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2DIAMOND.AMA
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1995-08-23
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THE TWO DIAMOND OPENING
Since a 1D opening shows a strong opening bid, we need a bid to
show a weak to moderate opening with long diamonds. For this we use
2D, just as the Precision System uses 2C to show an opening bid in
clubs. The 2D opening requires at least five diamonds. Partner can
pass 2D with an unpromising hand, show a suit (invitational) with
10 HCP or more and at least five cards in the suit, or bid an
invitational 2NT. If his suit is hearts, he has a problem, because
2H is an artificial relay that asks opener to clarify his hand.
After a 2H relay response, opener rebids 3D with a one-suited hand,
or shows a second suit. A 2NT rebid shows hearts (open 1NT with a
notrump hand), so a 3H rebid shows five hearts (and longer dia-
monds).
Opener Responder
2D 2H - artificial relay
3D shows a one-suited hand
2S/3C shows a second suit
2NT shows four hearts
3H shows five hearts
Responder's rebid of a "new suit" is forcing after a relay re-
sponse, but a raise, preference, or 2NT rebid is only invitational:
Opener Responder
2D 2H - artificial relay
2S 3C/3H is forcing (new suit)
3D is a sign-off (preference)
3S/4D is invitational (raise)
2NT is invitational
Since a 2H response is artificial, responder must have a way to
show hearts. We use the 3C response for this, and show clubs by
bidding 3S!
Opener Responder
2D 3C shows at least five hearts
3S shows at least five clubs
The reasons for these artificial bids is to 1) let responder show
a heart suit without getting past 3D, which could be a safe landing
spot if opener lacks heart support, and 2) to permit a 3H response
to show both majors (discussed later). Since clubs are less
important than hearts, we make hearts the easier suit to show. If
there has been an overcall or takeout double, these artificial
responses do not apply. Responder has the negative double tool over
an overcall, and a takeout doubler probably has hearts, so the
artificial responses would have little value.
After a 3C response, showing hearts, opener generally rebids 3D
over 3C when lacking heart support, so a 3S or 4C rebid tends to
show a five-card suit. He should rarely bid 3NT, because responder
may not have enough strength to support that contract.
The 3S response, showing clubs, requires more strength than 3C, of
course, since opener is forced to a higher level. Opener can bid
3NT, 4C, 5C, or 4D. Responder may pass opener's 4C rebid, so opener
should jump to game with particularly good support. The 3NT bid is
okay here, since a 3S response has a higher minimum than a 3C
response.
A new major suit bid is forcing after a 2H relay response, so how
does responder make a merely invitational major suit bid? Here's
how:
Opener Responder
2D 2S - invitational
Opener Responder
2D 3C - showing hearts
3D 3H - invitational
The 2S and 3C responses, showing spades and hearts, respectively,
tend to deny holding the opposite major. A 3H (see below) response
is the preferred response when holding both majors. Accordingly,
in the following sequences the last bid shows a stopper, not a real
suit:
South West North East
2D Pass 2S Pass
3D Pass 3H - hearts stopped
South West North East
2D Pass 3C Pass
3D Pass 3S - spades stopped
In both cases, North is probably looking for a 3NT contract if
South has clubs stopped. The 2S response was not forcing, so
North's move toward game seems a bit illogical. He probably has
diamond support and expects that four diamonds will make if South
cannot bid 3NT. North's hand: S-A10874 H-QJ3 D-A52 C-J10
When opener rebids in notrump after responder has shown a major,
a new suit bid by responder is not forcing:
South West North East
2D Pass 2S Pass
2NT Pass 3C/3H - invitational
The 2NT rebid is natural and non-forcing, showing stoppers in
hearts and clubs. Since 2S was not forcing, another new suit is
not forcing either. When responder shows spades and hearts in this
way, opener prefers spades with equal length.
When opener bids a third suit after responder has shown a suit, a
bid of the fourth suit by responder is Fourth Suit Forcing:
South West North East
2D Pass 2S Pass
3C Pass 3H - Fourth Suit Forcing
North probably is fishing for a 3NT contract, hoping that South
has a little something in hearts (SAK874 H-J76 D-K103 C-J6).
We are left with no way to be sure of showing both majors with an
invitational hand. We must (reluctantly) invent a response for this
purpose. A jump to 3H shows both majors, not forcing. Opener can
pass, prefer spades, bid 3NT, bid game in a major, or (with a very
fine diamond suit and shortness in both majors) bid 4D. With equal
length in the majors, he prefers hearts.
Weakish hands with 5-4 in the majors can present some tough
decisions. Suppose you hold S-KJ32 H-K9873 D-5 C-J84 or S-A6542
H-QJ84 D-9 C-985 and partner opens 2D. Should you pass, bid a 2H
relay, or just show the five-card major? If you pass, partner is
sure to have a good fit with one of your majors. If you relay, he
is sure to have a 2-2-5-4 hand. If you show the five-card major,
he is sure to have four cards in the other major or raise you to
an unmakeable game. The best policy is to pass such marginal hands,
hoping that the opponents will get into trouble or that 2D is the
best achievable contract.
A simple raise of the 2D opening tends to be preemptive. Opener is
permitted to bid again, however, with a five-card major on the
side. She is also allowed to bid competitively with a good 2D
opening. It is better to pass the 2D opening if such a rebid could
get the partnership into trouble after a preemptive raise.
Jumps to game are standard preemptive responses. With slam inter-
est, responder does best to start with a 2H relay and then make a
forcing or obviously slam oriented bid:
South West North East
2D Pass 2H Pass
2S Pass 4H - slam invitational
Since North was not looking for a spade fit, his jump certainly
shows slam interest. Otherwise, why not just bid 4H over 2D?
South West North East
2D Pass 2H Pass
3D Pass 3H/3S/4C - forcing
North's last bid in the second auction does not necessarily show
slam interest, but at least it's forcing. South can imply an extra
good raise of North's suit by cue bidding at this point.
Negative Doubles
Negative doubles apply after a 2D opening. A double of a major suit
overcall implies at least four cards in the other major, and a
double of a club overcall suggests at least 4-4 in the majors. Any
double must include enough strength to provide reasonable safety
for any rebid that opener may have to make (including a pass).
All new major suit bids are natural and non-forcing over an
overcall; a free 3C response is natural and forcing. To force with
a major suit, double and then bid the major.
If the 2D opening is doubled for takeout, a 2NT response shows a
diamond raise with good high cards, perhaps 9-10 HCP, while an
actual raise is weak, preemptive. A 2S response is weak, not
invitational, and a 3S response is natural and invitational. Both
3H and 3C are natural and non-forcing. The 2H relay response
applies over a double, and (despite the failure to redouble) does
not deny a good hand.
Suppose the 2D opening gets passed around to fourth seat, who
reopens with a bid or double:
South West North East
2D Pass Pass 2H/2S/2NT/3C/Dbl
Over a reopening double, a redouble by opener shows three defensive
tricks plus extra good (and long) diamonds.
If opener doubles a reopening overcall in a suit, that is of course
a takeout double. A double of a major suit overcall practically
guarantees four of the other major in what is probably a 5-4-3-1
or 6-4-2-1 hand. A double of 3C would ideally show 4-4-5-0 dis-
tribution, but 4-3-5-1 is more likely (not 3-4-5-1, because partner
will choose spades with 4-4 in the majors). If opener bids 2NT over
a 2H or 2S overcall, that is unusual notrump, implying 6-5 or 6-4
in the minors. With 2-3 in the minors, partner prefers diamonds,
not clubs.
Similar principles apply when an immediate overcall of the 2D
opening is passed back to opener:
South West North East
2D 2H Pass Pass
Dbl - takeout, probably 4-1-5-3 or 4-1-6-2
2S - natural bid, more than a minimum opening
2NT - unusual notrump, 6-5 or 6-4 in minors
3C - probably 5-5 in the minors
3D - extra suit quality, good hand
When a reopening overcall gets passed around, a double by opener's
partner is for takeout, not business:
South West North East
2D Pass Pass 2S
Pass Pass Dbl - takeout
Here, too, a double of one major guarantees at least four cards in
the other major, and a double of 3C shows at least 4-4 in the
majors. A 2NT reopening by North in this auction could hardly be
natural in view of the pass to 2D, so it is "unusual," implying at
least five clubs and a tolerance for diamonds.
Avoiding the Two Diamond Opening
The 2D opening is obviously the weak point in this system, and
should be avoided. Some avoidance measures:
-- Just pass with a marginal opening, especially if the diamond
suit is weak (SKQ4 H-5 D-Q9763 C-AJ93).
-- If the hand is balanced, open 1NT. It is better to misuse the
1NT bid than to open 2D with a hand like S-AKJ H-1043 D-A10873
C-96.
-- Open 1H with four strong hearts and weak diamonds (SA42 H-AQ103
D-K8653 C-7), treating the diamond suit like a four-carder.
-- Open 1S with four strong spades, trump support for hearts, and
weak diamonds: S-AKJ3 H-KJ7 D-108765 C-4 There is no rebid
problem, since you can raise a 2H response.