[Radrag]

Suppose you have all two bids available as preempts, say in a strong club system with a very nebolous diamond. How would you use them? What if there was no NBO system restrictions?

[csdenmark]

As hammers. Independant of system.

[wclass___]

2♣ 5♣+unbal no 4M 11/15
2♦ 5♦+unbal no 4M 11/15
2M=w2 vul; NV 7-10 5+suit possible

again&again

[Ant590]

I would (and did) play a pre-emptive version of Multi-Landy:

2♣=majors
2♦=weak-only multi
2♥/♠=5+♥/♠ & 4+ side minor
2NT=minors

I've also play rough twos in the past:
2m=4+m & 4+major
2M=weak

[rbforster]

Radrag, on Sep 17 2009, 06:33 AM, said:

Suppose you have all two bids available as preempts.

wclass___, on Sep 17 2009, 09:06 AM, said:

2♣  5♣+unbal no 4M 11/15
2♦  5♦+unbal no 4M 11/15
2M=w2 vul; 7-10 5+suit

again&again

You like very sound preempts

My current choice was derived from Free's suggestions, which is to basically play "DONT" at the 2 level, with the caveat that the only bid for minors is 2N (5/5+).

2m 5+ in that minor, 4+ Major (note: major could be longer)
2♥ 5+ Hearts, 4+ Spades (note: either major could be longer)
2♠ weak two
2N 5/5+ minors

These are all "preemptive" strength, which is something like 4-9. We played these in national GCC events with no issues (not to get into rehashing the natural & conventional debate), although having 5+ in the suit bid was a choice dictated by regulations. I believe 4/4+ in the suits shown is used by some, especially at favorable colors (ie. Ekren's 2♥ for the majors 4/4+).

I like these bids for two main reasons:

1) you have some flexibility in how to open awkward hands, like x4(5x) near the bottom of your 1 level range
2) hands with lots of shape, 5/5's or 6/4's or 6/5's can all be opened without fear of losing the (other) major

In addition, the pure 6+ 1-suited weak twos can sometimes be opened at the 3 level, making the opportunity cost lower than might be thought given you're replacing the 2 level bids.

[Free]

Depends of your preferences.

If you want destructive two's, play Lorenzo (2X = 0-7HCP, 4+X MAFIA style)

If you want confusion for opps (and your partner perhaps), try tutti-frutti.

If you want constructive:
2♣ = both Majors
2♦ = Wilkosz
2M = weak two

If you want a mix of things play a random 2♣, mini multi, 2♥ 44+M and 2♠ natural.

If you want to open a lot:
2m = 4+m & 4+M
2♥ = both Majors
2♠ = 5-6♠

[Jlall]

I would use 2C/2D to make my 1D much less nebulous, and use 2M as a weak 2.

If I couldn't do that I would play 2C weak majors, 2D+ weak 2.

[Echognome]

I did have all my 2 bids available as weak 2's for awhile and really enjoyed:

2♣ Weak both majors
2♦ 4+♦ + 4♥/4♠
2♥/♠ Natural weak 2's
2NT Both minors (weak or GF)

My next favorite structure is:
2♣ Weak both majors
2♦ Weak only multi
2♥/♠ Natural intermediate 2's (~9-13 hcp)
2NT Both minors

I don't think you have to be that nebulous in your structure to accomplish this.

I played:
1♣ Strong, ART
1♦ 4+♥, unbal
1♥ 4+♠, unbal
1♠ one or both minors, no 4cM
1NT 12-15

With full relays over any opening.

[benlessard]

2M = preempt
2m = 9-13 with 6 card suit.

So that 1D is a 2suiter or 14-15 pts


I find that a M preempt is better weak than intermediate because the prob of stealing the hand is higher, but for minors the intermediate work like a charm. Especially since it remove some pressure from your 1D opening.

[awm]

I've always thought it would be very interesting to try:

2♣-2♥ = either intermediate in the suit opened, or weak with the next suit up
2♠ = either intermediate with spades or weak with both minors

The idea is that responder usually assumes the intermediate hand, bidding as:

Pass = would pass the intermediate opening; if opener is weak we can steal the pot
Step = NF asking bid, normally invitational over the intermediate option (but to play vs. weak)
2nd Step = forcing ask; some game interest opposite the weak hand (GF opposite the INT hand)

This has the property of getting the very useful intermediate two openings, which usually give good results and clean up a lot of the one-level openings/sequences, while still letting you do something (admittedly a somewhat randomizing something, but this can be good too) with the weak hands.

[Echognome]

awm, on Sep 17 2009, 01:56 PM, said:

I've always thought it would be very interesting to try:

2♣-2♥ = either intermediate in the suit opened, or weak with the next suit up
2♠ = either intermediate with spades or weak with both minors

The idea is that responder usually assumes the intermediate hand, bidding as:

Pass = would pass the intermediate opening; if opener is weak we can steal the pot
Step = NF asking bid, normally invitational over the intermediate option (but to play vs. weak)
2nd Step = forcing ask; some game interest opposite the weak hand (GF opposite the INT hand)

This has the property of getting the very useful intermediate two openings, which usually give good results and clean up a lot of the one-level openings/sequences, while still letting you do something (admittedly a somewhat randomizing something, but this can be good too) with the weak hands.

Would certainly be randomizing. Say the auction goes 2♦ - (2♠) - ?

Where you would saw them off opposite the intermediate 2♦ call (not much of a fit in diamonds), but would want to up the preempt or pass opposite the weak 2♥ call. You would be absolutely stuck.

[Lobowolf]

Jlall, on Sep 17 2009, 02:12 PM, said:

I would use 2C/2D to make my 1D much less nebulous, and use 2M as a weak 2.

Ditto. Specifically, for me, 2♣ promising a 6-card suit, and 2♦ the typical 3-suiter short in diamonds, which at least brings the 1♦ opening up to promising a 2-card suit.

[Trinidad]

Radrag, on Sep 17 2009, 01:33 PM, said:

Suppose you have all two bids available as preempts, say in a strong club system with a very nebolous diamond. How would you use them? What if there was no NBO system restrictions?

With restrictions:

2♣: 5♥+4m, weak
2♦: weak 2 in a major
2♥: weak with both majors
2♠: 5♠+4m, weak

Without restrictions:
2♣ inverted Rainbow: 5(+)m+4M, weak
2♦ weak 2 in a red suit
2♥ weak with both majors
2♠ weak 2 in spades or 5♥+5(+)m, weak

Rik

[Flameous]

Like in Dejeuner in which I have much the same openings as Echognome. (Strong pass instead and fert thrown in)

2♣ = 5+m, 4M
2♦ = Wilkosz 5+M, 4+m
2♥ = Multi
2♠ = 55+ minors (8-13)
2NT = 55+ minors, <8

These are of course mainly preferred when NV. Vul I think I prefer them actually showing suits, more like

2♣ = 5+♣, 4M
2♦ = 5+♦, 4M
2M = 5+M, 4+m
2NT = Minors

Now I have to open all normal weak twos with fert, which just means I finally have hands in fert I can actually have a bid later.

[effervesce]

NV:
2♣ weak majors
2♦ wilkosz 5+M 5+ another
2♥ weak two in either hearts or spades
2♠ weak minors
2NT = bad minor preempt in either clubs or diamonds

Apparently the 2♥ multi and 2NT bad minor preempts are amazingly hard to defend against as there is no cuebid available, but the risk:reward not so good when vul thus

Vul:
2♣ weak majors
2♦ wilkosz
2♥ = weak two
2♠ = weak two
2NT = minors

[maggieb]

Echognome, on Sep 17 2009, 03:13 PM, said:

I don't think you have to be that nebulous in your structure to accomplish this.

1♠ one or both minors, no 4cM

That makes one wonder what your nebulous openings would look like!

[Gerben42]

2♣: Both majors 4-4 / 5-4
2♦: Wilkosz
2M: Natural
2NT: Minors