Ogust

Ogust is a conventional 2NT response to a weak two bid or weak jump overcall. It is an artificial strong bid, showing 15+ points with interest in game. It usually (but not always) shows trump support.

Ogust is a forcing bid for one round. After hearing a Ogust 2NT response, the preemptor's conventional rebids are:

Bid	Meaning
3	Bad hand (5-7 points) with only one of the top three honors in the preempt suit
3	Bad hand (5-7 points), two of the top three honors
3	Good hand (8-10 points), one of the top three honors
3	Good hand (8-10 points), two of the top three honors
3NT	Good hand (8-10 points), all three top honors

The mnemonic for remembering Ogust responses is "Minors are Minimum, 1-2-1-2-3."

Rebids by the Ogust bidder are natural.

		Opener			Responder
		Q52			AJ
		AT9832			K65
		T83			J54
		5			AQ987
		Opener 2 (1) 3 (3) Pass			Responder 2NT (2) 3 (4)

1. Weak two
2. Ogust, asking opener to describe her hand
3. Showing minimum strength with only 1 top honor
4. Responder signs off with a minimum game try

		Opener			Responder
		AQJ842			K65
		Q4			AJT2
		53			A742
		762			A8
		Opener 2 (1) 3 (3) Pass			Responder 2NT (2) 4

1. Weak two
2. Ogust
3. Showing maximum strength with 2 top honors

If the Ogust 2NT is doubled, the above conventional rebids by opener are still on. After an overcall, however, they are off. So, after an overcall, the preempter can either double for penalties, pass with a bad hand, or rebid his suit if it's worth it.

Ogust is named for its American inventor, Harold Ogust.