Ogust 2NT Response to a Weak 2

Whatsapp

When your partner opens a Weak 2 bid, responder may want to learn more about the preempter's hand to assess whether a game is available.  Using a 2NT response as an asking bid is a space efficient way to ask the preempter to describe their hand.

If you preempt aggressively in 1^st seat, we recommend using 2NT as Ogust, an artificial bid asking about the quality of preempter’s suit and the quality of preempter’s hand.  The following step responses are used:

1. 1^st step, 3♣: shows a bad hand for a Weak 2 with a bad suit

2. 2^nd step, 3♦: shows a bad hand for a Weak 2 with a good suit (2 of the top 3 honors, or 3 of the top 5)

3. 3^rd step, 3♥: shows a good hand for a Weak 2 with a bad suit

4. 4^th step, 3♠: shows a good hand for a Weak 2 with a good suit (2 of the top 3 honors, or 3 of the top 5)

5. 5^th step, 3NT: shows a suit headed by the AKQ

A good suit should have 2 of the top 3 honors, or 3 of the top 5 honors.  A good hand will have an outside Ace or King with 8-11 points.  

We recommend using 2NT as a Feature Asking response after a 2nd seat Weak 2 bid.  As discussed in our "Preempts by Seat Position" article, a 2^nd seat preempt should promise a good suit.  So 2 of the Ogust responses would be wasted.  It is better to use a Feature Asking 2NT response to determine whether the preempter has an Ace or King in a side suit and specify of the location of the side suit Ace or King.  

Our "Preempts by Seat Position" article recommends agreeing to preempt aggressively in 1^st seat.  Opening a Weak 2 on a good 5-card suit is great way to preempt more often, forcing your opponents to guess more often.  If you sometimes open a Weak 2 on a 5-card suit as dealer, world champion Jeff Meckstroth recommends the following changes to the Ogust responses.

1. 1^st step, 3♣: shows a 5-card suit
   Responder can bid 3♦:to ask the quality of the preempter's hand.  Opener uses steps to show a poor hand, medium hand, or good hand for their 5-card Weak 2 bid.
   

2. 2^nd step, 3♦: shows a 6-card suit and a poor hand for a Weak 2. 

3. 3^rd step, 3♥: shows a 6-card suit and an average hand for a Weak 2. 

4. 4^th step, 3♠: shows a 6-card suit and a good hand for a Weak 2. 

5. 5^th step, 3NT: shows a suit headed by the AKQ