Muiderberg
     
 
to conventions this page was last updated: 29-March-2008
 
     
 
 
If you wish you can download the Word Doc file for printing.
 
     
     
     
 

Muiderberg Twos - 2 hearts and 2 spades

 
 

Very common in Holland , the name Muiderberg comes from a village outside Amsterdam where its inventor, Onno Janssens, lived.

 
     
 

Muiderberg twos are an option for your opening 2/ bids; usually played when a weak (6 card) 2/ opener is incorporated into your Multi 2 opening. This combination has been called Rainbow, but it is not licensed in many competitions where a variable 2 opening (can be weak or strong) is frowned upon. At the Pattaya Bridge Club anything goes, but it's all alertable of course.

 
     
 

Playing Muiderberg, an opening bid of 2/ shows 6-9 points and the hand contains 5 cards in the major bid plus a 4 (or 5) card minor suit. Muiderberg differs from Lucas twos in that the 2nd suit is always a minor (Lucas twos allow for both majors).

 
     
 
Hand A Hand B Hand C Hand D
               
K9864 K98642 K9864 K9864
54 54 A762 54
A762 A762 54 A7652
65 5 65 5
 
     
 
Hand A: A classic 2 opener.
Hand B: With a 6 card major, open your Multi 2 assuming that it incorporates weak twos.
Hand C: Pass. This would be a Lucas 2 opener but that is not a very good convention.
Hand D: Open 2 . The minor suit may be either 4 or 5 cards.
 
     
     
  Response to the Muiderberg 2/♠  
     
 

A raise to 3 of the major is pre-emptive. A raise to 4 of the major could be anything (as with the traditional weak two). Responder is the captain and opener is not invited to bid again in competition. There are variations on what 2NT and other responses mean, but the best treatment is that 2NT asks for the minor - searching for possible game or slam, 3 is to play in the minor (pass or correct to 3) and 3 is an invitational raise of partner's major. Responses to the strength-showing 2NT bid show the 2nd suit and range:

 
     
 
 
  3 = ♣'s, min values 3 = ♣'s, max values
  3 = 's, min values 3 = 's, max values
     
 
     
  Here are a few examples, in each case partner has opened 2.  
     
 
Hand E Hand F Hand G Hand H Hand J Hand K Hand L
                           
107 107 AJ5 AJ632 AJ6 A6 AJ6
Q1074 Q107 7642 542 KQ2 KJ92 KJ92
KQ3 A987 974 Q652 KQ52 KQJ102 K102
A987 A987 Q74 5 AJ2 J2 A82
 
     
 
Hand E: Pass. 3 would be a nice contract if partner has 's but you are fixed if he responds 3 to a 3 bid by you. Settle for the 5-2 fit at the two level.
 
Hand F: Bid 3 , you want to play in 3 or 3.
Hand G: Bid 3. It's one above the Law but it will make life difficult for the opponents to judge.
Hand H:

Bid 4 . The opponents have game in 's, maybe slam.

Hand J:

Bid 4 . This time it's to make and you have the double card available if the opponents come in.

 
Hand K: Bid 2NT. If partner has 's then bid 3NT. If partner has 's then it's probably best to settle for 3. If partner is maximum with 's then you can try 5.
 
Hand L: Bid 3, invitational to 4. If partner has a maximum you want to be in game, else settle for 3.
 
   
 
     
 

Variants of the Responses to Muiderberg

 
 

A couple of established (but not necessarily good) variations of responding to 2/ are: -

 
     
 
(a)

2NT is Lebensohl (so wishing to play in the minor or possibly a long suit his own) and any other bid except a bid of the major is strong and game forcing.

 
(b) A variant attributed to Johan Longueville. 3 is pass or correct and over 2NT opener responds: -
 
 
  3 = 4 ♣'s 3 = 5 ♣'s
  3 = 4 's 3 = 5 's
 
     
 

Defence to Muiderberg

 
 

It's easiest to play the same as for a weak two (i.e. double for take-out). But bear in mind that the major is only a five-carder and so a penalty will often be profitable.

 
     
     
 
  Pattaya Bridge Club - www.pattayabridge.com
 
     
 
to conventions