1 – 2 WJS showing the majors

(Courtesy of Bob Crosby)

Bidding theorists realize that a 1 - P - 2 is a rather lame bid. The bid does not cut it as a pre-emptive action as it keeps nobody out of the auction. A 3 bid after partners opens 1 does the job much better. Many partnerships have sought out different meanings for the 2 bid after a club opener. Weak major suit hands are sometimes shut out after partner opens 1. The club opener has hearts and is too weak to reverse after a spade response. The club opener rebids two clubs but has good 3 card support for a major and responder passes. Quite often partner opens a club with a strong hand with the majors and partner is too weak to respond so a game in the major is missed. This causes partner to respond without the required HCP’s and this leads to more trouble more often than not.

Here is a treatment that helps solve this problem after a 1 opening bid.

1 - 2 - weak hand, less than 9 HCP with at least 5-4 in the majors:

• If 5 spades and 4 hearts then 4 to 8
• If 4 spades and 5 hearts then 4 to 8
• If 5 spades and 5 hearts then 3 to 6

1 - 2. Responses are:

• 2/ - to play
• 2NT - forcing for 1 round. Responses are:
  • 3 - maximum hand so 3 asks
    • 3/3 4 card suit, 5 in other major (Smolen)
    • 3NT 5-5
  • 3 - minimum, 4 spades and 5 hearts
  • 3 - minimum, 5 spades and 4 hearts, steps base on spades
  • 3 - minimum, 5 spades and 5 hearts
• 3 - to play
• 3/3 - invitational
• 3NT - to play