Blum on Bridge Bridge Conventions, Defences and Countermeasures: Weak Twos
	Appropriately, the heading for today's column is also the title of Ron Klinger's newest book. Last week we prefaced Ron's views on the requirements needed to make the "weak two-bid" call. Today we'll begin by discussing his methods to defend against those bids. Ron starts out by stating that against weak bids there is no advantage to countering with your own weak bids such as weak jump overcalls or the unusual no-trump. He rightly states to use strong bids against the opponents' weak calls. Thus, the bid of 2NT equals a balanced 16-18 points with at least a stopper in their suit and 3NT also announces a balanced hand with at least a stopper in their suit, but with 21-22 points. A double is for takeout and a double followed up by a suit bid after partner's response shows a balanced 19-20 points. The double without a follow-up bid indicates a hand short in the opponents' suit and at least four cards in the other major. The greater the strength, the less important it is to be short in their suit. The bid of 4NT is unusual for the minors, but shows a strong hand. To be more specific, you must be 5-5 with no more than four losers. Klinger gives as examples 76-2-KQJ108-AKQJ5 or 7-6-AQJ754-KQJ42. Overcalls are natural showing a strong suit. Two spades over their two hearts could have as many as seven losers; however, bids at the three-level should not be made with more than six losers. Holding a hand with four losers it is best to double then bid your suit. Cue bidding (bidding the enemies' suit) should be reserved for the "Michaels" convention. This simply shows five cards in the other major plus five cards in either minor. This call cannot be made with more than five losers. If partner bids 3NT it is to play there. After partner's 2NT overcall 3 clubs is Stayman. Three diamonds is a transfer demanding the 2NT overcaller to bid the other major suit. Also after partner's 2NT overcall the bid of the enemy suit at the three-level shows specifically a 4-4-4-1 hand with the singleton being in the bid suit. This bid is game forcing. In reply to partner's original double the standard and easiest approach is to bid at the cheapest level with a poor hand and make a jump bid in your best suit with a strong hand. Klinger reserves the strong jump for a hand worth at least 10 points. Admittedly using this method a "poor" hand could range from nothing to as high as seven to nine points. However, unless you are more sophisticated it is the best approach. For you experts, buy Ron's book and study the use of 2NT as the "Lebensohl" convention plus all of the responses. For most of us let's simply say, "It goes beyond the scope of this article." Countermeasures by the side that originally made the "weak two bid" call are as follows. After 2 hearts or 2 spades by your side and double by the opponents, bids of 3 clubs and 3 diamonds are natural. Either of these calls is only made with a void in opener's two-bid and at least six cards in the bid minor. Remember, among the qualifications needed to make that two-bid is there can be no void. So you can count on opener to have at least one card in your bid suit. Both of the minor suit calls are to play and are not forcing. An example over an opening bid of 2 spades and a double by the enemy is to bid 3 clubs holding "void-J753-92-KQ107532. This should play far better than if the partner of the one who doubles lets it stand. Of course 2 spades-double by them-3 hearts is to play. A re-double by your side over the enemy double requires at least 13 hcps and no more than a singleton in partner's suit. Finally if they bid a suit at the three-level over partner's opening "weak two bid" a double by you is penalty. Most important, a bid by you of your suit at the three-level is invitational as the enemy has taken away your opportunity to bid a 2NT invitational sequence. Had they not have interfered 2NT would be invitational and a raise of partner's suit would be preemptive. Finally the bid of any new suit is natural and forcing.