Opening Two Diamonds in a Forcing Club System

Opening Bid of Two Diamonds in a Forcing Club System

Although this discussion is meant for a forcing club system, it could be adapted to any other bidding system.

Most modern bridge players have given up the weak two bid in diamonds because it is such an ineffective preempt and they prefer to use the bid for some other purpose, such as a mini-Roman showing a 4441 pattern or perhaps a hand with both majors. But there may be a better way.

A bid is most useful when it has a high frequency of use and also when it conveys information helpful to partner. If it happens to have a preemptive value, all the better. With that thought, consider the following where the opening bid of 1

is ambiguous and is limited to 15 points.

Before making an opening bid a player should consider what his rebid is going to be. For example, with the hand shown here, you would probably open 1

and then rebid 1NT after partner's major suit response.

QTx

Qxx

KJxxx

But suppose partner responds 1

and you hold the hand below. You would likely rebid the diamond suit, clarifying the length and showing a hand unsuitable for a notrump rebid.

Jxx

AQJTx

KJT

So why not open the second hand 2

immediately? Tell your partner that you have at least five diamonds and that you would not have rebid notrump. You've given your partner some useful information and the bid has preemptive value. Such hands also have a high frequency of occurence.

There are two ways of playing this particular bid, and you and your partner will have to decide:

No Four Card Major
May Have four Hearts, But Not Four Spades

When you use the second method you will never have a four card spade suit, but you might have four hearts. (If you have four spades you would have an easy rebid after opening 1.)

You must alert this opening bid and simply say,
"Partner has a diamond suit with 11-15 points and does not have four spades."

By inference a hand that is opened 2 always has at least five diamonds and spade weakness, and usually has club support.

Some partnerships using this might want to agree that the opener never has either major. If you do this, then you do not need negative doubles - if an opponent overcalls with a major, a double is for penalty.

Responder's Bids and Opener's Rebids
Partner responds 2

If opener can hold four hearts -
Raise immediately if you have four-card support. If you only have three, bid 2

. You certainly are not bidding spades naturally, so you can tell partner whether you specifically have three or four card support by bidding this way.

Partner responds 2

Since you deny holding four spades by opening 2

then your partner must have at least a five card suit. Raise with three. You could even raise with two, if you have a singleton or void in hearts. If you can't raise spades, you can either rebid notrump, a secondary four card suit, or a six card diamond suit.

Partner responds 2NT
This is a natural and invitational bid. If you have a minimum hand of 11-13 HCP you can pass. With 14-15 points you can bid 3NT. If you have a solid running suit, even with minimum values, bid the notrump game.

Partner responds 3

This is a natural and forcing response. Cooperate with your partner and try to get to notrump if possible. Since you are still below 3NT, bid a major if you have an honor in it. You only promise a partial such as Kx or Qxx, but that information should help your partner evaluate the hand. If you can't show a major suit honor, then you can either rebid 3

or raise your partner's clubs.

Partner responds 3

This should be very good hand with an interest in notrump. You should rebid a major suit if you have a stopper there.

Partner responds 3

or 3

I dunno. You and your partner will have to decide what a jump to three of a major means. You could decide it shows a 6-card suit, or you might prefer it as a splinter bid in support of diamonds. Interestingly, you could play it both ways... Alert and say it is either a six card suit or a singleton, and that it is forcing. If you raise the suit and partner corrects to five diamonds, you know it was a singleton.

Partner responds 3NT
Ah, an easy one. Pass.

Partner responds 4

This is Gerber, asking about aces. If you don't have enough you can stop at game level. You and your partner could also play it as Roman Keycard Gerber, if you prefer.

Partner responds 4

A preemptive bid with four card support and less than six points.

Partner responds 4

or 4

These bids are to play.

Would you like to see some practice hands?

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