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Weak Two bids
Weak Twos are an extension of the
traditional pre-emptive bids which were based on a seven
card suit, and opened at the three level. 3
level pre-empts are very difficult to counter, but
fortunately they do not crop up frequently.
Weak hands with six card suits are much more common.
Previously these hands were passed and you had to wait for a
chance to overcall.
This meant that their pre-emptive value was lost.
Variations on these two level pre-empts are:
1. A three way multi two diamond bid.
2. Weak twos in diamonds, hearts & spades.
3. Weak twos in the majors. The most popular variation is
Benjaminised Acol or Benji for short.
When to open a Weak Two
If you decide to make a weak two bid, it should fulfill all
of the following criteria:-
1.) You hold a six card major.
2.) You do not hold four cards in the other major.
3.) You have between 6 and 10 HCPs
4.) You are no worse than an eight loser hand. or
5.) If you are a seven loser, you do not hold three controls
for a one level opening.
6.) Your hand does not comply with the rule of 19 for one
level opening.Known generally as 'Benji Acol' this system
attempts to get the best out of playing weak twos while
retaining all the advantages of playing strong twos. Indeed
they now offer you the opportunity of showing a nine playing
trick hand in clubs/diamonds which you couldn't do in
traditional Acol.
Opening 2 level bids in Benji
2§
= An 'Acol two' in any suit. (or a
balanced 21/22)
2¨
= 23+ points or game force.
(equivalent to the 2§
in Acol).
2©
= 6-10 points with a six card heart suit.
2ª
= 6-10 points with a six card spade suit.
2NT = 19/20 Balanced.
Responding
to an opening bid of 2§
by partner
2§
- 2¨
is, in the version of Benji that
we are recommending, a forced relay bid. (No choice)
After 2§
- 2¨
2©
- Proceed as if partner had opened a strong Acol 2©
Opener's rebid
2©
= eight playing tricks in hearts.
2ª
= eight playing tricks in spades.
2NT = 21/22 balanced
3§
= nine playing tricks in clubs.
3¨
= nine playing tricks in diamonds.
Responding to an opening
bid of 2¨by
partner
2¨
- 2©
is, negative 0-7 pts. (similar to 2§-2¨
in traditional Acol).
2ª/3§/3¨/3©
shows 8+ and a five card suit.
2NT shows 8+ balanced.
The auction proceeds as in traditional Acol.
Ogust responses
Originated by Mr. Harold Ogust, the Ogust
convention allows the responder to make a forcing bid of
2 NT to allow opener, by a system of Relay bids, to
describe his hand more precisely.
Several variations on this concept are played.
e.g. After an opening bid of
2
- 2NT
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