The weak two-bid has been around since the 1950s and its popularity is
well-deserved. A textbook weak two looks
much like today's West hand, perhaps with as
much as a side king. When the opponents hold
the stronger hands, the two-level opening
steals valuable bidding space at little risk;
opener should have roughly five tricks in
his trump suit. At the same time, the bid is
sufficiently descriptive that the two-bidder's
partner shouldn't be badly placed when he
has a strong hand. Not everyone sticks to
the classical requirements, and today, we
are sad to report, that almost any six-card
suit (and some five-card suits) is
acceptable. The emphasis is on obstruction.
Neither side vulnerable West deals
West |
North |
East |
South |
2(1) |
Pass |
Pass |
5 |
Pass |
6 |
End |
|
(1) 6-card suit, 6-10 HCP
Opening Lead:
10
West's 2
gave South a serious problem. He could pass
and probably collect a modest penalty at 50
points a trick, bid some number of clubs, or
take a stab at notrump. He decided against a
conservative action and jumped all the way
to 5,
trying for the game bonus. North, with a
hand that might have acted over 2,
took a shot at slam.
West led the
10
and declarer realised that he would not be
able to trump more than one spade in dummy
if West had a six-card spade suit. If the
lead was from a short suit, it was quite
likely that both hearts and trumps would
behave reasonably. The six-one spade break
might be good news rather than bad.
Declarer played a low diamond from dummy, ruffed in his hand, played
A,
spade ruff with the
J,
and drew trumps. Then he played
K,
heart to the nine and jack. East, out of
spades and clubs, had no good answer. Even
if he ducked, declarer would be sure to
concede a heart to him, and the forced red-suit
return would allow declarer to dispose of
his spade losers on dummy's master red
cards. The key play was to leave the
A
in dummy.
The weak 2
opening had given North-South a hard ride in
the bidding but had indicated an attractive
line of play that declarer might not have
considered against silent opponents.