This method was suggested by Mr. Alvin Leon Roth when the opening Weak Two Hearts opening meant anywhere from 9 to 12 high card points.

Note: The student of bridge must recognize the fact that this concept was devised if, and only if the opening bid by partner is 2 Hearts, which is considered weak and preemptive per partnership agreement. This concept does not include any guidelines for a weak 2 Spades opening bid.

Mr. Alvin Leon Roth was of New York, New York, United States. He owned and operated his personal bridge club. He was also an ardent bridge teacher and instructor in addition to being an author of bridge-related publications such as Al Roth on Bridge, and Modern Bridge Bidding Complete.

His victories at the bridge table on a national and international level are too numerous to mention here.

Principle of the Concept

The concept of a 2 Spades first response is forcing and the opener must continue to describe the holding more accurately in the following manner:

Opener			Responder		Meaning
2					Promises 9-12 high card points; 5/6-card Heart suit.
			2		Artificial and forcing.
2 NT					Shows a holding of Q10x or better in Spades.
3					Shows a maximum with a singleton in Clubs.
3					Shows a maximum with a singleton in Diamonds.
3					No Spade stopper and no additional values or information about holding.
3					Shows a maximum with a singleton in Spades.
3 NT					Shows a solid Heart suit; no Spade stopper.
4					Shows a 6-card Heart suit and a 5-card Club suit.
4					Shows a 6-card Heart suit and a 5-card Diamond suit.
4					Shows a 6-card Heart suit and a 5-card Spade suit.

This strategy and/or informative request method of allowing the opener to more accurately describe his holding was popular during the evolution of the game of bridge. However, with the introduction of more modern and agressive Weak Two Bids, including Spades and Diamonds and a range much less, the effectiveness of this method has been lost.

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.