If you've been with me all year, you are now reading the 12^th article in this series.

Last article we started with weak two bids. This month we respond—probably my most favorite (and famous) topic in bridge.

Responding to a weak 2-bid

1. Possession of 13 points is no big deal; partner has fewer than 13. If you don't have at least 3?card support, and you have 13 HCP or fewer, you should Pass partner's weak two-bid.
2. Support with support. You don't need points to raise partner. Surely, most of my readers have heard of the LAW of Total Tricks. With 3 trumps, raise partner's weak two to the 3-level (if you don't have game interest). With 4 trumps, raise to the 4-level. To read all the why's and why-not's, click here.
3. With an invitational hand, responder should bid 2NT to ask opener if he is minimum or not. Opener rebids his suit with a minimum; with more he identifies his outside feature (usually an A or K). This is called "Feature." There are a small minority of players who use a different conventional response to the 2NT bid, typically Ogust.
4. New suits by responder–forcing is Standard. Make sure you agree with your partner.

Partner deals with both vulnerable and opens 2. What do you respond?

A)	B)	C)	D)	E)
A 6 5 4 2 K J 10 4 A J 5 4	8 7 6 K 5 4 Q 9 7 6 5 4 3	2 K Q 4 3 A Q J 5 3 K 5 3	8 3 8 A K Q J 9 7 6 A K 4	A 6 5 K 7 2 A K 9 7 6 K 3

Answers:

1. Pass. You are high enough. The "LAW" says to bid 1 but that is not legal.
2. 3Follow the "LAW". With 9-trumps, raise to the 3-level.
3. 4 One, you have 10 trumps, and two, you expect to make it.
4. 3 Make sure partner and you have agreed that new suits are forcing.
5. 4 Where you think you belong (don't use the "LAW" for games/slams).

After Partner Responses 2NT to our Weak 2-Bid

• Opener's first responsibility is to clarify whether or not her hand is minimum. With a minimum hand, she rebids 3 of her suit. Note: Minimum or maximum depends on position, vulnerability and suit quality, but in general, 6?8 is minimum and 9-11 is maximum.

• With more than a minimum, she shows an outside feature, normally an ace or king. She is also welcome to find another bid if pressed. With a maximum and no feature (thus a very good trump suit), bid 3NT. After 2-2NT-
  

3 with:	3with:	3NT with:
K Q J 9 5 4 6 2 8 7 6 6 2	K Q J 9 5 4 6 2 8 7 6 K 2	A K Q 10 8 2 7 4 7 5 2 3 2

You open 2 (nobody vul.) and partner bids 2NT. What do you rebid?

A	B	C	D	E
K 5 4 10 7 6 Q J 10 8 7 5 2	10 4 3 2 K Q J 9 7 6 K 5 4	A 4 8 6 2 K Q 10 8 3 2 8 7	9 5 8 6 5 2 A K Q 10 9 7 2	Q 10 4 8 6 5 2 K J 10 9 8 4 --

1. 3. Holding a minimum, opener should not show a feature.
2. 3. With a maximum, show the feature.
3. 3. Another maximum; show the feature.
4. 3NT. A maximum without a feature—3NT shows something like this.
5. 3. This is a minimum (sort of).

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