Opening the bidding with a Strong Hand

You open the bidding when you have a hand with 23+ points with an Artificial bid the strong 2♣ convention is a way to show this strong hand. This is an artificial bid meaning not related to Openers club suit holding, responder must make sure to keep the bidding going for at least 1 round so that opener may more accurately describe his hand. However opening a strong 2S, 2H or 2D shows an altogether different point count

Strong Opening Two's Overview

If you play opening at the level of 2 is strong in all suits, opening 2♣ has a very different meaning than opening 2♠ 2♥ and 2♦. The rules are different for 2♠ 2♥ and 2♦ which are natural bids and again for 2NT which has different point count and addresses distribution of cards in a hand.

Opening 2 Clubs - Game Forcing Bid

A 2♣ opening bid is the strongest it says nothing about your club suit but promises a minimum of 23+ TP and is forcing partner to keep the bidding going until game is reached. Of course with 10 points partner will probably want to keep going to slam in which case they will probably use Blackwood or Gerber Convention to ask about your aces.

Opening a Strong 2 Spades, 2 Hearts or 2 Diamonds.

Strong Opening 2♠or 2♥ or 2♦ shows less points than a 2 Club bid but more points than opening at the 1 level. So you will have 17-22 HCP better than 8 or 9 playing tricks but not enough for a 2♣. Usually these bids show a good suit, partner is not forced to bid game, but depending on partners cards and point count decides whether to end in part-game, game or slam.

Opening 2NT.

Opening the bidding with 2NT tells partner you have 20-22 HCP and a balanced hand. This is not a game force bid. Partner can use the Stayman Convention, make a negative takeout bid or can bid game or slam.

Instant Progress Quiz - Check all the correct answers

Question: Which of these 2-level opening bids is a game force bid? This means that partner must keep the bidding going until game is reached 2NT 2S 2H 2D 2C

Exercise: You pick up this hand and it is your first turn to bid, what do you bid?

Your Hand

♠ A
♥ A K Q J 8
♦ K Q J 9 6
♣ K 4

Answer: Bid 2♣. Don't be tempted to open the bidding 1♥ as your partner may pass if they have less than 6 HCP and you would miss out on finding a game contract

Practice This Lesson

Bidding with a Strong Hand

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Extra for Experts

A different game on the same subject as this lesson, with questions for community discussion in the comments area below.

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