A 2♣ Opening Responses and Later Bidding

A 2♣ opening shows at least 22+ points, or the playing equivalent. Responses:

2♣	2♦	Artificial, could be "waiting" with a good hand not suited to a positive response
	2♥, 2♠, 3♣, 3♦	Natural and game forcing. At least a five-card suit and 8 points
	2NT	A balanced 8 HCP

It is useful to define a standard in terms of suit quality for a positive response. Possible standards are two of the top three honours or three of the top five or headed by at least the Ace or King.

Once again you need to discuss this in your partnerships.

If opener rebids 2NT after a 2♦ response (showing 22-24 points), the same responses are used as over a 2NT opening:

2♣	2♦
2NT	3♣	Stayman
	3♦, 3♥	Jacoby transfers to hearts and spades respectively.
	4♣	Gerber
	4NT	Inviting a slam in notrump

If opener rebids a suit over a 2♦ response, the bidding is forcing to 3 of opener's major or 4 of opener's minor. In most cases opener has at least 5 cards in the suit bid, unless opener has 4-4-4-1 shape, in which case the strongest suit should be bid.

Another option with 4-4-4-1 hands is to rebid No Trumps especially with a singleton high honour.

2♣	2♦
2♥	2♠
3♥		Not forcing