Bacon Torpedo Two-bids

• 2 shows a singleton 'beer card' (7)
• 2 shows a straight flush in any suit
• 2 shows four of a kind (of any rank)

From a posting by Robert Morris on r.g.b. The following URL is a "must visit" for anyone with an interest in Weak two's and a sense of humour!

The beer card Diamonds are not trumps and the play of your seven to the final trick exactly sets opponent's or makes your contract - then tradition holds that your partner must buy pints of beer for the whole table.

The remainder of the openings on this page are much more serious ...

Chih-Kuang Two-bids (CK2s)

• 2 is either weak in hearts or 5 spades and a minor
• 2 is either weak in spades or 5 hearts and a minor
• 2 is weak 55, with either both majors or both minors {Brown sticker}

Response

Frequency at 2/ 2.3% each; 2 0.8%; total 5.4%

Keywords transfer multi fivecard fiveside tight

Correspondent B.Y (yangboy) of rec.games.bridge dates CK2's to around 1950 or so in Taiwan, where some are still standard tournament weapons.

"Most of the funny gadgets in Taiwan seems to have originated from a very shadowy location called OBC (Ordnance Bridge Club) situated somewhere in the forest of army barracks. Dr C S Shen, one of Taiwan's greats from that era, remember playing against their multiplitude of gadetry".

Concept Preempts

• 2 = {six diamonds, or five hearts}
• 2 = {six hearts, or five spades}
• 2 = {six spades, or (optionally) both minors}

Response Unknown - await a double? ParadoX advances would work well.

Frequency 8.5% per pair - most openings are the 5 card upper suit

Keywords loose sixcard fivecard

Concept is presently an area of inovation, with both a Red Flash 2 as undefined red suit, and Major Flash 2 as either major reported in 2002/3. You should also look at the related two way twos.

CRO (aka RCO, OCR) preempts

• 2 = suits of same colour
• 2 = suits of same rank
• 2NT = odd (non touching) suits

CRO is in the brown sticker section because it has no anchor suit, but it really is quite tame compared to its neighbours. Perhaps not so this variation seen from the New Zealand squad in recent Olympiads which relies on an Ekren style scramble with 4 card suits!

• 2 0-7 4+ major and 4+ minor
• 2 = 0-7 4+/4+ majors or 4+/4+ minors

Response Presumably suits upward

Frequency 0.39% per 5/5 duplex = 2.3% total

Pro points Simple and straightforward but a great nuisance

Keywords

Defence See generic defences page

Australian Douglas Newlands - "Both RCO and CRO are seen with the former being more common. Usually played with a multi 2D and use 2H, 2S,2N as the 2 suiters. The suit pairing are as you would expect from the acronym (Colour, Rank, Odd). The odd bit is what to use as the enquiry over 2NT, or rather how to use it. Playing RCO, the query is 3C with responses like ..

Playing OCR, the query tends to be 3H with various schemes like

All suit bids are pass or correct. They are sufficiently common that LOLs may arrive playing multi 2D + RCO.

CRO is also common currency in Finland where it is known as scissors.

de Carlo Preempts

• 4441 short in the next suit up
• Lucas style 5/4 hand long in the next suit up

Response 2NT is forcing with relays. Other bids are ParadoX advances guessing the contract. ie advvance 2 - 2 with  Q1053  97  K852  J84. This shows heart support to the three level.

Frequency The 5/4 hand is about 4% and the 4441 shape rare.

Pro points Actually very controlled as your hand style is defined, yet hard to defend

Defence You assume the commoner 5/4 and play double = cooperative penalty. Next suit = takeout

This Argentine style is attributed to Marcelo De Carlo who plays it in a relay system.

"Economou" 2NT (a.k.a Terrorist 2NT)

Variant known as Terrorist 2NT in USA, Also encountered as a Terrorist 2 opening Ruthanne Williams reports a terrorist "Multi" 2 from Turkish internet players

Response Unknown. Start with 3?

Frequency Depends on your style - 6% for 6 card hands plus your 7 carders - say 8%

Keywords multi sixcard loose

Defence See generic defences page

Finnish Scissors

Defined all are 5-10hcp at least 5/5 2 = {hearts and clubs}, or {spades and diamonds} 2 = {spades and clubs}, or {heards and diamonds} 2NT = minors or majors

Response 2NT asking over majors 3 = min: clubs + the major opened 3 = min: diamonds + the major opened 3 = max: hearts + minor as defined above 3 = max: spades + minor as defined above

A general mnemonic is that the major openings are suit bid with clubs, or the other two. The responses always show the suit bid.

After 2NT - 3? is the ask a simpler 3 = majors; 3NT = minors is used

More importantly one can make ParadoX advances bidding as high as one dares assuming the most unfavourable pattern. Opener will pass or correct.

Tuomo Väliaho of Helsinki tells me scissors is very popular in Finland played with a multi 2, and it is "part of their modern standard". It is known locally as "3-way" scissors, and the Finnish epithet is mine. Polish scissors on this page seems related only by name, and a 5/5 pattern.

Defence See generic defences page

Finnish scissors is a variant of CRO/RCO style

"MacFarlane" 2NT

Defence See generic defences page

This is a subset of CRO style

"Matthews" 2 spades

Response 2NT relay: 3 = minors 3 = majors 3/ = natural

Frequency about 1.7%

Pro points Defines your major threes better, and a handy preempt on 5/5s

Against You lose the wonderful weak 2 spades

Defence See generic defences page

Major Flash

Major Flash {my term} is another subset of Concept preempts, first reported at the table in 2002. It was common in the 2003 Bermuda Bowl knockout.

Response See Concept

Frequency 5% if the major is 6 card.

Helgemo was said to be playing 2 as {either hearts or spades} in rec.games.bridge postings of summer 2002. Perhaps now the world can defend Ekren, or was it passé. He had switched to the natural 2 preempt, which is more difficult to defend than one might expect.

James Dooley then reported Lauria-Versace playing Major Flash in Bridge World's "Challenge the Champs" later that year. Several pairs (Italians) then played it in the Bermuda Bowl.

This is clearly an area of development and anyone playing at high level should be ready for Concept prempts of various kinds.

A side issue is what to use as your 2 opening if you chose to play Major Flash. If the rules are that relaxed, how about the diabolical Polish scissors showing any 2 suiter?

Defence See generic defences page

Myxomatosis Two's

Although the Myxoma group look nasty, the highly specified nature of the options make them defendable and so legal in many jurisdictions. e.g. Level 4 in EBUland

Defined

• 2 = GF or weak 2 or 5/5 / 5-10
• 2 = Strong 2 or Weak 2 or 5/5 / 5-10 or 21-22 balanced
• 2 = Strong 2 or Weak 2 or 5/5 / 5-10
• 2 = Strong 2 or Weak 3 in or 5/5 / 5-10
• 2NT = 5/5 / or / 5-10
• 3 to 3 = Transfer preempts
• 3 = Gambling 3NT transfer (right sided for once)
• 3NT = Minor suit preempt to 4 level.
• 4/ = SA Texas (ie 4 = hearts)

Responses 2NT force over the Two bids, 3 over 2NT

Frequency 1.1% per 6 card suit(//), 0.4% per 5/5 = 6% for a full set of all weak flavours, up to 10% played loose

Pro points Very efficiently packed bids and quite easy to remember!

Against A strong player would bid over this whenever possible, but rabbits are clearly for the pot! The main problem is the relatively feeble transfer preempts which allow both business and takeout counter-attacks

Variant Sean Bentley has modified this with all four strong two's (including 2) 8½ tricks but not game forcing, and to include 20-27 balanced hands in 2 point bands into the two bids. He also plays the 5-5 hands as either weak or game forcing (jump?) and to top off the 27+ NT hands, also in bands. Wow!

• 2 = 8½+ tricks in or Weak 2 or {5/5 / 5-10 / GF} or 21/22 bal or 29/30 bal
• 2 = 8½+ tricks in or Weak 2 or {5/5 / 5-10 / GF} or 23/24 bal or 31/32 bal
• 2 = 8½+ tricks in or Weak 2 or {5/5 / 5-10 / GF} or 25/26 bal or 33+ bal
• 2 = 8½+ tricks in or Weak 3 or {5/5 / 5-10 / GF} or 27/28 bal
• 2NT = (5/5 / or /} {5-10 / game forcing}

In this approach big hands are categorised as balanced (adjust the NT ranges?), Acol Two bids or 5/5. Over eg

2 - 2
pass = weak two in hearts
2 = 5/5(weak)
2NT = 22/3 balanced
3 = 5/5(GF) 
3NT = 30/31

There might still be problems with 4441 or the 5/4 types (as always!). Perhaps one could add a further layer with eg 2 including 4144 short hearts or try the variant below. But isn't the symmetry breathtaking!

Sean assures me that the 33+ balanced hand has "actually come up at the table". I asked him what happens when his wretched opponents come in - preempt you even! It seems that natural bidding works in practice, with takeout doubles or just bidding the strong suit. I imagine that this sort of bridge has something in common with the somewhat ungoverned American EHAA style! But basically you have given partner your hand type, and that is very useful

I cannot resist a short literary diversion here in the sight of such glorious, almost crystaline structure

Tiger! Tiger! burning bright
in the forests of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
(William Blake)

Another variant on this theme arrived via an Email from John Sfinias. He mixes in 17+ 4441 hands rather than 5-5s and ascribes the method to Solloway(USA). I am not too sure about the efficiency of this, as it possible to put all these strong 3-suiters through a conventional 2NT rebid, but it has the merit of being easy to remember, John says it hasn't let him down at the table. A minus compared with Sean's approach is that the 4441 strong type is so much rarer than 5-5 weak two suiters.

• 2 = "forcing" in or Weak 2 or 17+ 4414 short or 21/22 balanced.
  Over 2 you pass or bid 3 strong, 2NT = balanced, and 2 = short
• 2 = "forcing" in or Weak 2 or 17+ 4144 short 2 or 23/24 bal
• 2 = "forcing" in or Weak 2 or 17+ 1444 short or 25/26 bal
• 2 = "forcing" in or Weak 3 or 17+ 4441 short or 27+ bal
  Over 2// we have a similar but permutated set of responses
• 2NT = 5-9 55 in the minors (major or minor two suited also works - see Unusual opening

The bid of (eg) 2 to show short is interesting. If responder is weak he can pass or scramble a fit. The pass response might be a problem if opener is massive! There is also enough room to make asking bids in the shortage suit to clarify the hand strength and type. I have a method which can also tollerate 4450 hands with 5 card minors if you are interested in such things (hard work though!). On balance I would think it best to modify this method and make (eg) 2 show short using the suit below the singleton method. This is most efficient constructively.

Yet another, as played by Tony Rolfe and friends at New South Wales's Mollymook Bridge Club

• 2 = always strong, either 21-22 balanced or any unbalanced GF which does not contain two 5+ suits
• 2 = Acol 2 or Weak 2 or 5+/5+ blacks or 23/24 balanced
• 2 = Acol 2 or Weak 2 or 5+/5+ minors or 25+ balanced
• 2 = Acol 2 or 5+/5+ hearts and a minor
• 2NT = 5+/5+ spades and a red suit.

Tony's email says that one pair plays 2 with a weak 2 as an extra option The two suiters are either weak 2 strength or 8+ Playing tricks. There are three rebid variations (weak, Acol strength or GF)

Optimal Two bids

Popular in western Austalia and devised by it's native Avon Wilsmore. It is recommended that these aggressive bids be used "constructively" with honour concentration in the suits shown. Although here is some pattern to the allocation of various 5/5s, Basically you have to memorise it. 2 and 2 when 5/5 show the suit bid, and one of the two immediately below. 2 deals with the remaining pair with clubs. I list this one 'top.down' to accentuate the pattern

• 2 = weak 3 or 5/5 / or 5/5 / (The club hand promises two honours)
• 2 = weak 2 or 5/5 / or 5/5 / (Both major openings have suit opened if 5/5)
• 2 = weak 2 or 5/5 / or 5/5 /

Responses Next suit - asks opener to pass or correct- or use imagination and preempt. 2NT relay

 
2  -  2NT? 
3 = Clubs - "sound" 3 (2 honours)
3 = /
3 = /

2  -  2NT
3 = /
3 = /
3 = good weak 2 (3 now forcing asking for splinter or 3NT with good suit)
3 = poor weak 2 

2  -  2NT - rather more complex...
3 = 5/5 .. further relay 3(!)
          -  3 = / 
          -  3NT = /. (Other bids to play)
3 = max weak 2  (3 forcing as above)
3 = minimum weak 2 

Over intervention Over double pass = 3+ cards in the suit bid. Redouble with less. Next suit is support for weak two up to 3 level. If next hand bids opener must bid up as a pass shows a 2 suiter. Over 4th seat double pass=the.weak.two. 2NT = 5/5 max lower ranks, xx=55 max higher ranks, bid=5/5 but minimum Over suits all bids are natural, all doubles penalty. 2NT retains it's meaning

Frequency About 10%. Only the weak 2 is absent

Pro points Covers everything except a weak 2

Against Quite a memory burden and prone to interference if opposition are canny Also the simple / preempt opens an ambiguous 2 and is forced to the 3 level.

Defence Generic - get into the bidding!

"Parkes" 2 spades

Response 2NT relay: 3-suit = natural above; 4/ = 544-

Frequency

Pro points Another multi encorporating the nasty (but very rare) 544- strong. 3/ presumably constructive

Against You could put the solid major type into the gambling 3NT (Generally licenced as minors only in UK) I don't like jumping in the short suit on theoretical grounds. Suit below is more powerful and allows asking bids.

Defence See generic defences page

Polyclub 2 diamonds

Response

 2 to play there or spades; 3 suit game try 
 2NT enquiry .. 3/ = natural 
 3/ = 5/5+minor 
 3NT = +S

This is a close relative of Wilkosz 2

Defence See generic defences page

PSI Twos

Responses Surprisingly usual bid such as Ogust are on! Responder ignores the minor possibility

PSI is basically just a controlled psych. You might compare the related, tamer and more respectable Concept and Two way styles on this page.

Defence See generic defences page

The Polish Scissors

Defined 2 = 5-10hcp 5/5, 2 suiter no restriction on suits

Response Bid 3/ on weak hands 2NT(GF) relay. Opener bids suits up or 3NT = / short in hearts

See also Wilkosz itself and more regular pattern Finish Scissors, the latter related only in name.

Defence See generic defences page

Rainbow 2 diamonds

• 2 = 5-10hcp 5 card major and 4 + minor
• or a strong Acol two (any suit)
• or a 22-24 NT hand.

Responses

• 2 = pass correct: Over 2NT asks minor and 3 any to play
• 2 = heart interest: Pass with spades. With Miuderberg simple you show your minor 2NT and 3 up are big hands.
• 2NT = enquiry. Bid your Muiderberg minor or 3+ if strong Over this 3 any is natural and forcing.
• 3 = GF enquiry: This time with Muiderberg you transfer the suit below your major Over say 2 = ; 3 is stronger than 42 and 4 any is a cue 3NT are strong types. 3 is not defined
• 3 = game try in a major .. Natural bidding. 4/ are the big hands.

Frequency 2.3%

From Belgium; this is a combine of the Multi 2 with Holland's Muiderberg 5/4 weak two style. It is permitted at higher levels in the Low Countries, but seems not to have been accepted at the Maastricht Olympiad due to lack of an anchor suit in a two suiter.

There is an online writeup of Rainbow, played with DOBTO and an Ekren 2 (in Flemish ;)).

Defence See generic defences page

Red Flash

Response See Concept

Frequency 5% (for 6 card suits)

A subset of Concept pre-empts. Red flash was reported from Tiawan in a rec.games.bridge posting by B Yang

This was though to be yet another inscrutible Chinese practice until James Dooley reported Fawcett-Liggins playing 2 as as "either red suit" in Bridge World's "Challenge the Champs" bidding contest (June 2003). Seems they found it here.

Sorry world!

Defence Initial penalty double?

Sixteen versus seven (16v7)

Defined 2NT weak and showing at least 3 cards in clubs, diamonds and hearts.

Australian correspondent Mark Abraham reports an "aggressive (lunatic?) weak 16v7 2NT opening which shows 3+ in each of the non-spade suits" seen amongst the younger players there. " The name derives from the Blackjack position where you hold 16 and the dealer has a seven and you have to act to improve your position, even though you rate to be outgunned... "

16v7 is used within a system incorporating the much tamer assumed fit 2/ openings showing the suit bid and spades. It is however itself banned, lacking an anchor suit

Terrorist (AKA T'rrrrst)

Defined Preemptive bid in a completely unspecified suit. Terrorist is an American opening played as either 2 spades or 2NT. The latter would be identical to Britain's Economou 2NT {q.v above}. I don't know which came first.

Defence See generic defences page

You may safely infer from my chosen illustration that I personally disapprove of all this, and have a low opinion of such bullies

Tiroler-Berg

2 as weak in spades or major/minor with hearts
 2 as weak in hearts or major/minor with spades

Frequency played 6+ or 5/5 = 4.6%; Played loose = around 6%

Pro points A nice combine of transfer twos and 5/5 types

Against Hard to extend the preempt

Mentioned in an rec.games.bridge posting by Henk Uiterwal.

Tutti Frutti

• 2 as weak in hearts or spades/minor
  2 as weak in spades or hearts/minor
  Then: use ParadoX advances in the majors, 2NT = strong asking, 3 = F with hearts, 3 = F with spades
• 2 major or minor two suiter
  then: 2: Paradox advances of minors, 2NT = Strong asking
• 2NT as a bad preempt in either minor
  then: 2N: 3 = pass/correct, 3 = strong asking 3/ = Nat F

My thanks to Gerben Dirksen for this style, which is seen on Auken/von Arnim's brown sticker card, and "becoming popular in Poland". Tutti is related to Myxomatosis and Tyroler-Berg

TWERB = Two way Exclusion Relay Bids

• Weak in the suit bid - ie willing to play there
• 3 suiter, short in the suit bid
• (Weak in the suit two up)

These were described rec.games.bridge by Douglas Newlands (Oct 99) as being "rife in South East Australia". Along with Myxomatosis twos "the multi virus". TWERBs were first seen in UK in the 70's as a defence to the then popular strong club systems, ascribed to the late Young Chelsea international Joe Amsbury. They make more sense in this context as there is a high probability that the hand belongs to the opponents. As an opening (especially 1st/2nd) it might still be your hand, and we are left with them being most useful in 3rd hand - dropping the frequency

Note the distinction from Myxo's - you are willing to play in the suit bid even though you may be short in it.

Responses The strategy seems to be to pass initially, and redouble for takeout.

Frequency Depends how aggressive you are

Pro points

Against I regard TWERB as an opening as akin to playing Russian roulette with your opponents. Certainly you will generate some high variance scores. TWERBs are something of an unfair weapon at pairs, as you will have the advantage of familiarity. They might be useful against a seeded team in a knockout.

Two way Twos

• 2 = fair weak 2 in diamonds, or very poor 0-7 in (unspecified) major
• 2 = fair weak 2 in hearts, or very poor 0-5 in clubs
• 2 = fair weak 2 in spades, or very poor 0-5 in diamonds

Responses Pass with a poor hand. Bid in a suit opener can have is pass/correct 2NT enquiry - more on bridgematters.com site See the similar but more restricted Red flash above. If you think this is hot, try Argentina's PSI!

Unspecified 2-suited 2 hearts

Response Pass correct suits. 2NT forcing relay.

Frequency 1.6%

Pro points One odf a number of methods happy to go the three level with 5-5

Defence See generic defences page

Wicked Twos

• 2 = {normal strong hand} or {weak in diamonds} or {weak in spades}
• 2NT = {normal strong hand} or {weak in clubs} or {weak in hearts}

Responses With the weak hands you generally pass next round (partner has some forces). So after passing the likely 2 - 2 positive response opponents still don't know whether your suit is diamonds or spades. "Weak" here means absolute trash, making a penalty double easier to set up. Glen Ashton developed this strategy for use in the Canadian top teams event, which it seem is not subject to ACBL restraints. Full (and complex) system on his BridgeMatters.com pages. Glen also sired Two-way twos and the utterly respectable Goldilocks style.

Frequency Depends on your definiion of trash

"Wilkosz" -the Polish 2 diamond

The opening is essentially a meld of Multi and the two suit methods and was invented by the Polish international Andrzej Wilkosz in the 60's. Anyone seriously interested in Wilkosz should also read the archived extensive discussion on the opening (rec.games.bridge 1998) which includes several defences. Wilkosz is related to the Multi (see Rainbow) and the same defences may work at a pinch. England's Polyclub 2 includes Wilkosz as well as minor suits! The style gets extra space as it is popular at top level.

Responses(1)

 2/ weak 2+cards
 2NT relay ...
 -- 3 = clubs (then 3 ?major); 
 -- 3 = diamonds/hearts
 -- 3 = spades/hearts 
 -- 3 = diamonds/spades
3 = natural
3 = game try both majors
3 = pass/correct
3 = three suited short hearts !!
4 = preempt/game in either major

Responses(2)

Polish Bridge Federation's Nowoczesny Brydz - Konwencje" {Modern Bridge - Conventions} describes Miroslaw Hanusz's method , showing short suits after 2 .. 2NT?

 -- 3 = short in +major ( .. 3 relay)
 -- 3 = short in +
 -- 3 = short in +
 -- 3 = short in +3
 ... I don't see any major advantage myself.  

Intervention (x) pass should show diamonds, otherwise simple sense pass/correct approach. A fuller scheme is available.

Frequency About 2%

Licence 'Brown Sticker' - banned in most tournaments even internationals

Variant The above would combine well with a 2 = constructive/big but if you want to use a Multi 2 for single major preempts a Polish 2 has the same responses and effect - a little less preemptive! Thanks to Richard Willey for sorting me out on this one

Pro points More common than the Roman 4441 alternative for 2. Hard to defend

Against When ops bid over you have problems - as with any Multi

Defence See generic defences page

At the 2000 Maastricht Olympiad Wilkosz was OK'd by some "bridge lawyers" as a variant of Multi 2! See Henk Uijterwaal's post in the r.g.b discussions