Yellow Card Bidding System Mantra ● First, determine which suit to play - then determine the contract level to play. ● Try to play a contract in the following priority:
1) Play a MAJOR suit contract.
2) Play a NO TRUMP contract.
3) Play a MINOR suit contract as a last resort.
The 2♣ opening is an artificial bid reserved for a strong opening bid with 22+ HCPs. This bid does NOT specify a suit. The responder has no idea of what the opener holds, except it holds more than half the HCPs in the deck. The partnership is still looking for a suit or No Trump contract to play.
To qualify for the artificial 2♣ opening, the opener must meet one of these two conditions:
• 22+ HCPs: This is the only requirement. This bid says nothing about which suit or No Trump the opener wants to play.
• <22 HCPs (Rarely used): This hand must hold 9 quick tricks in a specific major suit, or 10 quick tricks in a specific minor suit. This bid says nothing about which suit the opener wants to play. This bid is called the "2 club equivalent" opening.
Responding to a 2♣ Opening
The 2♣ opening is an artificial, demand bid. The responder cannot leave the opener in this bid, it would be a disaster. The responder must make sure the opener can bid again. If the responder's right hand opponent bids PASS, the partner MUST bid something to keep the bidding open, even with zero points.
There are several ways the responder can respond to the 2♣ opening. Before the playing session begins, make sure the partnership agrees on which convention to use:
• 2 Diamonds Waiting This convention is part of SAYC and attempts to keep the opener's stronger hand out of the dummy by trying to get the opener to mention the desired suit to play.
Commonly used in social bridge games:
• 3 Point Step Convention (point range only). This simple convention indicates the responder's point count range only, and relies upon the opener's experience and intuition to determine the contract to play. The opener's stronger hand could end up exposed in the dummy.
• Winstaffer 2 Diamond Bust (point range and 5+card suit). This simple convention indicates the responder's point range and 5-card suit without worrying about which player ends up as dummy. The opener's stronger hand could end up exposed in the dummy.