with 22-24 points and a balanced hand Opener's rebid with 25-27 points and a balanced hand Opener's rebid with 28-30 points and a balanced hand

2

2

2 NT

3 NT

4 NT

 

Example:

A K Q    
K Q 4
A K 7 2
K Q 5

9 6
J  8 5 3 
Q 9 6
J 7 4 2
West who opened 2   rebids 3 NT after East's 2   negative response to  show his  balanced hand with  25-27 points.

After 2C opener's 2NT or 3NT rebid all sytems are on. This means that responder's

3 is Stayman
3 is transfer to heart
3 is transfer to spade
3 is transfer to minors
3NT to play
4 Gerber

After 2C, opener's 4NT shows 28-30 points, responder's 5+ points is enough for slam. So, responder must not use above conventions after 4NT...

Opener's Rebids With Unbalanced Hands

Opener rebids 2 or 2 with 5+ card suit.

Opener rebids 3 or 3 with 6+ card suit( Rarely 5)

Opener rebids 3 or 3 with 6+ card suit with two of top three honors
 

Opener with 22+  points Responder's waiting bid Opener's rebid Description
2 2  2 2   response to 2   opening indicates a weak hand and ask partner  to describe his hand in another way. 
Opener's rebid: If opener has 5+ carded heart his rebid is 2 .
Responder's rebid: Responder rebids the cheapest minor as a REAL negative. Once you have bid your cheapest minor, you may pass if partner next rebids the same suit. But if partner bids a new suit you must bid again..
Responder  jumps to game in partner's major suit with trump support and no Ace, no King , no singleton and no void.
2 2  2 2   response to 2   opening indicates a weak hand and ask partner  to describe his hand in another way. 
Opener's rebid: If opener has 5+ carded spade his rebid is  2 .
Responder's rebid: Responder rebids the cheapest minor as a REAL negative. Once you have bid your cheapest minor, you may pass if partner next rebids the same suit. But if partner bids a new suit you must bid again..
Responder  jumps to game in partner's major suit with trump support and no Ace, no King , no singleton and no void.
2 2  3 2   response to 2   opening indicates a weak hand and ask partner  to describe his hand in another way. 
Opener's rebid: If opener has 6+ carded diamond his rebid is 3 .
Responder's rebid:Responder rebids the cheapest minor as a REAL negative. Once you have bid your cheapest minor, you may pass if partner next rebids the same suit. But if partner bids a new suit you must bid again..
2 2  3 2   response to 2    opening indicates a weak hand and ask partner  to describe his hand in another way. 
Opener's Rebid: If opener has 6+ carded club his rebid is  3 .
Responder's rebid: Responder rebids the cheapest minor as a REAL negative. Once you have bid your cheapest minor, you may pass if partner next rebids the same suit. But if partner bids a new suit you must bid again..
2 2 3 2   response to 2   opening indicates a weak hand and ask partner  to describe his hand in another way. 
Opener's Rebid: If opener has 6+ carded  heart his rebid is 3
with two of top three honors.
Responder's rebid:Responder rebids the cheapest minor as a REAL negative. Once you have bid your cheapest minor, you may pass if partner next rebids the same suit. But if partner bids a new suit you must bid again..
Responder  jumps to game in partner's major suit with trump support and no Ace, no King , no singleton and no void.
2 2 3 2   response to 2   opening indicates a weak hand and ask partner  to describe his hand in another way. 
Opener's Rebid: If opener has 6+ carded spade his rebid is 3
with two of top three honors.
Responder's rebid:Responder rebids the cheapest minor as a REAL negative. Once you have bid your cheapest minor, you may pass if partner next rebids the same suit. But if partner bids a new suit you must bid again..
Responder  jumps to game in partner's major suit with trump support and no Ace, no King , no singleton and no void.
       
Example:

A K Q J  6 
A 4
A K 7 2
Q 5

3 2
10 8 5 3 
9 4
K 7 6 4 2

West opens 2, East makes 2  negative (or waiting) response. Then, West rebids 2  to show his 5-carded suit. Now responder will bid the cheapest minor (in this case 3) that he is REAL negative..

Note: As you noticed in our system 2 is first negative bid and cheapest minor after opener's response is second negative bid. In order to rectify this some partners uses 2 response to 2 opening as real negative (0-4 points). In that convention, 2NT bid by responder replaces 2 response in our system....

5.3.2 Rebids After Responder's Strong Responses

Responder can make any bid other than 2 if she has 8+ points..

Opener with
22+  points
Responder with 8+ points  Description
2 2 2   response over 2   opening shows 5+ card suit with two of the top three honors and at least 8 points.
Opener's rebid: If you have a long, strong suit bid it at the lowest level. With support to your partner raise her 1 level. Without support bid NT. Level of NT must be  appropriate to your points..
2 2 2   response over 2   opening shows 5+ card suit with two of the top three honors and at least 8 points.
Opener's rebid: If you have a long, strong suit bid it at the lowest level. With support to your partner raise her 1 level. Without support bid NT. Level of NT must be  appropriate to your points..
2 2 NT 2 NT response over 2   opening shows a balanced hand and  8+ points.  
Opener's rebid: If you have a long, strong suit bid it at the lowest level..If you have a balanced hand, 
bid 3 NT with 22 points,
bid 4 NT with 23-24 points
bid 6 NT with 25-28 points
bid 7 NT with 29+ points
2 3   3 response over 2   opening shows 6+ cards strong diamond suit and 8+ points.  
Opener's rebid: If you have a long, strong suit bid it at the lowest level. With support to your partner raise her 1 level. Without support bid NT. Level of NT must be  appropriate to your points..
2 3   3 response over 2   opening shows 6+ cards strong club suit  and 8+ points.  
Opener's rebid: If you have a long, strong suit bid it at the lowest level. With support to your partner raise her 1 level. Without support bid NT. Level of NT must be  appropriate to your points..
Example:

A Q J   
Q 9 4
A K 7 2
A Q 5

9 6
A K  8 5 3 
Q 9 6
J 7 4 2

2   response from East toWest's 2   opening is a positive response. East has 5+ cards heart suit and 8+ points.

5.4  Rebids by Responder

If 2 was "Waiting"

Responder's rebids depend on opener's rebids.. 
If opener's rebid is 2NT or 3NT, responder can use Stayman or transfer conventions to find the best contract with game points.
If opener's rebid is 2NT, responder can bid 3NT with 2-4 points..
If opener's rebid is 2NT, responder can bid "Pass" with less than 2 points..

If opener's rebid is in a suit, responder bids 2NT without support..

If 2 was "Negative"

Suppose you have this hand
54
543
5432
5432

Partner opened 2C, you responded 2D and opener rebid 2S..
What will be your response as responder?
Pass : Partner can be able to make a game alone.. Your pass will prevent it..
3S : Partner can jump to Slam or game after 3S
2NT : 2NT with this hand! you are kidding!...
So, Convention makers invented "second negative" convention to help the people who are suffering with a real negative hand like above.. Any cheapest minor suit by responder is second negative after 2D response.... like 2C-2D-2S-3C or, 2C-2D-3C-3D or, 2C-2D-2H-3C etc...
Sample

K 9 5 
A K J 10 8 7 4
A K Q
--

3 2
5 3 
J 9 6 5 3
9 6 5 4
W      N      E       S
2C     P      2D     P
2H     P      3C     P
4H    All Pass