Two Club Opening
The requirement for an opening bid of 2C is 20 or more points.
Mau uses 8.5 tricks as the guideline to validate the evaluation.
"Directionless" hands with 20 or 21 points should not be opened with 2C.
For example, a 4-4-4-1 distribution hand may be opened at the one level and later reversed.
All hands with 22+ points will be opened with 2C.
Confucius told Mau that the stronger hand needs two bids to describe itself.
Consequently, Mau uses the following scheme for responses:
A response of 2D is 'waiting' for opener to describe the hand further.
A response of 2H,2S shows 8+ points and 5+ cards headed by two of top three
honours.
A response of 2N shows a balanced 8+ points and no 5 card major;
Opener rebids: 3C is Stayman, other bids natural.
Other responses are natural with 8+ points.
Any response other than 2D carries some slam interest.
After opener rebids over a 2D response, the cheaper minor is a second
negative response.
This gives the strong hand two bids to describe the hand and, hopefully, land in
a better contract.
When opponents intervene
When opponents intervene over a 2C opening
Pass is the equivalent of a waiting bid;
Double shows a weak hand and a desire to penalize the opponents;
Other bids retain their usual meaning. The requirements may be a bit shaded
due to the lack of space.
Home
Conventions