Usually when we open the bidding above the one level it is to be pre-emptive – that is to say we want to make it more difficult for our opponents to come into the auction. These hands have too few points to open at the one level but a lot of distributional strength (see Pre-emptive openings).

There are two exceptions to this: The 2NT opening, showing a balanced hand with 20-22HCP and the 2C opening, which we make with any hand containing 23+ points or any hand that is strong enough to make game, even when partner has nothing at all to help.

Let’s look at these two bids in turn. First, as you see above, an opening bid of 2NT shows a balanced hand with 20-22 HCP. The panel below summarises what the partner of the opener should do, which works in pretty much the same way as responding to 1NT:

The second strong opening bid is the 2C opening.  When you open 2C you are saying ‘I have enough strength to make game in my own hand’ and your partner must not stop bidding below the level of game. not stop bidding below.