Acol Two level openings

• Traditionally all two level bids were strong. 2 was game forcing and 'Acol two' 2// showed upwards of 8 playing tricks, limited by failure to open 2. You need a 'hand of quality and power' with a couple of defensive tricks outside - say
  4 AKQJ963 K3 AJ10 (move the 3 to another suit in this '9 tricker', and it's still enough)
• UK players felt jealous of N American weak two's, until in the 1970's Scotland's Albert Benjamin popularised 2 showing the strong two type, with 2 as his game force. Note that those strong two's are still there however.

So "Benji Acol" maintains the fast and light opening style of Acol. The freed-up 2/ calls are then used as weak in a style of your choosing. Default is 5-9 six card. Note that a 10 point nv (or 11 vul) 6cM is still often opened "light" at the one level

Please note that I don't personally recommend Benji. It makes big heart hands in particular quite difficult to bid and is vulnerable to pre-emption. Albert himself only played it "for a few seasons". But it is a veritable Lingua Franca amongst UK tournament and online Acolytes.

Traditional style

"Benji" Acol

2 a 23+NT hand (rebid 2NT) or GF unbalanced - a modern positive response shows A or KK - commonly you call 2="negative" - your own suit should be HHxxx at least, +ve values - 2NT response is 8+ balanced - responder calls 2 .. then 2NT with rubbish  – opener's 3 rebid is not totally forcing ( 9½ tricks) 2// show 8-9 trick hand forcing one round - A strong 2 may be passed in desperation only! - 2NT is negative (denies A or KK again) say 3-8 - Bidding may then subside in 3 of opener's suit - Own suit natural and good quality please! GF 2NT = 20-22 balanced. High singleton acceptable - 3 is commonly simple Stayman (NB: traditionally it was Baron, 'bid suits upward until 3NT', and still occasionally seen) - 3// to play (unless you have agreed transfers) A 23-24 balanced hand opens 2 and rebids 2NT -then as above Older players like their +ve thresholds to be A+K or KKK, but otherwise .. that's it!

2 shows an Acol two in any suit - relay 2 unless you have a really good suit of your own - 2NT response is 10+, but better avoided - opener's rebid is 99% forcing one round as per tradition - opener's 2NT rebid tends to be around 22 (varies, see below) - - opener's 2NT opening after 2 is around 20 (or vice versa) - - - opener's 2NT rebid after 2 is around 24 2 shows 23+ balanced or any GF hand - 2=negative denies A or KK, as per "trad" - new suit should be sound, A or KK held - 2NT is 8+ with A or KK - after openers 2 rebid 2NT = "rubbish" 2/2 openings are weak in a style of your choice Following a strong opening just bid your hand naturally. Try to keep the bidding low - your 2 - 2, 3-suit auctions may be particularly inelegant and Benji is not kind to 5-5 shapes. Calls of 4 of a suit can be ambiguous. Is ita cue, or a real suit? Good opponents will also often preempt (particularly) 2 openings. Opener should then bid his suit naturally or double with strong balance type. 3rd hand's double is best played as 'points'. Or he can pass with values in their suit, hoping partner will double for him.

When sitting down to play 'Acol' always ask 'Benji or traditional?' and also check whether transfers are played