By Peter Rhead
Ogust Responses to a Weak-Two Bid
Over the last two weeks we introduced opening and response strategies for the Weak-Two convention. The responder becomes the captain. Only he knows the potential of the two hands. Remember, the Weak-Two bid is based on a weak hand of about 10 points including two length points and a good suit of six cards.
We introduced four responses to the Weak-Two convention. There are more responses but those four are the most common. Today we will introduce another possible response. The Ogust convention is the correct spelling, named after the man who invented it and sounding like the month in summer. The convention gives more information by the opener after responder bids 2NT showing a big hand. The 2NT response tells opener that responder is looking for a game or slam and asks opener for more information. Opener now bids the Ogust convention. Ogust is a particularly useful Weak-Two convention for partnerships that like to ignore the “good suit” rule.
With the partnership playing the Ogust convention, the opener must reply to 2NT with one of only four Ogust convention bids. Each bid is unique to satisfy responder’s request for more information. Opener must bid one of the following:
Three Clubs – Bad Hand Bad Suit (something like 7-9 points and QJxxxx)
Three Diamonds – Bad Hand Good Suit (something like 7-9 points and KQxxxx)
Three Hearts – Good Hand Bad Suit (something like 10-12 points and Kxxxxx)
Three Spades – Good Hand Good Suit (something like 10-12 points and AKQxxx)
Consider a good suit to mean one that is likely to take at least four tricks. If by any chance you choose to open a Weak-Two in Clubs you of course have to bid Three Clubs. You can do this with just six Clubs. However, since you are a level higher, you should have a Good Hand Good Suit for your responding partner who may be looking for game.
Notice, to help remember, the artificial Ogust bid gets stronger as opener goes up the line from bad hand to good hand. Naturally, responder loves to hear a bid of Three Spades from opener, the strongest of the Ogust bids. Hearing Three Spades from opener, responder now bids game or investigates further for a slam. What action responder takes depends on the strength of his hand. Responder, to have made the original 2NT bid response, must have somewhere between 16 and 30 points in his hand.
For more information, read “Ogust Responses to Weak-Two Bids” in Barbara Seagram’s 25 Bridge Conventions You Should Know, page 173
Next Week: Examples of Ogust Responses to the Weak-Two bid
Remember, as we all fight COVID-19 with social isolation, if you want your Bridge fix, online competition is available for all skill levels. From the ACBL Bridge website, you can hook up either to play live people or to play robots. Either way you test or consolidate various Bridge skills. At ACBL.org just click on “Play Bridge” and follow the prompts for various choices.
If you wish to promote an activity in your Bridge group or ask a Bridge question, send the information to [email protected] and I will try to include it in this column.
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
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