Some Bidding
Techniques
Benjaminised (or Benji) Acol
(Part I)
Benji Acol
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Becoming very popular
Pre-emptive at the 2 level instead of 3
Note:
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Must be agreed beforehand with partner
Need a new way of bidding strong Twos
No change to other parts of your system
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1 Level and 3 Level openings remain as they were
Benji Acol
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Invented by Albert Benjamin
In a nutshell:
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2
2
2
2
is
is
is
is
an ‘Acol Two’ in any suit
23+ points or Game Force (Acol 2)
6-10 points and 6 Hearts
6-10 points and 6 Spades
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We will discuss the weak 2 openings in the
next session
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2
2
Today we concentrate on the strong
openings
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2
2
And balanced hand bidding
2 Openings
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Used to show any hand worthy of a
Strong Two opening in any suit
8 Playing tricks for a major
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(Because you can show the suit at the 2 level)
9 Playing tricks for a minor
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(Because you have to show the suit at the 3 level)
Response to 2 Openings
 2
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ALWAYS!
Says – tell me more
In particular – which suit?
NOTE – this is a relay not a negative
After 2 - 2
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2 = 8 playing tricks in Hearts
2 = 8 playing tricks in Spades
3 = 9 playing tricks in Clubs
3 = 9 playing tricks in Diamonds
(See later for balanced hand bidding)
Example
 AKQJT4
 Q92
 AKQ6
 2
2
2
2
4
 8763
 43
 43
 AT9763
Example
 9
 A9
 A86
 AKQJ743
2
2
3
3
3NT
 KQ763
 K3
 9432
 62
2 Openings
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Your strongest bid
23+ points
Or can make game by itself
Exactly the same as Acol 2
Except the negative response (<8) is 2
Simple as that
Example
 AKJ
 A92
 A86
 AK43
2
2
2NT
3NT
 763
 K3
 9532
 Q652
Balanced Hand Bidding
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Standard Acol
2NT = 20-22
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2-2-2NT = 23-24
2-2-3NT = 25+
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New Option
2NT = 19(?)-20
2-2-2NT = 21-22
2-2-2NT = 23-24
2-2-3NT = 25+
Example
 KQ3
 AJ76
 AK6
 AJ4
2
2
2NT
3
3
4
 2
 K982
 Q5432
 832
Summary
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2 is an ‘Acol Two’ in any suit OR
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21-22 Balanced
2 is 23+ points or Game Force (Acol 2)
2 is 6-10 points and 6 Hearts
2 is 6-10 points and 6 Spades
2NT is 19(?)-20 Balanced