OGUST over Weak Two Preempts

Undisciplined two’s come up twice as often as disciplined two’s. The more you preempt the more problematic decisions you create for the opponents. Decisions the opponents will sometimes get WRONG! OGUST responses to a 2NT ask will let you and your partner preempt more without hurting your own constructive auctions.

A disciplined weak two bid traditionally shows 5-10 High Card Points and a 6 card suit headed by either 2 of the top 3 honors or 3 of the top 5 honors. An example of a traditional weak two might look like : S 97 HKQ7653 D 943 C A2. After opener makes a traditional weak two bid, his partner can find out if he has a “feature” of an Ace or King in a suit outside of the weak two suit. On the hand above the auction might go 2H-2NT- 3C and the 2NT bidder will know partner has 2 of the top three or 3 of the top 5 heart honors and the A or K of C. This works well on hands that need help with a stopper to play in NT or need a side entry to run the weak two bidder’s suit in NT. Perhaps something that looks like SAJ84 H98 DAK107 CQ1063 might like to try 3NT opposite the above weak two. Unfortunately, it helps the defense gain useful info too.

Playing undisciplined weak two bids you only need a 6 card suit, 5-10 points, and a belief that you won’t get killed at the current vulnerability: you will want a better preempt red or in second seat. An undisciplined weak two could look like any of the following hands:
S1065 HQJ8632 DKJ C53 SK6 HK109752 DK10 C1085
S86 H53 DJ109852 CKJ103 SKJ9432 H98 DJ104 C96
If you and your partner decide to play undisciplined weak two bids, it can be very dangerous to play 2NT asks for a feature. Look at our sample hand from the second paragraph above. Responder holds SAJ84 H98 DAK107 CQ1063. After our auction of 2H-2NT- 3C the preemptor might hold either S97 HKQ7653 D943 C A2 or SQ52 HQ108753 D98 CA6. Opposite the first preempt responder wants to be in game and opposite the second he will hope signing off in 3H is not too high. 2NT asking for a feature can not distinguish between these two hands.

Harold OGUST came up with a solution for how to differentiate between when partner has a disciplined weak two bid and a not so disciplined one. The 2NT call is no longer a feature ask but instead requests partner to describe his hand using these calls:
3C minimum strength hand (5-7) and a poor suit (undisciplined), bad bad
3D minimum strength hand (5-7) and a good suit (disciplined*), bad good
3H maximum strength hand (8-10) and a poor suit (undisciplined), good bad
3S maximum strength hand (8-10) and a good suit (disciplined*), good good
3NT A solid weak 2 suit, i.e. A K Q 6 5 2, Tony the Tiger, Greeaat
*Disciplined is 2 of top 3 or 3 of top 5 honors
Let us see how this might work in practice. Using our first example two bid the auction would go 2H-2NT- 3S (good hand, good suit) and responder could bid a comfortable 3NT. The auction for the second hand might go 2H-2NT- 3S (good hand, bad suit) and responder could pass knowing game would be unlikely.

For more examples and information on OGUST check the Commonly used Conventions column in your past ACBL magazine or find the articles on the web at http://www.acbl.org/play/ commonlyUsedconventions.html. Another great resource is the fantastic book 25 Conventions you Should Know by Barbara Seagram and Marc Smith.