Two Heart Openings and Responses

Two Heart Opening & Responses

The 2♥ Opening is a "normal" weak two and typically shows between 5-9 points and at least a 6-card Heart suit. The optimum hand for a weak-2 has most of its points in the long suit although it is recognised that this is not always possible and sometimes (particularly 3rd in hand at favourable vulnerability) you have to go with what you've got.

New suit responses from 3♦ upwards are wholly natural and forcing. Direct suit raises in Hearts are purely pre-emptive and not invitational. The 2♠, 2NT and 3♣ responses are not natural (see below). The full scheme of responses is as follows:

Initial Responses

In response to the 2♥ Opening, partner bids along the following lines:-

2♥-2♠	This is a forcing relay to find our more about Opener's strength and distribution:
	-2NT	shows minimum range, *any* distribution.
	-3♣	shows a Diamond shortage, max range.
	-3♦	shows a Spade shortage, max range.
	-3♥	shows a Club shortage, max range.
	-3♠	shows a second 4+-card suit, max range.
	-3NT	shows a max range 6322-shape hand with scattered values.
	-4♣	shows a second 4+-card suit, max range.
	-4♦	shows a second 4+-card suit, max range.
		Once a shortage has been shown the short suit can be used for a Beta Ask, but no Epsilons are permitted. If Opener shows a second suit then a relay in the next suit up (not including 3NT or 4♥) is Beta. Epsilons are still not permitted.
2♥-2NT-3♣	2NT is Lebensohl forcing a 3&clubs bid from Opener, after which:
	-3♦	is natural and "to play"
	-3♥	is *invitational*, particularly wanting good trumps as well as an upper-range hand.
	-3♠	is natural and "to play"
	-3NT	is natural and "to play".
2♥-3♣	Is Gamma in Hearts, explicitly agreeing Hearts. A relay in the next new suit up (excluding 3NT and 3/4♥ is Beta on the *weak* scale. Epsilons *are* permitted.
2♥-3/4♥	is purely pre-emptive and *not* invitational.

General Tactics

Responses other than those listed above are not permitted. If Responder has a strong hand they take control by one of the methods shown above and then decide where to play the hand. This is the reason why no Epsilons are permitted unless Responder has explicitly agreed Hearts by using 3♣ Gamma.

Action over Intervention

Over intervention by opps, immediate new suits are forcing, direct raises are purely pre-emptive, and bids in No Trumps are natural and "to play".

Double is Lebensohl, forcing a bid in the next suit up by Opener, after which any new suit bids are purely competitive and "to play" and bids in Hearts are invitational.

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2♥ Opening and Responses

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Two Heart Opening & Responses

Initial Responses

General Tactics

Action over Intervention