[Cyberyeti]

Teams, EW vul

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What do you do if RHO deals and opens 2♠

a) weak 2

b) 5-5 spades and a minor

[DavidKok]

This is a tough hand, and shows a fun concept of two-suited preempts. Of course we have 9 tricks in our hand (8 clubs and ♥A, barring some very unfortunate breaks in clubs). However, with two suits wide open, the opponents might well be able to cash diamonds from the top if we ask partner for a spade stopper. Do notice that it's our shortest suit.
One way my aggressive weak 2's profit is when I have a reasonable side suit and can lead that against 3NT. Often the opponents have gadgets to ask about quality of stoppers in my primary suit, but not about any secondary ones (especially not if it isn't clear which suit that is, or even if there is one).

Personally I would bid 3♣. I think the auction will most likely not end there, and if partner immediately bids 3NT (rare, but possible) it'll likely be a good contract. If not, I am happy pushing for 5♣ or investigating slam, especially in teams.
As mentioned on a concurrent thread I am also somewhat locked into this choice by my system - 3♠ shows 5(+)♥5(+)m competitive for me, and 4♣ shows 5(+)♣5(+)♥ stronger for me. I could try double-then-5♣ but I don't like it. I have one suit, let's bid it.

[Cyberyeti]

DavidKok, on 2025-September-29, 04:12, said:

This is a tough hand, and shows a fun concept of two-suited preempts. Of course we have 9 tricks in our hand (8 clubs and ♥A, barring some very unfortunate breaks in clubs). However, with two suits wide open, the opponents might well be able to cash diamonds from the top if we ask partner for a spade stopper. Do notice that it's our shortest suit.

The problem with the 2 suited preempt is that while you know you have clubs, chummy on lead might not if YOU bid the NT, although that is difficult without a spade stop. You can guarnatee you will get a diamond lead from the opener if partner bids NT.

If you played 3♠ as "bid 3N with a stop" would you do this over the straight weak 2 ?

[Huibertus]

This hand could be :

- 3NT for us
- 3NT for them (yes, unlikely, but it is possible if they have ♣ stopped or partner is on lead and is void.
- 4♥ for them (West has good long ♥s)
- 4♥ for us (North has good long ♥s)
- 4♠ for them
- 5♣ for us
- 5♦ for them

With this hand if they bid game I'm going to take out, as insurance policy, it might be taking out a game that is down, but it'll never be a disaster. The team will not be happy if they count imps for games made on both tables.

So for me this is a typical "As high as I dare, as soon as I can" hand, hoping deciding what to do is awkward for East and they go wrong.
So, 5♣ for me. But anything could work.

[mw64ahw]

a) 3♠ as a stopper ask
b) 3♣ as IJO strength, which may be a bit of an underbid.

[WasWinM]

I don’t see why we should think this is our hand. There’s plenty of missing cards to think the opps have at least one fit and maybe a double and both in suits higher than clubs.

I’m an immediate 5 club bidder This triple jump should not be considered strong, a double jump is that hand as I play.

[mike777]

Three Clubs

[Cyberyeti]

WasWinM, on 2025-September-29, 06:36, said:

I don’t see why we should think this is our hand. There’s plenty of missing cards to think the opps have at least one fit and maybe a double and both in suits higher than clubs.

I’m an immediate 5 club bidder This triple jump should not be considered strong, a double jump is that hand as I play.

Would play the single jump as leaping michaels.

At the table partner bid 5♣ over the 2 suited version.

I think I'd bid 3♠ over the straight weak 2 and 3 or 5 over the 2 suited bid.

[DavidKok]

Cyberyeti, on 2025-September-29, 05:48, said:

If you played 3♠ as "bid 3N with a stop" would you do this over the straight weak 2 ?

I think I would, if only because, if I agreed to play that, what else is the bid for but hands like this? So I guess the question is whether or not the bid is best left idle, compared to stopper asking. I'm not sure.
I do know that I'd do the same thing over both meanings of 2♠, but again only because, if I agreed that 3♠ asks for a stopper, this is the hand partner is thinking of. I'd feel much less happy about it over the 2-suiter, but we can change the system after the deal (and not during).

[Cyberyeti]

DavidKok, on 2025-September-29, 08:40, said:

I think I would, if only because, if I agreed to play that, what else is the bid for but hands like this? So I guess the question is whether or not the bid is best left idle, compared to stopper asking. I'm not sure.
I do know that I'd do the same thing over both meanings of 2♠, but again only because, if I agreed that 3♠ asks for a stopper, this is the hand partner is thinking of. I'd feel much less happy about it over the 2-suiter, but we can change the system after the deal (and not during).

The hand partner is thinking of is with ♦Ax rather than hearts I suspect

[Cyberyeti]

Of course partner has the miracle hand QJxx, 10xxxx, Kx, xx and you have 9 tricks in clubs or NT if they lead a heart, and LHO has KQJx so will.

[mike777]

Cyberyeti, on 2025-October-05, 07:05, said:

Of course partner has the miracle hand QJxx, 10xxxx, Kx, xx and you have 9 tricks in clubs or NT if they lead a heart, and LHO has KQJx so will.

Tough, partner will be tempted to bid 3NT with those spades...hearts stopped, diamond stopper....tempting...and at teams.