[DWM]

At the moment I play a fairly basic 2/1 system.

I like the idea of getting into the bidding as much as possible so we are playing a mini no trump (10-12).

I am thinking about using the 2C bid as a weak bid, either just in clubs or showing both majors. So have a two and a half part question.

1a) What is a good way of playing the minors if 1C can show a strong hand. Preferably one that is easy to remember and fairly natural. Including how to deal with interference.

1b) Is it worth thinkng about a 2C bid as either weak with both majors or a variety of strong hands?

2) if 2C is free for a weak bid what type of hand would you recommend it shows. At the moment I am torn between weak with clubs and weak with both majors.

[Quantumcat]

I like these two-bids:

In first and second seat

2♣ = clubs and spades, 4+/4+
2♦ = diamonds and spades, 4+/4+
2♥ = hearts and spades, 4+ 4+
2♠ = weak two in spades, 5+

In 3rd seat

2♣ = clubs and hearts, 4+/4+
2♦ = diamonds and hearts, 4+/4+
2♥ = weak two in hearts, 5+
2♠ = weak two in spades, 5+

The reason the anchor suit changes to hearts in 3rd seat is that you probably don't have a spade fit given partner couldn't open a weak two or 10-12 balanced.

If you have only one suit you have to open 3 if it's a good enough suit or pass if it is not. So this is good for aggressive players who don't wait for the perfect hand before they open three-level pre-empts.

I think 2♣ showing the majors is a bit of a waste: you never get to play in 2♣ or 2♦ after it. Playing the above you can play in all of the suits at the two level.

I think most people playing a strong club use 2♣ as a natural 12-15 opening with clubs, so you couldn't use it as a weak bid. I use the above without any strong bid at matchpoints: the gains will exceed the losses. And if your openings allow responder to respond on a three-count, you may not even miss out at all. See my response to the weak NT question in the B/I forum.

[nigel_k]

If you open 1♣ with any strong hand the 2♣ opening as a weak hand is not exactly free. You will still need to deal with hands where the auction starts 1♣-1♦ and you have a club suit. Using a 2♣ opening as something like 11-15 with single suited clubs will improve your constructive bidding and still have some preemptive value as well.

[Vampyr]

In England a new trend is to play 1-level opening bids as natural and all 2-level suit openings as multi-style; ie with one or two weak options and a strong option.

[andy_h]

If you want to put all strong hands in 1♣ maybe you should consider taking up polish club? Otherwise you'll just be behind the rest of the field who are playing that or a strong club system as you will need to deal with how to handle the normal hands that open 1♣ naturally and the GF hands as well as sorting out responder's strength.

Otherwise if you're looking for something just for 2♣ then I recommend weak with both majors which is by far better than weak 2 in clubs. This is provided you don't need this 2♣ bid for something constructive that's required for the hands you can't show when opening a 'strong' 1♣.

[woefuwabit]

DWM, on Oct 1 2009, 05:47 AM, said:

1a) What is a good way of playing the minors if 1C can show a strong hand. Preferably one that is easy to remember and fairly natural. Including how to deal with interference.

1b) Is it worth thinkng about a 2C bid as either weak with both majors or a variety of strong hands?

2) if 2C is free for a weak bid what type of hand would you recommend it shows. At the moment I am torn between weak with clubs and weak with both majors.

It looks like you want a Polish Club system, a system you should look at before attempting to reinvent the wheel

Alternatively there is EHAA...

[DWM]

I willl look up the polish club, but cannot find (after about 5 minutes of looking) muc on EHAA.

[rbforster]

I like 2♣ as weak Clubs + Major in 1st/2nd. I take the unconventional stance of passing with 11-15 single suited club hands however (again in 1st/2nd). This is in a precision base, where 1♣ is all 16+.

[bill1157]

DWM, on Oct 1 2009, 12:39 PM, said:

I willl look up the polish club, but cannot find (after about 5 minutes of looking) muc on EHAA.

search the subject line in this forum keyword EHAA.

Bill

[gnasher]

You want to squeeze two very different opening bids into one, and end up with a system that's both easy to remember and fairly natural. You'd also like an effective way of dealing with interference. And you're hoping someone will have this system ready waiting for you to ask for it.

Do you think this request might be a little optimistic?

[jdonn]

gnasher, on Oct 1 2009, 05:07 PM, said:

You want to squeeze two very different opening bids into one, and end up with a system that's both easy to remember and fairly natural.  You'd also like an effective way of dealing with interference.  And you're hoping someone will have this system ready waiting for you to ask for it.

Do you think this request might be a little optimistic?

Never hurts to ask!

I know of at least two systems that include in the 1♦ opening all opening hands of less than approximately strong club values with either or both minors, although I am far from recommending either system. But ok, that's not quite "fairly natural", although the followups are.

[woefuwabit]

DWM, on Oct 2 2009, 01:39 AM, said:

I willl look up the polish club, but cannot find (after about 5 minutes of looking) muc on EHAA.

Google for "EHAA bridge", the first few hits on top are good.
It's more of a fun system to play around with occasionally. Definitely not a serious long term system.