Muiderberg - Muiderbergh

The Dutch Twos - Lucas Two Bids

The origin of the Muiderbergh Two Bids, which is sometimes spelled differently and which is sometimes referred to as The Dutch Twos and the Lucas Two Bids, is the village of Muiderbergh, The Netherlands, which lies near Amsterdam. The concept was devised by Mr. Onno Janssens and Mr. Willem Beogem, who both lived in this village, and was based on Weak Two openings. The pictures below show Mr. Onno Janssens and Mr. Willem Boegem.

  

 

The origin of the Lucas Two Bids is unknown and the original definition was that it represented a 5-card suit either in Diamonds, Hearts, or Spades with a second 4-card side suit in the other Major if the opening Two Bid was in either of the Major suits. The high card point range was between 6 and 10 high card points. In general, the responses follow the same pattern as the Muiderbergh Two Bids.

The concept is that when the opening bid is 2 Diamonds, then the opener shows a Multi 2 Diamonds opening, which is weak in either Major suit, but optionally with various strong hand possibilities. Other opening bids on the two level and the corresponding responses are shown below. This method is generally played as a weak opening with 6 to 10 high card points, but other partnership agreements have agreed to increase the opening range to 11-15 high card points.

Opening Meaning
2 Weak opening. Opener has a 5-card Heart suit and an unknown 4-card plus Club or Diamond suit.
2 Weak opening. Opener has a 5-card Spade suit and an unknown 4-card plus Club or Diamond suit.

If the vulnerability is unfavorable, then the Minor suit should be a 5-card suit.

There are various response schemes to the opening, but they do not differ greatly from one another. One such response scheme is presented below.

Response Meaning
2 NT An Asking Bid. Possible weakness in both Minor suits. Opener must rebid the unknown Minor suit.
New Suit Any new suit as a first response promises a 6-card suit and is considered forcing for one round.
3 / Depending on the opening suit, any suit raise is preemptive and is considered not forcing
3 NT To play.
4 / To play.

If the first response is 2 No Trump, asking the opener to name the unknown Minor suit, the following chart shows the second possible responses of the responder:

Opener Responder Meaning
2 / 2 NT Asking for unknown Minor suit.
3 / Naming the 5-4, or 5-5 depending on vulnerability, Minor suit.
3 / Invitational to game.
4 / Shows slam interest in the corresponding Minor suit.
New Suit Any bid of a new suit is a control bid for the known Major suit.

 

A Second Response Scheme is presented below:

Opener Responder Meaning
2 2 This first response is constructive but non-forcing.
2 / 2 NT This is a strong Relay and asks for the Minor suit and about opening strength.
3 Weak response promising length in both Minor suits.
3 Invitational bid to game in the opening Major suit.
3 Natural and forcing after a 2 opening.
3 / Preemptive bid.
3 NT To play.
4 / To play.

The following responses occur when the bidding sequence is 2 of a Major suit and a first response of 2 No Trump. The opening can then further describe the strength and possible distribution.

Opener Responder Meaning
2 / 2 NT This is a strong Relay and asks for the Minor suit and about opening strength.
3 Shows minimum strength with Clubs as Minor suit.
3 Shows minimum strength with Diamonds as Minor suit.
3 Shows maximum strength with Clubs as Minor suit.
3 Shows maximum strength with Diamonds as Minor suit.
4 Promises a 6-card Club suit.
4 Promises a 6-card Diamond suit.

 

A Third Response Scheme employing lebensohl is shown below:

Opener Responder Meaning
2 2 Weak Takeout except if passed hand when 2 is a playable spot; 3+ cards. Generally indicates a singleton in the suit of the opener.
2 / 3 / This is a preemptive raise.
2 NT This is a lebensohl puppet to 3 .
Opener Responder Meaning
2 / 2 NT lebensohl puppet to 3 .
3 Pass Weak Takeout
3 Weak Takeout
(3 ) Weak Takeout
3 / Forcing Raise asking for a Splinter. 4 of a Major suit and 3 NT denies.
3 NT Forcing for one round and asks for the unknown Minor suit.
3 new Major Splinter bid with slam interest.
4 Splinter bid with slam interest.
4 Splinter bid with slam interest.
3 To play in the Minor suit of the opener. Opener passes or corrects.
3 An artificial invitation to game in the Major suit of the opener.
4 A jump to show a Major suit fit.
4 A jump to show a Major suit fit.
3 / A response on the three level in the other Major suit is forcing and invites support.
3 NT To play.
4 / A raise to game in the Major suit of the opener is possibly preemptive. Partnership agreement. Could be strong.

 

 

If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.




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