An opening 1
is artificial, very strong and unlimited. Hands are nominally 21 points up, but, just as for the 1
opening, strong playing values would indicate a 1 opening with fewer points – a good 20 or an excellent 19 would be minimum. Balanced hands with only 20 points will be better served by opening them 1. As a guideline, a 1 opener should have four or fewer losers.
All responses are systemic, following all the rules such as neutral suit choice. Because 1 is an unlimited opening, it pays to be a little cautious when responding. Also, a very strong hand opposite a weak hand tends to under-perform. For both reasons, the opening is considered to have a nominal minimum strength of just 20 points, so:
1 and 1 | unlimited, any hand with a major |
| 1NT | up to 2 points, no major |
| 2 and 2 | unlimited, at least 3 points, no major |
| 2 and 2 | single-suiter, six-card suit, up to 2 points |
| 2NT | minor two-suiter, up to 2 points |
| 3suit | single-suiter, seven-card suit, up to 2 points |
Responses from 2 up disturb the auction.
| West | North | East | South | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KQ8 | 1 | pass | 1 | pass | |
| K87 | ? | ||||
| AQ106 | |||||
| AKQ7 |