Benjaminised (or Benji) Acol Some Bidding Techniques Benjaminised (or Benji) Acol (Part I)

Benji Acol Becoming very popular Pre-emptive at the 2 level instead of 3 Note: Must be agreed beforehand with partner Need a new way of bidding strong Twos No change to other parts of your system 1 Level and 3 Level openings remain as they were

Benji Acol Invented by Albert Benjamin In a nutshell: 2 is an ‘Acol Two’ in any suit 2 is 23+ points or Game Force (Acol 2) 2 is 6-9 points and 6 Hearts 2 is 6-9 points and 6 Spades

We will discuss the weak 2 openings in the next session 2 2 Today we concentrate on the strong openings 2 2 And balanced hand bidding

2 Openings Used to show any hand worthy of a Strong Two opening in any suit 8 Playing tricks for a major (Because you can show the suit at the 2 level) 9 Playing tricks for a minor (Because you have to show the suit at the 3 level)

Response to 2 Openings 2 ALWAYS! Says – tell me more In particular – which suit? NOTE – this is a relay not a negative

After 2 - 2 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     8763 43 AT9763 2 2 2 4

Example 2 2 3 3 3NT     9 A9 A86 AKQJ743     KQ763 K3 9432 62 2 2 3 3 3NT

2 Openings Your strongest bid 23+ points Or can make game by itself Exactly the same as Acol 2 Except the negative response (Less than 8) is 2 Simple as that

2 Openings Your strongest bid 23+ points (Forcing to game) The positive response (8 or more) is 2 of your best suit or NT Telling your partner that a slam may be on

Example 2 2 2NT 3NT     AKJ A92 A86 AK43     763 K3 9532 Q652 2NT 3NT

Balanced Hand Bidding Standard Acol 2NT = 20-22 2-2-2NT = 23-24 New Option 2NT = 21-22 2-2-2NT = 19-20 2-2-2NT = 23-24 2-2-3NT = 25+

Example 2 2 2NT 3 3 4     K103 AJ76 AK6 AJ4     Q2 K982 832 2 2 2NT 3 3 4

Summary 2 is an ‘Acol Two’ in any suit OR 19-20 Balanced 2 is 23+ points or Game Force (Acol 2) 2 is 6-9 points and 6 Hearts 2 is 6-9 points and 6 Spades 2NT is 21-22 Balanced