Practice on Cuebids
Practice decisions after partner preempts, including when to ask, raise, pass, or bid game.
Categories
Systems
Last updated
2026-07-31
What is Ogust?
Ogust is an artificial 2NT response after partner opens a weak two. Responder has game interest and asks opener to describe both overall strength and quality of the preempt suit.
The convention is useful because weak two openings cover a wide practical range. Responder needs to know whether opener is minimum or maximum, and whether the suit is likely to provide tricks.
2NT asks after a weak two
- 2NT is artificial Ogust, not natural.
- Responder usually has game interest, often roughly 14 or more HCP depending on the weak-two range, and often has support.
Common response scale
A common Ogust scale uses the three-level to show minimum or maximum strength and poor or good suit quality. The exact point ranges and honor requirements should match the partnership weak-two style.
The simplest definition splits the partnership weak-two range down the middle: the bottom half is a minimum, and the top half is a maximum. Sources differ on exactly where the line falls, so both players must draw it in the same place. Suit quality is often defined as two of the top three honors; another common test is three of the top five. Both definitions must be agreed with the preempting style.
- 3: minimum hand, poor suit.
- 3: minimum hand, good suit.
- 3: maximum hand, poor suit.
- 3: maximum hand, good suit.
- 3NT: a solid suit, typically AKQxxx; any additional strength requirement is partnership-specific.
Responder follow-ups
After opener answers, responder places the contract. After an unfavorable answer, responder may sign off; a strong hand may bid game; and a slam-minded hand can continue naturally.
Responder should remember that opener has already preempted. Do not ask with marginal values unless knowing suit quality will genuinely change the final contract.
Responder signs off
- 3 shows a minimum weak two with poor suit quality in many scales.
- Responder gives up on game and returns to opener's suit.
Responder bids game
- 3 shows a maximum with good suit in a common structure.
- Responder accepts game.
Opener shows a solid suit
- 3NT shows a suit such as AKQxxx when the partnership plays the fifth response.
- Responder counts six trump tricks and places the contract in game.
Competition
If 2NT is doubled, many pairs keep Ogust responses on. If the opponents overcall, the conventional response structure is often off and opener can pass, double, or rebid naturally.
This must be explicit. Weak-two auctions attract interference, so the pair needs a rule before it happens.
Hand examples
Responder should ask only when the answer matters. Opener should answer according to agreed minimum/maximum and suit-quality definitions, not according to optimism.
Minimum poor suit
- After opening 2 and hearing Ogust 2NT, many structures answer the minimum-poor-suit step.
- Responder can stop safely if game now looks thin.
Maximum good suit
- After opening 2, this hand has strong suit texture and maximum values for many weak-two styles.
- A maximum-good answer lets responder bid game with confidence.
Responder with game interest
- With 15 HCP and heart support, this hand bids 2NT over partner's 2 to ask.
- Game is bid over a maximum answer; over a minimum with a poor suit, responder can stop in 3.
Common mistakes
- Treating 2NT as natural after a weak two when Ogust is agreed.
- Using Ogust without defining good suit and bad suit.
- Asking with hands where every possible answer leads to the same contract.
- Forgetting whether systems are on after double or overcall.
FAQ
Does Ogust promise support?
It often includes support, but the formal agreement is that 2NT asks opener to describe the weak two. Some partnerships allow strong hands without clear support.
What is the point of Ogust?
It helps responder judge game after a preempt by learning whether opener has a minimum or maximum hand and whether the suit is poor or good.