Opening ACOL Two-bids by Paul Bowyer

Strong two-bids form one of the cornerstones of the ACOL system. Except for an opening bid of 2♣ (or 2NT for that matter) an opening two-bid shows a hand of "power and quality" based on a very good suit (or on two very good suits).

One yardstick (not the only one) is that a two-bid should contain at least eight playing tricks. In other words, a two-bidder should expect to make eight tricks out of his own hand, even facing garbage.

An opening ACOL two-bid is FORCING. In other words, partner may not Pass a two-bid no matter how poor his hand is.

ACOL two-bids are not based on the point-count. Bear that in mind - it is an important point.

Question 1

Your Hand
♠ A K Q J 10 6
♥ A K 10
♦ Q 10 5
♣ 4

Q: 1 - You are South, dealer. What is your opening bid?

South	West	North	East
?

A: 2♠. This is a classic ACOL two-bid with eight tricks more or less guaranteed. Partner needs very little over there to make a game - the ♦K would give it a good play.

Open a two-bid when you are worried that a one-bid may be Passed out and you would miss game.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 2

Your Hand
♠
♥ K Q J 10 9 5 3
♦ A Q J
♣ A J 10

Q: 2 - You are South, dealer. What is your opening bid?

South	West	North	East
?

A: 2♥. Another classic ACOL two-bid with nine tricks near enough assured on this hand. Opening 1♥ risks being Passed out, missing a game. That is why you must open 2♥

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 3

Your Hand
♠ 8 5
♥ A 6
♦ A K Q J 7 4 3
♣ 9 2

Q: 3 - You are South, dealer. What is your opening bid?

South	West	North	East
?

A: 1♦. Although you have eight tricks more or less assured this is NOT an ACOL two-bid (or even close to it). It is not a "hand of power and quality". Also, opening 1♦ doesn't really risk missing a game contract. As you only have 14 points is 1♦ likely to end the auction? Here you should open 1♦ and rebid 3♦.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 4

Your Hand
♠ A K Q 10 7
♥ A K Q 10 7
♦ Q 6
♣ 6

Q: 4 - You are South, dealer. What is your opening bid?

South	West	North	East
?

A: 2♠. With virtually nothing opposite but a few low cards in the majors you could make ten tricks in either Hearts or Spades on this deal. Opening 1♠, then, is out of the question. (Bidding Hearts first is wrong - with 5-5 you open the higher suit).

Although it is rare to open an ACOL two-bid with a five-card suit this hand is exceptional. Remember, you open a two-bid when you are worried that a one-bid might end the auction and lead to a missed game.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 5

Your Hand
♠ K 10 9
♥ A K Q 10 7
♦ A 10
♣ K Q 4

Q: 5 - You are South, dealer. What is your opening bid?

South	West	North	East
?

A: 2NT. A 5.3.3.2 hand does not qualify as an ACOL two-bid. Better, despite the quality of the Heart suit, is to describe this hand as essentially balanced and open 2NT. Partner will expect 20-22 and a balanced hand. Isn't that what you've got?

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 6

Your Hand
♠ A
♥ K Q J 10 9 8
♦ A Q J 10 6 4
♣

Q: 6 - You are South, dealer. What is your opening bid?

South	West	North	East
?

A: 2♥. Wow! What a hand. If partner has as little as the ♥A or even just the ♦K opposite we might make a SLAM on this hand, never mind a game. You cannot afford to open 1♥ and risk seeing the auction proceed Pass-Pass-Pass.

2♥ is forcing, making partner bid something, over which you will jump the bidding in Diamonds.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 7

Your Hand
♠ A Q 6 5 4
♥ A K Q J
♦ A
♣ J 5 3

Q: 7 - You are South, dealer. What is your opening bid?

South	West	North	East
?

A: 1♠. Yes, this risks partner Passing and our side missing a game. However, an ACOL two-bid promises a fine suit and this hand does not qualify for that. The Spades are nowhere good enough for a two-bid so you are forced to open 1♠ and hope partner can dredge up a response. If he can't, well c'est la vie. Note that you do not possess eight playing tricks.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 8

Your Hand
♠ 4
♥ A K 10
♦ Q 10 5
♣ A K Q J 10 6

Q: 8 - You are South, dealer. What is your opening bid?

South	West	North	East
?

A: 1♣. This is Question 1 again with the suits transposed. ACOL two-bids only apply in Spades, Hearts and Diamonds. 2♣ as an opening bid is used for other purposes and does not promise Clubs - it simply shows any really, really powerful hand. So, for that reason, we cannot use the bid on this type of hand. Open 1♣ and hope that the bid doesn't end the auction.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 9

Your Hand
♠ A K Q J 9 7
♥ A K Q 9 4
♦ 7
♣ 3

Q: 9 - You are South, dealer. What is your opening bid?

South	West	North	East
?

A: 2♠. Here you have game (4♠ or 4♥) more or less guaranteed in your own hand. You should open 2♠ and then rebid 4♥ over partner's response. This forces partner to choose - he may Pass (if he prefers Hearts) or he may correct to 4♠. On a really good day he'll bid a slam...

Your result so far:

Open Question

Question 10

Your Hand
♠ A K Q J 10 9 6 3
♥ 7 5
♦ 9 3
♣ 3

Q: 10 - You are South, dealer. What is your opening bid?

South	West	North	East
?

A: 4♠. We may not have discussed pre-emptive bidding yet so this may have confounded you. However, despite you having eight playing tricks this hand is certainly not an ACOL two-bid under the meaning of the act. It is not a hand of "power and quality" and is not in danger of seeing an opening bid of 1♠ Passed out with game being missed.

In point of fact, with a hand like this, the object of the exercise is to bid as high as you dare as quickly as you can and make your opponents' live a misery. Let them bid at the five-level if they want to compete the auction.

Your result so far:

Open Question

Overall Results

Your results: out of Average:

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