Ogust Convention: Asking About Partner's Weak Two

The Ogust convention is a 2NT response to partner's weak two that asks two questions at once: is your hand minimum or maximum, and is your suit good or bad? Opener answers in steps: 3♣ = minimum, bad suit; 3♦ = minimum, good suit; 3♥ = maximum, bad suit; 3♠ = maximum, good suit; 3NT = a solid suit.

It was devised by the American expert Harold Ogust and is an optional add-on to weak two bids in 2/1 Game Force and Standard American. The SAYC card itself uses the simpler feature ask instead.

After 2♥ - 2NT (or 2♠ - 2NT, or 2♦ - 2NT), opener must answer:

A memory aid: the minors show minimums, and in each pair the higher step shows the better suit. The steps are the same whichever suit opener holds: after 2♠ - 2NT, 3♥ still means maximum with a bad suit, not hearts. To compare how the five robot systems treat the ask itself, see what 2NT means after a weak 2♥.

A good suit usually means two of the top three honors (AK, AQ or KQ). Some partnerships also count three of the top five (KJ10, QJ10). Agree on one definition.

A maximum is the upper half of your weak-two range. If your weak twos are 5-10, a maximum is about 8-10 points; with a 5-11 range, about 9-11. A side ace or a good side king also pushes a hand toward the maximum.

Responder now places the contract:

• After 3♣ (min, bad): game is unlikely unless you have a big hand and good trumps. Sign off in three of opener's suit, and opener passes.
• After 3♦ (min, good): the trumps are fine but there are few side values. Game needs a strong hand.
• After 3♥ (max, bad): values outside, but trump losers. Bid game with good trump support (an honor or three cards); sign off with a doubleton.
• After 3♠ (max, good): bid game, or explore slam with a strong hand.
• After 3NT (solid): you know the suit runs. 3NT is often the best game if you have stoppers.

Three of opener's suit by responder is always a sign-off. A new suit after the Ogust reply is a control bid looking for slam.

South has 16 HCP and two hearts: 18 by the Rule of 17. That is game interest, but game depends on partner's suit: opposite ♥J87652 and nothing else, ten tricks are a long way off. So South asks with 2NT.

North holds 9 HCP (the ♥A and ♥Q plus the ♦K) and ♥AQ10975, two of the top three honors: 3♠, maximum with a good suit. South bids 4♥. Double dummy, ten tricks make in hearts on this layout.

Change North's hand to ♠Q4 ♥A98652 ♦K3 ♣862: still 9 HCP, but only one of the top three hearts, so the answer is 3♥ (maximum, bad suit). South's ♥K gives the suit a second top honor, so South still bids 4♥. With two small hearts instead, South would pass 3♥ and stay out of a game that needs the trumps to behave.

• Answering in the wrong suit. The steps do not depend on opener's suit. After 2♠ - 2NT, a minimum with a bad suit is 3♣, not 3♠.
• Calling a strong side ace a "minimum". A side ace makes even 7 or 8 points worth a maximum in most partnerships.
• Passing 2NT. It is forcing. Opener must reply.
• Taking 3 of the suit as invitational. After the reply, responder's three of opener's suit is to play.
• Forgetting which version you play. Some pairs swap the 3♦ and 3♥ replies, the order Harold Ogust first proposed (3♦ = max bad, 3♥ = min good). Write it on your card.

The main alternative is the feature ask, used in SAYC:

Ogust is better when the question is "does partner's suit play for few losers?", which is the main question with a fit. The feature ask is better when you are aiming for 3NT and need to know about a stopper. Both are sound; pick one with partner.

For decisions with a real score, try the bidding puzzles, where every call is tested double dummy on many deals that fit the auction. Related: preempts and bridge conventions.