NT ▁shows ▁a ▁bal anced ▁hand ▁in ▁a ▁narrow ▁high ▁card ▁points ▁( H CP ) ▁range . ▁The ▁common ▁ranges ▁are ▁ 1 5 - 1 7 ▁or ▁ 1 6 - 1 8 ▁H CP ▁(" strong ▁not r ump ") ▁and ▁ 1 2 - 1 4 ▁(" weak ▁not r ump "). ▁A ▁bid ▁of ▁ 2 ▁typically ▁shows ▁a ▁very ▁strong ▁hand ▁( 2 2 + ▁points ). ▁A ▁bid ▁of ▁ 2 NT ▁shows ▁a ▁strong ▁bal anced ▁hand , ▁usually ▁ 2 0 - 2 1 ▁H CP . ▁Open ing ▁b ids ▁of ▁ 3 ▁of ▁any ▁suit ▁are ▁pre empt ive , ▁showing ▁a ▁ 7 + ▁card ▁suit ▁and ▁ 6 - 1 0 ▁points ▁( most ly ▁inside ▁the ▁bid ▁suit ). ▁The ▁meaning ▁of ▁ 2 , ▁ 2 ▁and ▁ 2 ▁var ies . ▁One ▁common ▁usage ▁is ▁that ▁the ▁bid ▁shows ▁a ▁weak ▁two ▁bid , ▁similar ▁to ▁a ▁pre empt ive ▁bid . ▁Another ▁is ▁the ▁strong ▁two ▁bid , ▁which ▁is ▁natural ▁and ▁shows ▁a ▁very ▁strong ▁hand ▁( to o ▁strong ▁for ▁a ▁ 1 - level ▁opening ). ▁Yet ▁another ▁usage , ▁popular ▁in ▁otherwise ▁natural ▁systems , ▁is ▁to ▁use ▁weak ▁two ▁b ids ▁in ▁the ▁major ▁su its , ▁and ▁ 2 ▁as ▁Fl ann ery : ▁four ▁sp ades ▁and ▁five ▁hearts ▁in ▁a ▁hand ▁of ▁minimum ▁strength . ▁ ▁Specific ▁systems ▁The ▁most ▁w ides p read ▁natural ▁systems ▁are :