Conventional Wisdom

2♣, 2♦, 2♥, 2♠

2♣ Many players — especially those who employ “standard” or two-over-one systems — use 2♣ to show any hand that is very strong: everything from big, balanced hands to powerful one-, two- or three-suiters. If you play it this way, check the “Strong” box. In the spaces provided to indicate the high-card strength of the bid, many players simply indicate the minimum number of points needed to open 2♣. For example, it’s common to see players write “22 +” in the high-card range spaces.
RULE ACBL regulations and the General Convention Chart do not permit players to use a 2♣ opening with hands that contain long, strong suit(s), but that have little outside strength if the bidder’s intention is to confuse or deceive the opponents.
ALERT Players who use a big-club system such as Precision typically define 2♣ as a limited opening hand with a long club suit. If this is your approach, check the RED“Other” box, and Alert the opponents. If 2♣ shows, for example, 11 to 15 HCP, write the range in the spaces provided.

2♦ RESPONSE: When your partner opens 2♣ (strong), what does 2♦ mean? Does it show a bad hand? If so, check the Neg (negative) box. If 2♦, however, is simply a waiting bid to allow opener to describe his hand, check the Waiting box. Neither treatment is Alertable.
DESCRIBE Anything else of relevance regarding your 2♣ openings goes in this space.
RESPONSES/REBIDS Use this space to briefly outline other responses to 2♣. If, for example, your responses show number of high-card points or controls, write it here.

2♦, 2♥, 2♠

For each of these opening two-bids, write the high-card range in the spaces provided. Be sure to check the appropriate box to indicate the type of hand these bids describe. For example, if you play 2&heats; as a weak two-bid, check the “Weak” box. If you like strong two-bids, check the “Strong” box. If you play 2♦ as Flannery, however, showing the majors, check the “Conv.” (conventional) box.

ALERT If you assign these two-bids any meaning other than natural and weak, you must Alert the opponents. The Alert is required even for strong two-bids.

DESCRIBE Anything of relevance regarding your style for these opening bids goes here. For example, if you frequently open a weak two-bid with a fi ve-card suit, make a note of it here.

RESPONSES/REBIDS There are many ways to respond to an opening two-bid. Briefl y describe what the responses mean in this space. NOTE: Regardless of its meaning, a 2NT response to an opening bid of 2♦, 2♥ or 2♠ does not require an Alert. Many of opener’s rebids following a 2NT response, however, are Alertable

Consider these auctions:

or

In both cases, you have opened with a weak two-bid. Partner, who is not a passed hand, responds in a new suit. Most play that a new suit is forcing, but if you and your partner agree that opener may pass, you must Alert the opponents and check the RED New Suit NF (non-forcing) box.