Glasnevin Bridge Club

2C
This is in essence similar to a SAYC 2C opening. However, because this system uses a
Multi 2D opening to show 23-24 count balanced hands and also powerful minor hands, the meaning of the bid is a bit more precise than usual and is as follows;
  • A 25+ HCP hand with a balanced shape (incl. 5422 if there’s no better way to describe it).
  • A Major 1 suiter with 4- losers
  • A Minor one suiter with 3- losers (4 loser minor one suiters use the Multi)
  • A two suiter with 4- losers and about 20+ HCPs
Because of the incorporation of the Multi into this system, all 2C openings are now unconditionally game forcing including 2C-2D-2NT since this requires opener to have 25+ HCPs. Another useful feature is that even the strongest balanced hands open 2C and reverse into 2NT (as opposed to 3NT), thus allowing Puppet Stayman and Transfers to be used in all cases.The more conventional approach of opening 25+ balanced hands 2C and reversing into 3NT kills Transfers and Stayman.

Responses
  • 2D is the most common response. This is not a negative but a waiting bid which simply denies a hand eligible for any of the bids below.
  • 2NT shows a balanced hand with 8+ points. Note that slam is already on opposite a 25+ point balanced opener, the only question is 6NT or 7NT?
  • 2H/S or 3C/D show excellent suits, usually 6 cards (solid 5 would be ok) with 2+ top honors.
  • 3H/S or 4C/D are exceedingly rare bids, showing long solid suits and absolutely demanding game in the suit bid. They are highly invitational to slam and all subsequent bids (other than sign-off in the game in question) are control showing or ace asking.
Continuation after 2C-2D
2NT shows a balanced 25+ hand and switches on the full system of responses to NT openings. Other bids are natural and the
principle of slow arrival applies i.e. stronger hands proceed as slowly as possible so jumps to game suggest minimum type hands.

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