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Weak Opening Systems

© Copyright 2000, Jim Loy

A Weak Opening System (WOS) is a relay (usually) bidding system in which an opening pass shows at least opening strength, and is forcing. Other opening bids show less than opening strength. Weak Opening Systems are illegal in most competitions. Other names are Strong Pass systems, Forcing Pass systems, and HUM's (Highly Unusual Methods, which are outlawed as disruptive).

Weak Opening Systems feature a Fert, an opening bid which shows a very weak hand (often 0-5 HCP). The name is apparently a shortened form of "fertilizer." This bid has also been called "the bid of misery." Whether this bid is 1C, 1D, 1H, or 1S, depends on the bidding system. 1D seems to be the most popular. Since the fert is artificial, opener may end up being declarer in his/her short suit, doubled. But the opponents should probably have been in part score or game. So it is a legitimate sacrifice.

Weak Opening Systems have some advantages:

• After a strong pass, the partnership has more bidding room. Often, this amounts to saving only one bid (pass instead of 1C). But often this one bid is important. If the exact distribution can be shown well below game, then relays can be used in more varied situations.
• Opening bids, other than pass, are informative. Besides preemptive bids at the three-level and above, and weak two-bids, opener has weak one bids which can be useful information to partner.
• Opponents are unfamiliar with Weak Opening Systems. Even strong partnerships don't know how to react to something this strange.
• The fert can be very effective as interference. A 1H or 1S fert eats up plenty of bidding space, when the opponents have a likely game. Other relatively weak bids also interfere (In normal bidding systems, preemptive bids or weak 1NT interfere in a similar way).

Weak Opening Systems have some disadvantages:

• They are illegal in most competitions.
• The bidding can be very slow, on both sides.
• A fert doubled can be defeated disastrously. And a scramble to rescue a fert can lead to an even greater disaster.

See Intro to Relays - A 2D Relay Stayman.

A friend of mine scoffs at one extra bid of bidding space. But relay bidders can show 55 items of information (possible distributions and other features) between 1C and 2NT (See Fibonacci Numbers). One more bid gives them room to show 92 items of information, quite an improvement.

It is also possible for a fert to have a multiple meaning (like 0-5 or 16+ HCP). Such is probably forcing, and opener probably rebids with a strong hand. Such a fert reminds me of a "controlled psych."

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