User:Brian/Bridge/Responding to 2C

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The most common set of responses to a strong 2♣ opening are as follows:

If... then ...
I have 8+ HCP with a balanced hand Respond 2NT. If opener rebids notrump, it is quantitative.
I have 8+ HCP with a good 5+-card major suit (at least 2 of 3 top honors) Bid your suit at the 2 level. If partner raises your suit, follow up with a control bid or 4NT, Blackwood.
I have 8+ HCP with a good 5+-card minor suit Bid your suit at the 3 level. If partner raises your suit, follow up with a control bid or 4NT, Blackwood.
Otherwise Bid 2♦ (see below).

The 2♥, 2♠, 2NT, 3♣, and 3♦ responses are said to be "positive", since they show the presence of some quality of responder's hand. The 2♦ response is "waiting", an artificial relay that denies the positive responses and asks opener to describe their hand. Thus, 2♦ is like a "catch-all" response, used for the following kinds of hands:

  • Less than 8 HCP, for example ♠J872 ♥643 ♦J2 ♣KT97
  • Unbalanced with a low-quality suit, for example ♠KT985 ♥A63 ♦5 ♣Q765
  • 4441 distribution regardless of strength, for example ♠KQT2 ♥4 ♦K754 ♣AJ93.
Responder's rebids after 2♦
If... then ...
Partner rebid 2NT See responding to a 2NT opening.
Partner rebid 3NT and I have a 6+-card major Make a Texas transfer by bidding 4 of the suit below the major. If you have slam interest, follow up with a control bid or 4NT,

Blackwood after partner accepts.

Partner rebid 3NT and I have 7 HCP Make a quantitative raise to 4NT.
Partner rebid 3NT and I have 6− HCP Pass.
Partner rebid 4NT, 5NT, 6NT, or 7NT These rebids show balanced hands with 28–30, 31–32, 33–36 HCP, or 37+ HCP, respectively. Either make a quantitative raise or pass.
Partner bid a major suit and I have 3+-card support with a weak hand Raise to 4M. If opener has a very good hand, they might still bid a control or 4NT, Blackwood.
Partner bid a major suit and I have 3+-card support with slam interest Raise to 3M.

Details of subsequent bidding not covered here vary greatly according to partnership agreement.