American Standard describes a strong hand as follows:

• A balanced hand with 22+ HCP.
• Unbalanced hand usually with 17+ HCP but no less than 1 trick short of a game in a suit Major or Minor.

2!c is convention. Nothing to do with clubs, hence is one round forcing. All it’s responses other than weak relay 2!d are game forcing. 2nd bid of opener if 2NT can be passes but all other bids are game forcing.

Examples:

!sAK6  !hAKQ  !dA56 !cKT83

Holding 23 points, open 2!c and plan to rebid 2NT.

!sAKQ834  !hAK9   !dA32  !c8

With 20 points and 9 tricks, this hand should open 2!c and plan to rebid 2!s

!s5   !hKQJ9   !dAK   !cAKT876

With 20 points and 10 tricks, this hand should open 2!c and plan to rebid 3!c

Responses to a strong club are as follows

Response	What it conveys	Forcing or passable
2!d	relays weak hand of 0-7 points	1 round forcing
2!h	5+!h and 8+ points	game forcing
2!s	5+!s and 8+ points	game forcing
2NT	Balanced hand with 8+ points	game forcing
3!c	5+!c and 8+ points	game forcing
3!d	5+!d and 8+ points	game forcing