opening, which already handles various
unbalanced hand types with a long minor as well as weak balanced
hands.We were initially reluctant to "waste" a perfectly good
opening bid of Two Diamonds just to show hands with both minor suits.
However it became awkward to cram these hands into
the 1 opening, which already handles various
unbalanced hand types with a long minor as well as weak balanced
hands.
We also realized there is considerable value in using opening bids with strong obstructive benefits when only the minor suits are held; why invite the opponents into the auction with their major suits at the one-level when we can make a highly descriptive opening at the two-level?
So, Two diamonds shows 11-15 HCP with a minor two-suiter.
With 2-2 majors the hand is normally treated as balanced,
though with a concentration of strength in the minors a
2 opening is preferred. Responses are:
| 2 | 2 | Asking, implies invitational or better values | |
2 | Signoff; opener passes or corrects | ||
| 2NT | Obstructive, to play 3 of opener's best minor | ||
3 / | Purely obstructive, to play | ||
| 4 | RKC for clubs | ||
| 4 | RKC for diamonds | ||
| Other | Natural, game force |
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 2 | Minimum, 3 spades or 2-2 majors | ||
| 2NT | Minimum, 3 hearts | ||
| 3 | Minimum, at least 5-5 minors | ||
| 3 | Maximum, 5-5 minors | ||
| 3 | Maximum, 3 hearts | ||
| 3 | Maximum, 3 spades | ||
| 3NT | Maximum, 2-2 majors | ||
| 4/ | Maximum, 6-5 minors, shows the 6-bagger | ||
| 4 | Maximum, 0-1-6-6 | ||
| 4 | Maximum, 1-0-6-6 |
Subsequent bidding is natural.
If 2 is overcalled with two of a
major, then responder may bid as follows:
with a minimum,
otherwise makes some descriptive bid.
/: Competitive, not invitational.