Crowhurst Defence to Weak Twos

Defending against weak twos

The most usual defence to weak twos is to double for takeout and NT bids are natural. This is all very well but has led to a belief, in certain quarters, that extremely light weak two openers are a safe and useful weapon because most pairs don't have the ability to double for penalties.

The following defence to weak twos is based on principles outlined in Eric Crowhurst's Acol in Competition.

The underlying assumptions are:

The best way to discourage these pesky weak twos is to be able to double for penalties when vulnerability and hands indicate it to be the best result for our side.
The most successful penalty doubles are when our trump holding is sitting over the weak 2 bidder. For example, a trump holding of something like KJxx could be devastating for declarer if located to his left but almost useless for the defence if situated on declarer's right.
All calls over weak twos should be constructive, showing at least opening points. The main purpose of a weak two is to disrupt our bidding, particularly to prevent us finding the correct game. When we choose to come in over a weak two, partner should be able to count on us to have a decent strength hand so he can investigate further, if necessary. If you waste some bids to show purely competitive holdings then you will be less well equipped to handle the stronger hands when they come round.
Given that the weak two has deprived us, typically, of a round and a half of bidding space, it can be helpful if our first bid can show partner immediately whether we have just an ordinary opening hand or something significantly stronger.

The "Crowhurst" defence to weak twos

The basic method

The basic method represents only one minor change from the traditional way of doing things, and this change only applies to the player on opener's left. Ie. the player bidding immediately after the weak two. For the player sitting on opener's right (ie. after a weak two and two passes or weak two, pass and raise by opener's partner) it's business as usual - double is for takeout and NT bids are natural. Crowhurst recommends a 16-18 point range for a fourth seat 2NT overcall.

For the player on opener's left, the meanings of double and NT are switched around.

It is the significance of the position of our trump holding that leads to this asymmetrical system. The reasoning behind the change is as follows. In the traditional method, balanced hands with strength in the enemy suit are shown by bidding NT. This deprives us of any chance of doubling for penalties on the very occasions when it might prove most profitable - when our trumps are sitting over declarer. Using an optional double to show a useful holding in the enemy suit means partner can pass for penalties, when appropriate, secure in the knowledge that our trump holding is in the right place or bid NT reliant on our stop in the enemy suit.

Note that suit overcalls, in either position, are natural and constructive, showing an opening hand and either a six card suit or an excellent five.

These are the specific requirements for the immediate double and 2NT:

Double	Optional	This implies a fairly balanced opening hand and guarantees a useful defensive holding in the enemy suit. Ideally, the hand should contain around 3½ likely defensive tricks in case partner decides to pass.
2NT	Takeout	As we now double on balanced hands with stops in the enemy suit, 2NT becomes an outright take-out bid implying no significant holding in the enemy suit.

Note that the immediate double and 2NT overcall are both alertable.

Responses after 2x-Double

Pass	To defeat the contract, we need to make 6 or more tricks in defence. Partner has shown a good trump stop and implied about 3½ defensive tricks. If you can contribute a further 2½ tricks then you can consider passing for penalties. However, just because you can pass doesn't mean you have to. Depending on vulnerability and hand shape (eg. length in a major) you may prefer to continue to try to find, say, a game contract our way.
NT	Partner's "useful holding" in the enemy suit can also be relied upon as a stop for NT. You can therefore afford to bid NT without much in the enemy suit yourself. 2NT shows around 11-12 points, maybe a good 10. With 13+, consider jumping to 3NT. Remember, though, that the opening lead will be coming through partner's stop so, if you aren't contributing anything in the enemy suit yoursef then a point or two extra, or a running suit, wouldn't go amiss. Without a running suit, and nothing much in the enemy suit, beware of NT bids on minimal values.
Enemy suit	There is less point asking for a stop in the enemy suit when partner has already shown one. A bid of the enemy suit is therefore a temporising manoeuvre showing a good supporting hand and asking partner to describe his hand further. The original doubler should respond naturally but if he responds in NT you can take it that his stop is "solid". Ie. he still has a double stop even if the opening lead comes through his hand.
Suit bids	Natural. A simple suit bid is the only option on very weak hands, unsuited to any of the other actions above. With enough strength to be interested in game you therefore need to jump, as you would opposite a normal takeout double. You don't need terrific length to jump in a suit. A good five should be sufficient. If none of your suits are good enough for a jump bid, consider temporising with a bid of the enemy suit first.

Responses after 2x-2NT

Pass/3NT	You need a good double stop to consider passing or converting to 3NT. Remember that the lead will be coming through you, and partner has denied anything useful in the enemy suit, so an honour holding such as KJXX may prove completely useless. You really need AK, KQJ or length to consider passing or bidding NT.
Enemy suit	There is little point asking for a stop in the enemy suit when partner has all but denied one. A bid of the enemy suit is again, therefore, just a temporising manoeuvre showing a desire to explore further and asking partner for more information about his hand. Partner should respond naturally. He may even bid 3NT if he has some sort of stop that wasn't good enough for an immediate double.
Suit bids	Again, much the same as opposite a double. Natural and, unless a jump, could be weak.

The advanced method

The basic method outlined above addresses all of Crowhurst's assumptions except the last. Our takeout bids show an opening hand but don't distinguish between a minimum opener and something more powerful.

The advanced method addresses this by making introducing a new, conventional, 3♣ overcall. In either seat, 3♣ is a non-forcing takeout showing a fairly balanced opening hand with 12-15 points, maybe a poor 16. Partner may pass if his best suit is clubs and it doesn't look like we're going anywhere.

This means that our existing takeout bids (the immediate 2NT, and the fourth seat double) now both show powerful opening hands. A good 16 is probably sufficient for an immediate 2NT. In fourth seat, given that partner has already passed, 17 is recommended minimum for a fourth seat takeout double.

Note that this is a slight divergence from the Crowhurst method. Crowhurst uses 3♣ as the strong takeout and double/NT as the weaker bid. I did once try this for a while but found it could place responder in an awkward position if he is weak with long clubs. Raising to 4♣ could be disaster if partner is minimal and passing could mean a missed game if partner has a rock crusher. My partner and I therefore decided to make 3♣ the weaker bid and found this worked better. I leave it to you which way round to play them but make sure you and partner are on the same wavelength!

Summary

It's only the meanings of the immedediate double and 2NT that change. Double optional, 2NT for takeout.
In the advanced system, 3♣ is a non forcing takout (12-16). Immediate 2NT, or 4th seat double, show stronger hands (good 16 or 17+ respectively).

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