Did ye know?

That there are guidelines to determine what sort of hand qualifies for a strong club or artificial 2-level opening (Benji 2C, 2D). It must satisfy ONE of the following criteria:

Minimum of 16 high card points

Hand that meets the Rule of 25 (see below)

Hand contains as a minimum the normal high card strength of 1-level opening bid plus minimum of 8 clear tricks

Rule of 25 = number of high card points (HCP) + total length of 2 longest suits >= 25

For example, if you hold a 6 card suit headed by AKQ plus 2 outside Aces, the HCP total is 17, length of 2 longest suits is 6 + 3 (at least e.g. 6-3-2-2 shape or 6-4-2-1), which equals 17+9 = 26.

However, a hand containing a single 8 card suit headed by the AKQJ, with no values in outside suits, does not meet this rule – 10HCP + length of 2 longest suits (assuming 8-2-2-1) = 10+ 8 + 2 = 20. (Incidentally you should consider opening this hand with a 4-level opening e.g. 4H).

Note: there is no such restriction if you play opening 2H/2S as strong – the limitation is imposed by virtue that the 2C Benji bid does not reveal WHICH suit you hold and hence opponents have more difficulty defending against such an opening.