Opening weak two-bids by Paul Bowyer

A weak two-bid has two purposes. One is that it is there to upset the opponents (a satisfying part of the game) and the other it is to make it clear to partner what our hand is. In this last respect a two-bid is a LIMIT BID. It tells partner within fairly narrow limits what we have and allows him (or her) to select the final contract.

We should be careful about what we have when we open a weak two. Generally speaking it shows 5-9 points (with 10 points and a good suit we'd generally open at the one-level).

Our suit should be good; we shouldn't have an outside four-card major (otherwise we'd risk pre-empting our side out of the best contract). We shouldn't have a void on the side, either.

Now, it is important to note VULNERABILITY and POSITION at the table when pre-empting. If partner is a Passed hand, anything goes. Hmmm. Make that "you can loosen up a little".

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ 7 5 3
♥ K Q J 10 7 4
♦ J 8 6
♣ 3

Q: 1 - You are South. With what do you open the bidding (if anything)? take heed of your position at the table and the vulnerability.

South	West	North	East
?

A: 2♥. An easy question to start with. Here you have a classic, textbook weak two-bid. Your values are all in your suit and that suit is likely to make five tricks facing nothing.

You would open 2♥ at any vulnerability.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠ 7 5 3
♥ K Q J 10 7 4
♦ A 8 6
♣ 3

Q: 2 - You are South. With what do you open the bidding (if anything)? take heed of your position at the table and the vulnerability.

South	West	North	East
?	-	-

A: 1♥. Now you are too good to open 2♥ with a fine suit and an outside Ace. You would risk missing a game if you opened a weak two. Better is to open 1♥.

The fact that both sides are vulnerable should reinforce the idea of opening with a one-bid. Missing a vulnerable game could prove expensive.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ J 10 8 5
♥ K J 10 7 4 2
♦ Q 9
♣ 3

Q: 3 - You are South. With what do you open the bidding (if anything)? take heed of your position at the table and the vulnerability.

South	West	North	East
?	-	-

A: Pass. It is poor tactics to open 2♥ in first or second seat with four Spades on the side. You may end up playing in this contract facing a decent dummy, also with four Spades. Partner will not be amused if you were to miss a 4-4 Spade fit and a possible game

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ J 9 7 6 4 2
♥ K 10 8
♦ Q 10 9
♣ Q

Q: 4 - You are South. With what do you open the bidding (if anything)? take heed of your position at the table and the vulnerability.

South	West	North	East
?	-	-

A: Pass. Yes, you have 8 points but opening this with 2♠ in first seat, vulnerable (note that!) is poor bridge. Your suit is moth-eaten and you have good defense outside the suit.

Most of your points should be in your long suit to open a weak two.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ 9
♥ 8 5
♦ K Q J 10 9 5
♣ 10 7 6 4

Q: 5 - You are South. With what do you open the bidding (if anything)? take heed of your position at the table and the vulnerability.

South	West	North	East
?	-	-

A: 2♦. A classic, textbook 2♦ opener. Yes, you are at the worst vulnerability for pre-empting (vulnerable against not) but you have the security of a good suit and interesting shape (6.4.2.1).

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 6

Your Hand
♠ J 9 7 6 4 2
♥ A 10
♦ K Q 7
♣ 5 3

Q: 6 - You are South. With what do you open the bidding (if anything)? take heed of your position at the table and the vulnerability.

South	West	North	East
?	-	-

A: Pass. Yes, you have 10 points but opening this with either 1♠ or 2♠ in first seat, vulnerable, is likely to land you with a poor score. There is a school of thought that says that here are no hands with a six-card suit that lie between a one-bid and a two-bid. Phooey!

When opening either a weak two or a sub-standard one-bid you need a decent suit.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 7

Your Hand
♠ J 7 5 3
♥ K J 10 7 4 2
♦ Q 9
♣ 3

Q: 7 - You are South. With what do you open the bidding (if anything)? take heed of your position at the table and the vulnerability.

South	West	North	East
-	-	pass	pass
?

A: 2♥. Note that you are in third seat now so partner has Passed. Your chances of having a Spade fit (and of being able to make 4♠) have receded over the horizon. You are able to ignore the "no side four-card major" rule and pre-empt away to your heart's content.

Let's make life awkward for West.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 8

Your Hand
♠ 7 5 3
♥ K Q J 10 7 4
♦ A 8 6
♣ 3

Q: 8 - You are South. With what do you open the bidding (if anything)? take heed of your position at the table and the vulnerability.

South	West	North	East
-	-	pass	pass
?

A: 2♥. The chances of you missing game are now remote with partner a Passed hand. You might still open 1♥ (it wouldn't be a mistake) but you are more likely to gain the most out of this hand by pre-empting the opponents.

Make life awkward for West...

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 9

Your Hand
♠ 5
♥ K Q J 7 4 2
♦ A 8 6
♣ 7 5 3

Q: 9 - You are South. With what do you open the bidding (if anything)? take heed of your position at the table and the vulnerability.

South	West	North	East
-	pass	pass	pass
?

A: Pass. Fourth in hand is not really a position for pre-empting and opening 1♥ may well provoke East-West into bidding Spades. Who has that suit? If it's partner then the hand is a misfit. It it's East-West we may be kicking over a hornet's nest by bidding.

Sometimes discretion really is the better part of valor.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 10

Your Hand
♠ 9
♥ 8 5
♦ K Q J 10 9 5
♣ 10 7 6 4

Q: 10 - You are South. With what do you open the bidding (if anything)? take heed of your position at the table and the vulnerability.

South	West	North	East
-	-	pass	pass
?

A: 3♦. No one could criticise you for opening 2♦. However, when the opponents are vulnerable and you are not you have license to inflict damage on them by bidding as high as you dare as quickly as you can.

Here, the hand clearly belongs to the opponents after partner's initial Pass. 2♦ may inconvenience West but 3♦ will certainly inconvenience him more. Since East-West are almost certain to have a vulnerable game available you should not fear a non-vulnerable penalty.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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