Thursday, June 16, 2005 3:03 AM

Hand Evaluation - Weak 2 Understandings

PITBULLS:

Weak 2’s come up so often by your side & from the opposition, you should have some well thought out treatments. Understandings with no interference should be easy. You attach a meaning to 2NT , a meaning to 3♣ so it is all over. Established partnerships usually have a toy to ask for Aces which are normally just found in the trump suit. My partner’s & I play a jump to 4♣ as 2 control KCB. Why 2 controls ? The reason should be obvious . If you had more than two controls you should have opened at the one level. Anyway these responses throw in the queen of the trump suit notation ( 1^st is control , 2^nd queen of trump suit ) . The 1^st step is two pronged either ( 0-0 or 0-1 ), next step is (1-0 ), next step is (1-1 ) , the next ( 2-0 ) & the final step 2-1 which is getting pretty close to a one opener.

OK the next understandings are when the opponents double your weak two. There are two scenarios . You are a passed hand or you are not. Not being a passed hand , the treatment is fairly standard with one exception. The redouble to should show cards with not necessarily a fit is redundant to a pass. The standard XX was invented to warn partner not to bid again as we want to punish the opponents. Why should a strong hand XX to inform a pre-empt ? The pre-empt will not bid again anyway & the double later is obviously penalty. A XX should be conventional ( SOS ) saying that we belong elsewhere so scramble to your next ranking suit. Pass anything responder bids next as she is the captain. ♠void ♥J109xxxx ♦xxx ♣xxx 2♠-X-XX-P

3♣-P-3♥

A 2NT bid should show a fit ( systemic) so ignoring the double. The 2NT bid should turn on forcing passes saying that we own this auction at the game level. A new suit should be a lead director & forcing to 3 of your trump suit. A raise to 3 or 4 of the trump suit is pre-emptive so do not turn on forcing passes. If partner shows a strong hand with 2NT , the weak two is allowed & should participate in forcing pass theory. Very important.

When they open a weak two you should have some tactical defensive understandings. Lebensohl is pretty standard after your side doubles. A 2NT bid in the balancing spot is natural if not a passed hand & unusual for the minors if you are. If partner overcalls a weak two with 2NT , systems are on. Stayman , 3♠ as minors , transfers are on & a transfer Q bid into their suit should have a special meaning. We play that as asking for the severity of the duplication in their suit. If minimal duplication , you accept the transfer or bid 3NT with duplication of value. This helps for minor slam exploration.

Some standard toys over their weak twos are jumps in a minor shows that suit with the other major. A Q bid is a request to bid 3NT with that suit stopped. With a two suiter in the minors , I overcall if the hand lacks defense otherwise I double. Playing an equal level conversion style , I do not promise the other major when I double. I promise defense. A leap to 3NT over a weak 2 is not a strong hand ( unless partner is a passed hand ) . The bid is based on playability . If you have HCP strength , always start with a double , then bid NT. This assists partner in making her decision.

Weak two’s have a disciplined suit requirement unless on the terrorist vulnerability or partner is a passed hand. If too many controls , we open at the one level rather than a weak two. If a lack of quick tricks (just queens & jacks ) , we may open a weak 2 with a so called opening bid. If partner makes a T/O double & they raise , a double is responsive. I held ♠void ♥AJxx ♦1098x ♣QJxxx , the opponents opened 2♠ & partner doubled. RHO bid 3♠ so I doubled & the auction went all pass. When the smoke cleared they went for +1100 nv. Partner for his takeout double only held ♠KQ109x ♥KQxx ♦Kx ♣AK . The smart Alec to my right had no HCP’s with a doubleton jack of trump. Naughty , naughty.