Friday, March 02, 2007 5:13 AM

2 Clubs – Negative

PITBULLS:

2♣ openers have two main ways to show negative hands without controls. One is a jump to the 3 level in diamonds , hearts & spades & and an immediate club raise. These bids all show 6 card suits or longer with no controls. The other is a direct 2♥ response which shows no controls but could hold up to 12 HCP. There are no further understandings after 2♥ , as slam is usually out of the question.

The correct game is still an issue after a 2♥ response to a 2♣ opener.. Since we open strong 2 suiters with a 2♣ opener , we need a way to find the best fit after a 2♥ response. When the 2♣ opener holds the boss suit & any two suiter with spades as the anchor suit , there is no problem. Two suiters with diamonds are opened with a strong 2♦ so no problem there either.

The fact that partner has bid 2♥ interferes with opener showing heart two suiters. I think a relay should be introduced in this one auction only. 2♣-P-2♥-P

3♥-P-?

I think responder should be forced to bid 3♠ on this auction with any hand type. This allows the 2♣ opener to describe her hand further. 3NT shows a balanced hand with hearts. 4♣ & 4♦ show a two suiter and 4♠ shows a 5-6 with enough strength for a 5 level preference. Spade two suiters with hearts would of course be shown via spades as the anchor suit. 4♥ would show the heart one suiter that is better than a Namyats type hand.

Partner opens 2♣ with ♠Ax ♥AKQ10x ♦x ♣AKJ10x and partner bids 2♥. Responder holds ♠Q10x ♥Jxx ♦xx ♣Qxxxx and must bid 3♠. Partner now bids 4♣ so now you can bid 4♥ or 5♣ to end the auction or 4♦ to say your hand is useful for clubs. Partner leaps to 6♣ with that encouragement and you are in the correct slam.