DUPLICATE BRIDGE: WEAK TWO'S AND THE RULE OF 17

THE RULE OF 17.


The rule of 17 can be used to respond to a partner who opened the auction with a weak 2 Hearts or 2 Spades in an effort to pursue game or a possible slam contract in partner’s suit.

It works as follows:

 1 – Add your HCP’s to the number of cards you hold in your partner’s opening suit.

2 – If your total equals to 17, bid game or explore further for possible slam.

3 – With 20 HCP or more, bid 2NT for further investigation of partner’s hand.

4 – Opener rebids at the 3 level to show a feature** in a side suit with 9+ points.

5 – If feature complements your hand, bid 4NT to explore slam.

6 – Opener rebids his original suit at the 3 level with 6 to 7 points and no feature.

EXAMPLES:

Partner’s Hand:   K J 10 9 5 4
                            A 9
                            10 9 5
                            9 6

Your Hands:

Q 3
K Q 10 8
A 9 5
A 7 6 5.               Respond 4 Spades.

A Q 8 7
K Q10 8
9 7
A 5 4.                  Respond 4 Spades

Q 9 8 6
K Q J 10
A 9 8
A 2               Respond 2NT

K Q 9 5
K Q J 10 9
A K 5
A                 Respond 2NT

A J 2           
Q J 9 5    
K 10 7 
J 10 5         Respond Pass

Weak two opening bids can be assumed to take 5 tricks.
** A feature can be either a King or an Ace.