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The 2NT Minors Two-Suiter Opening bid is one of the easiest 2-suiter opener among its peers. Why? Because right of the bid, you know 10 of your partner’s card straightaway along with the point range. No need to inquire or guess anything.

So, all the bid to respond to the opening will also be simpler. However, it still hold all the importants aspect of the good 2-suiter opening:

  • Have a forcing bid. In this case: 4♣ and 4♦
  • All other bid would be a sign-off and non-forcing
  • All double from responder is “PEN” (penalty double)

Notes:

  • This 2NT Minors Two-Suiter is alertable [!]

Responder’s Bid:

  • 2NT – ?
    – 3♣ : Sign off. To play.
    – 3♦ : Sign off. To play.
    – 3♥ : Sign off. To play.
    – 3♠ : Sign off. To play.
    – 3NT : Sign off. To play.
    – 4♣ : Forcing bid. Trump is set. Ask for cuebid
    – 4♦ : Forcing bid. Trump is set. Ask for cuebid
    – 4♥ : Sign off. To play.
    – 4♠ : Sign off. To play.
    – 4NT : General Blackwood (4 Aces key card)
    – 5♣ : Sign off. To play.
    – 5♦ : Sign off. To play.
How to remember
Only need to remember that the 4♣ and 4♦ are the forcing bid. The rest are sign off, to play. Also notes that direct 4NT will result opener to answer with 4 Acess (as the opener doesn’t know what the trump was). So, by set the trump first through bidding 4♣ or 4♦ the subsequent 4NT will become the usual RKCB with 5 key-cards including king of trump.

Opener’s Rebid:

The only opener rebid is to start cue bidding (show void or Ace first) or answering key-card inquiry
  • 2NT – 4♣ (set ♣ as contract, ask for cuebid)
    4♦ : Ace of Diamond
    4♥ : Ace of Heart -or- void in Heart
    4♠ : Ace of Spade -or- void in Spade
    4NT : Have no first round control but still interest in slam. For example: holding x x KQxxxx KQxxx
    5♣ : No first round control and not really interested in slam
  • 2NT – 4♣ (set ♣ as contract, ask for cuebid)
    4♥ : Ace of Heart -or- void in Heart
    4♠ : Ace of Spade -or- void in Spade
    4NT : Have no first round control but still interest in slam. For example: holding x x KQxxxx KQxxx
    5♣ : Ace of Club
    5♦ : No first round control and not really interested in slam
Visualization Aid: Typical Weak 2-suiter hand:
xx
x
♦ KJxxx
♣ KJxxx
8-HCP, ~7 losers

Subsequent Bid

There would be no subsequent bidding. All bidding is pretty much completed as above.

Defensive Bidding

  • Upon opponent’s double: all system on (i.e ignore the Double)
  • Upon opponent’s overcall: forcing bid is still a forcing bid if it is still biddable
    And, as always in 2-suiter sequence, all double is penalty (no take out – what else do you want to know, you already know 10 out of 13 cards in partner’s hand?)

Otherwise, Pass usually implies the weak 2-suiter variety. However, it is also possible opener wait for the final contract before making a penalty double.

Competitive Bidding

If the opponent is using this opening, use these below as your competitive means:

  • Use DOUBLE as “general double” (not a take out double). This means you just telling the partner you have 10+ HCP. This implies the doubler doesn’t have good Major suit either. Just some points
  • 3♣ = 55+ better Heart – could be strong. If strong overcaller, will bid do cue bid or 4NT RKCB the next round
  • 3♦ = 55+ better Spade – could be strong. If strong overcaller, will bid do cue bid or 4NT RKCB the next round
  • 3♥/3♠ = 5+card with 16+HCP
  • 3NT = to play
  • 4♥/4♠ = single suit to play