The origin of these opening preemptive bids, generally on the two level, are unknown. The concept of a partnership being able to show or indicate a two-suited holding is as old as the game itself, and the variations are numerous.

Fundamentals of the Concept

The Color-Rank-Other (or Order) preemptive bids can therefore be altered, customized, varied according to the individual partnership agreement. In general, the following schematic shows the basic concept:

2 :	This preemptive bid promises suits of the same rank, either both Major suits or both Minor suits.
2 :	This preemptive bid promises suits of the same color, either both red suits or both black suits.
2 :	This preemptive bid promises the alternate suits, either Clubs and Hearts or Diamonds and Spades.

The accepted high card point range is considered to be between 5 and 10 high card points, but this can vary from partnership to partnership. Since the responder is unaware of the Rank and possibly the Color and/or other suit and no support in the possibly known suit, then the responder will bid as cheaply as possible to discover the actual holding of the partner. Since the first response is forcing, the partnership must determine which bids thereafter are considered forcing, game-forcing, slam-forcing, and the interpretations of jump bids, etc.

Example1

South		Meaning
AJ1094 KQ876 5 87
2		This preemptive bid promises suits of the same rank, either both Major suits or both Minor suits.

Example 2

South		Meaning
87 5 KQ876 AJ1094
2		This preemptive bid promises suits of the same rank, either both Major suits or both Minor suits.

Example 3

South		Meaning
87 KQ876 5 AJ1094
2		This preemptive bid promises the alternate suits, either Clubs and Hearts or Diamonds and Spades.

In both examples 1 and 2 presented above the CRO preemptive bid is 2 Diamonds. In order for the responder, if and when possible, to obtain additional information regarding the holding of the CRO preemptor, then the responder bids his best Major suit first. If the CRO preemptor has both Major suits, then the preemptor can either pass, invite, or bid game if the responder indeed jump bids in a Major suit.

However, if the CRO preemptor rebids Clubs, then the holding consists of both Minor suits.

Note: This conventional method is classified as a Brown Sticker convention, meaning that no one suit is actually specified according to the general rules of practically all sponsoring organizations. It is advisable for the partnership to check first.

Note: In the case that the responder has invitational values and possible game values, it is strongly suggested and recommended that the responder does not jump bid when first responding. By taking such action the partnership stays at a lower level in order to exchange additional information.

Note: By competition, whereby the opening bid allows a direct and immediate preemptive overcall, then the partnership may agree to play systems on. However, in competitive situation, in which the employment is not possible, then the partnership must agree upon another, second method to communicate the possession of a two-suited holding.

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.