Polish Club

In most natural systems, strong hands are notoriously troublesome to bid. In Poland they have put all the strong hands into the 1 opening bid. The 2 opening is copied from Precision.

This is also the Polish standard system, Wspolny Jezyk 2005 (WJ2005). This means "common language 2005". A short description by Krzysztof Jassem can be found here.

Opening bids

1
  • 12 - 14 balanced (without 4)
  • 12 - 17 HCP, 4 4 1 4
  • 15+ HCP, 5+
  • 18+ any distribution
    • 1 11 - 17 HCP, 4+
    1 11 - 17 HCP, 5+
    1 11 - 17 HCP, 5+
    1NT 15 - 17 balanced
    2 Precision 2: 11 - 14 HCP, 5 + 4/ or 6+
    2 Wilkosz*: Weak, 5-5 with at least one major
    2 Weak Two* in
    2 Weak Two* in
    2NT Unusual: Weak, 5 5

    * In the new WJ2005 a Mini-Multi and 2-suited opening bids are played as this can be more readily played in tournaments outside Poland. I prefer the old scheme.

    Responses to 1

    Most responses to 1 are natural. 1 can be either natural or negative.
    Response
    1
  • 0 - 6 (8 balanced) HCP
  • 7 - 11 HCP, no 4-card /, unbalanced
  • 16+ balanced
    		•
    1 7+ HCP, 4+, longer minor possible
    1 7+ HCP, 4+, longer minor possible
    1NT 9 - 11 balanced
    2 12+ HCP, 5+
    2 12+ HCP, 5+
    2/ 6+card, 9 - 11 HCP *
    2NT 12 - 15 balanced
    3/ 6+card, 9 - 11 HCP
    3/ GF, asks stopper for 3NT

    * The original has strong jump shifts here. After trying out several options I came to the conclusion that I like invitational jump shifts after 1. After the other opening bids, I still like     Weak Jump Shifts of course.

    After the negative 1-response

    1 - 1 is the key sequence in the system. Both opener and responder can have a wide variety of hands.
    Response
    1 12 - 21 HCP, 4-card , or 12 - 14 balanced without 4
    1 12 - 21 HCP, 4-card
    1NT 18 - 21 balanced
    2 15 - 21 HCP, 5+
    2 Game Forcing
    2 Semi GF 5+
    2 Semi GF 5+
    2NT 22 - 24 balanced