OPENING TWO-BIDS
AND PREEMPTS
SSS by Danny Kleinman
SAYC. 2C is artificial and forcing to within one trick of game, showing at least 22 HCP or equivalent playing strength. In reply,
responder bids 2H, 2S, 3C or 3D with a 5-card or longer suit and at least 8 HCP, or 2NT with at least 8 HCP and a balanced hand. With less than 8 HCP, or any 4-4-4-1 hand, responder bids an artificial 2D. Opener's rebids are
natural. If opener rebids 2NT over a 2D response, responder rebids as he would over a direct 2NT opening. A 2D responder may pass 2NT, or pass at his third turn if opener bids the same suit at his third turn as at his second. 2D,
2H and 2S are weak two-bids, showing a respectable 6-card (rarely, a weak 7-card or very good 5-card) suit and 5-11 HCP. In reply, responder's game bids are to play and raises are preemptive. New-suit bids are natural and forcing
for one round; opener may raise with support, bid a new suit or notrump with a maximum but poor support, or rebid his own suit. 2NT is forcing, showing game interest and asking opener to rebid his suit if minimum but bid an outside
ace or king if maximum. With a maximum, opener may also jump to four of a decent 4- or 5-card minor suit, or bid raise to 3NT with nothing better to bid. In response to opening preempts (3-level and above), new-suit bids are
forcing. SSS. Forget about playing weak two-bids. No two pairs play them the same, and they cause almost as much trouble for their users as for opponents---far more trouble for their users when opener must start with an
artificial 2C in order to force and may not be able to describe his hand promptly and at conveniently low levels. Better to play all two-bids as strong, natural, and forcing to game, the criterion being not any fixed number of
high-card points but the old Culbertson requirement: more Honor Tricks than losers. However, it is a good idea to permit 2C to be used also for balanced 23-24 HCP hands (shown by minimum notrump rebids, which can be passed) and 2D
to be used also for balanced 25-27 HCP hands (likewise shown by minimum notrump rebids, which are still game-forcing). This enables big notrump hands to be described without going beyond 2NT: 2NT bid directly shows 21-22 HCP; after
a 2C opening, 23-24 HCP; after a 2D opening, 25-27 HCP. In reply, responder bids any suit he would have bid cheerfully over an opening one-bid, raises with a decent hand and support, or bids 2NT with a decent hand and scattered
values. With a weak hand, responder bids the cheapest suit available (e.g. 3C in response to 2S). With a positive response in the cheapest suit, responder may either jump in that suit or bid 2NT, whichever is most convenient and
least distortive. Oh yes, I do have some definite ideas about HOW to play weak twos (in the If you have a good 7-card or longer suit, with less than one defensive trick outside your suit,
you can preempt by opening at the 3-level or higher. And yes, new-suit responses (except 4H and 4S) to preempts are forcing, requiring good suits and very good hands.
majors only, with 2D reserved for certain otherwise hard-to-bid hands), and HOW to handle the artificial 2C, but they require a
combination of discipline and tolerance for complexity that very few people possess. So I'll save these ideas for an advanced course.