Ace-Showing Responses
These are responses to strong, artificial Two Clubs opening bids that are based on the theory that the opener with
a powerful unbalanced or semi-balanced hand is more interested in his partner's first-round
controls than in his long suit or general strength.
The guidelines for Ace-Showing Responses are
as follows:
|
2 
|
|
tells Partner |
|
I have 0-7HCPs. What are you looking for? |
|
2 
|
|
tells Partner |
|
I have the Ace of Hearts. First-round Control. |
|
2 
|
|
tells Partner |
|
I have the Ace of Spades. First-round Control. |
|
2 NT
|
|
tells Partner |
|
I have 8HCPs plus, but I have no Aces. |
|
3 
|
|
tells Partner |
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I have the Ace of Clubs. First-round Control. |
|
3
|
|
tells Partner |
|
I have the Ace of Diamonds. First-round Control. |
|
3 NT
|
|
tells Partner |
|
I have 2 Aces. Two First-round Controls. |
The following examples should illustrate the
concept behind the Ace Showing Responses to an strong, artificial 2 Club opening
bid. The attempt is to present sufficient examples to explain most of the responses.
It is also necessary to remind the viewer that after a No Trump rebid by the opener,
it is a matter of partnership agreement whether or not Stayman,
Jacoby Transfers, and other conventions do apply. The assumption made here
in the explanation is that the systems are on.
Example One
Opener
Responder
| Opener |
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
| Responder |
|
|
| 2 |
|
Partner, I have the Ace of Spades |
| Opener |
|
|
| 2 NT |
|
23-24HCPs, balanced to semi-balanced |
| Responder |
|
|
| 3 |
|
Stayman - do we have a 4-card Major fit? |
| Opener |
|
|
| 3 |
|
I have a 4-card Major suit. |
| Responder |
|
|
| 4 NT |
|
Blackwood - No Fit Partner, but let us try for slam - How many Aces ? |
Example Two
Opener
Responder
| Opener |
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
| Responder |
|
|
| 3 NT |
|
Partner, I have 2 Aces; I can give no further information at this time. |
| Opener |
|
|
| 4 NT |
|
A rebid of 4 NT shows 23-24HCPs and is not an Ace-asking rebid. |
| Responder |
|
|
| 5 |
|
Jacoby Transfer to Hearts. |
| Opener |
|
|
| 5 |
|
Accepts the Transfer. |
| Responder |
|
|
| 6 |
|
We have 33-34HCPs, not enough for Grand Slam. Final Contract. |
Example Three
Opener
Responder
| Opener |
|
|
| 2 |
|
|
| Responder |
|
|
| 2 |
|
Partner, I have the Ace of Hearts. |
| Opener |
|
|
| 2 NT |
|
23-24HCPs, balanced to semi-balanced. |
| Responder |
|
|
| 3 |
|
Partner, I want to transfer you to Spades |
| Opener |
|
|
| 3 |
|
Accepts the Transfer. |
| Responder |
|
|
| 4 NT |
|
Partner, how many Aces do you have. |
| Opener |
|
|
| 5 |
|
I have 3 Aces. |
| Responder |
|
|
| 6 |
|
Partner, we have 32-33HCPs, not enough for Grand Slam |
Remember, this is only the beginning of many
variations in the shape of the hand. But, if you think logically and visualize the
hand of your partner, you should arrive at the correct contract using these guidelines.
The exchange of correct information between partners is important, as are the individual
Partnership Agreements.
The question can not be answered, and the following
illustration should be sufficiently informative in understanding why the Point Count,
although relative, is not ultimately the decisive factor, but rather the Trick Taking
Element of the hand.
Opener
|
|
AKQJ109876543 |
|
|
J |
|
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void |
|
|
void |
Responder
Analysis
Opener has only 10 HCPs, but 12 Quick Tricks.
Opener should not bid 6 Spades, but rather 2 Clubs.
Responder, by using the Ace Showing Response method will bid 2 Hearts.
And now, opener, knowing that his Jack of Hearts is secure, will bid 7 Spades.
Think about the form of the hand. How many
Quick Tricks do I have? A good rule of thumb is to count your Quick Tricks, and if
you have approximately a good 7.5 or 8 Quick Tricks, open the hand with a Two Clubs
Strong Artificial opening. Several partnership agreements state that the number of
Quick Tricks should be 8-9 Quick Tricks. The general guideline is to count the number
of losers in the holding. If the number of losers equals 5 or less, then the holding
qualifies for a strong, artificial 2 Clubs opening.
Some bridge players demand that the Point Count
be above 20 High Card Points. If that is the partnership agreement, please abide
by it until both partners decide to change the agreement.
Perhaps the following chart will provide some
general guidance for deciding to open Weak Two Bids, Preempts, and the Artificial
Strong Two Club bid. However, it can serve simply as a General Rule of Thumb. The
partnership agreement is that all bids, except an opening of 2 Clubs, is weak and
preemptive.
|
2
|
|
# of Preempt times Two |
|
should equal Number of Quick Tricks |
|
2
|
|
# of Preempt times Two |
|
should equal Number of Quick Tricks |
|
2
|
|
# of Preempt times Two |
|
should equal Number of Quick Tricks |
|
3
|
|
# of Preempt times Two |
|
should equal Number of Quick Tricks |
|
3
|
|
# of Preempt times Two |
|
should equal Number of Quick Tricks |
|
3
|
|
# of Preempt times Two |
|
should equal Number of Quick Tricks |
|
4
|
|
# of Preempt times Two |
|
should equal Number of Quick Tricks |
|
4
|
|
# of Preempt times Two |
|
should equal Number of Quick Tricks |
|
4
|
|
# of Preempt times Two |
|
should equal Number of Quick Tricks |
|
2
|
|
# of Preempt times Four |
|
should equal Number of Quick Tricks |
Something less obvious:
Opener
Responder
Analysis
Opener has 20HCPs, 6 Quick Tricks if the lead is a Diamond or a Club.
Opening No Trump to show strength would mislead Partner.
Opening 1 Spade could find Partner with no bid.
Opening should be 2 Clubs.
| Responder |
|
|
| 2 NT |
|
Partner, I have 8+ HCPs, no Aces |
| Opener |
|
|
| 3 |
|
Partner, my suit is Spades. |
| Responder |
|
|
| 4 |
|
showing no 2-card Spade support, but 5/6 Hearts. |
| Opener |
|
|
| 7 |
|
4-card Heart support, void in Clubs. Logic. |
We have started with a hand where there is
no question about the contract to a hand where logical thinking will lead to the
correct contract. We have gone from one extreme to another, but reasoning should
be the rule, and adjusting our thinking to the form of the hand, which is your most
basic guideline.
There are, as with any convention, other conventions,
treatments, modifications and variations. Responding to an Artificial Strong Two
Club opening has captured the imagination of many bridge players. They have discovered
inadequacies in the traditional conventions and have developed several variations
over the years. Please check out the following variation, and, if you prefer it,
please include them in your partnership agreement.
Step Responses - A convention which allows partner to show not only his
Aces but also his Kings in a single response after an Artificial Strong Two Club
opening. Please take the time to view the subject matter.
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.