After a weak 2S from South (do you really need 2 honours for a weak 2 opening?) West doubled. Now in our playing agreement a double of a major guarantees 4 of the other so I boldly factored in my jump to show my 8+ points and went to 4H going 4 light for 0% ! Actually I think West's bid is 2NT asking for minors. But a raise to 3S by North makes it tricky as 4C is not there but NS 2 light will be a top board fro EW so PASS if that happens..
Its good to have some standards for a weak two. Some play two of the top three or three of the top five. I think those standards are a little conservative. Nevertheless partner needs to know what to expect. I probably wouldn't open 2S with JTxxxx vulnerable. Slightly more likely at Pairs scoring than teams.
Double by west shouldn't 100% guarantee four hearts but not having four is a definite negative and you need some other values to make up for that flaw. Having two means you have entirely the wrong hand shape for a double. You should be making some other bid or you need the very strong hand (at least 16+) to double intending to change your suit.
West should not bid 2NT for the minors. Over a weak two 2NT shows a strong balanced hand. The unusual 2NT for the minors (or lowest two unbid suits) is a jump over a one-level opening. Some play that a jump to 4NT is unusual over a pre-empt but this hand is not strong enough to force to the five-level.
Therefore west's bid is 3D.
Jumping over a double of a two-level bid is not the same as over a one-level. You have fewer bids so your ranges have to be wider. Generally you should assume partner is hoping you have about 8 hcp maybe just a tad less if the preempt is at the two level and therefore not jump unless you have significantly more.
There is a convention called Lebensohl which is used over weak twos to determine range. Playing Lebensohl you bid 3H to show a few values - about 7-11 and with a weaker hand you bid 2NT which unless the doubler is very strong forces a 3C bid which responder then either passes or bids a suit to show around 0-6 hcp.
Lebensohl gives up on a natural use for 2NT showing a stopper and a few values.
After a weak 2S from South (do you really need 2 honours for a weak 2 opening?) West doubled. Now in our playing agreement a double of a major guarantees 4 of the other so I boldly factored in my jump to show my 8+ points and went to 4H going 4 light for 0% ! Actually I think West's bid is 2NT asking for minors. But a raise to 3S by North makes it tricky as 4C is not there but NS 2 light will be a top board fro EW so PASS if that happens..
ReplyDeleteIts good to have some standards for a weak two. Some play two of the top three or three of the top five. I think those standards are a little conservative. Nevertheless partner needs to know what to expect. I probably wouldn't open 2S with JTxxxx vulnerable. Slightly more likely at Pairs scoring than teams.
ReplyDeleteDouble by west shouldn't 100% guarantee four hearts but not having four is a definite negative and you need some other values to make up for that flaw. Having two means you have entirely the wrong hand shape for a double. You should be making some other bid or you need the very strong hand (at least 16+) to double intending to change your suit.
West should not bid 2NT for the minors. Over a weak two 2NT shows a strong balanced hand. The unusual 2NT for the minors (or lowest two unbid suits) is a jump over a one-level opening. Some play that a jump to 4NT is unusual over a pre-empt but this hand is not strong enough to force to the five-level.
Therefore west's bid is 3D.
Jumping over a double of a two-level bid is not the same as over a one-level. You have fewer bids so your ranges have to be wider. Generally you should assume partner is hoping you have about 8 hcp maybe just a tad less if the preempt is at the two level and therefore not jump unless you have significantly more.
There is a convention called Lebensohl which is used over weak twos to determine range. Playing Lebensohl you bid 3H to show a few values - about 7-11 and with a weaker hand you bid 2NT which unless the doubler is very strong forces a 3C bid which responder then either passes or bids a suit to show around 0-6 hcp.
Lebensohl gives up on a natural use for 2NT showing a stopper and a few values.