The weak two bid is a common treatment used in the game of contract bridge, where an opening bid of two diamonds, hearts or spades signifies a weak hand with a long suit. It is used in combination with the strong two clubs bid and is a form of preemptive bid. The term refers to an opening bid, and is not to be confused with the "weak jump overcall", which denotes a similar type of hand, but is bid over an opponent's opening bid.
The requirements for a weak two bid may vary by partnership agreement. The most common treatment is that it requires:
- any good suit of exactly six cards in diamonds, hearts or spades; a longer suit should make a higher preemptive opening bid
- no side 5-card suit or 4-card major
- a total of about 5-11 high card points; some prefer a range of 6-10 points for a "weak two" bid, as a hand with six in a suit plus 11 points may be strong enough for a bid at the one level; see Rule of 20
What constitutes a "good" suit is a matter of partnership agreement. The American Contract Bridge League recommends that the opener hold at least two of the top three or three of the top five cards in the suit (that is, either K-Q or Q-J-10 or better). Others recommend at least three honors (J-Q-K).
Famous quotes containing the words weak and/or bid:
““... So it’s plain to be discerned
That the shades of holy men
Who have failed, being weak of will,
Pass the Door of Birth again,
And are plagued by crowds, until
They’ve passion to escape.””
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939)
“Go, bid thy mistress, when my drink is ready,
She strike upon the bell.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)