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The Multi Two Diamonds Convention |
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I was asked if I could write something about the multi 2♦ opening, so here goes: - |
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There are many different variations of the multi but here is one pretty good variation: |
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| 2♦ |
= |
either |
(1) |
A weak (6 card) ♥ or ♠ hand, say 6-9 points. |
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or |
(2) |
A strong hand with a good long minor suit |
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or |
(3) |
A big balanced NoTrump hand. |
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Now responder does not know what type of hand his partner has and should assume it is type (1). So he normally responds 2♥ which opener will pass or correct to 2♠ with a weak hand. Opener's response to the 2♥ relay are: - . |
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| pass |
= |
weak ♥'s, either lower or upper point range. |
| 2♠ |
= |
weak ♠'s, either lower or upper point range. |
| 2NT |
= |
strong NoTrump hand, see below for point range (I suggest 22-24). |
| 3♣ |
= |
strong hand with a good long ♣ suit. |
| 3♦ |
= |
strong hand with a good long ♦ suit. |
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One exception
to responder's usual 2♥ relay is when responder has a hand with decent ♥ 's such that he can bid to 3♥ (or more) if partner has a weak ♥ hand but not opposite a weak ♠ hand. With such a hand responder bids 2♠ which opener will either pass or correct to 3♥ holding weak ♥ 's (or 4♥ with a max). |
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If responder has game ambitions opposite a presumed weak major hand, he can enquire about opener's hand type by bidding 2NT. Typical responses are: - |
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| 3♣ |
= |
weak ♥ 's, upper point range (8-9) |
| 3♦ |
= |
weak ♠ 's, upper point range (8-9) |
| 3♥ |
= |
weak ♥ 's, lower point range (6-7) |
| 3♠ |
= |
weak ♠ 's, lower point range (6-7) |
| 3NT |
= |
strong NoTrump hand, see below for point range (I suggest 22-24). |
| 4♣ |
= |
strong hand with a good long ♣ suit |
| 4♦ |
= |
strong hand with a good long ♦ suit |
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Note that it's OK to go past 3NT with the strong ♣/♦ type hands as partner is also strong and slam may be there. My personal preference after a 4♣/♦ response is that the next suit up (i.e. 4♦ over 4♣ and 4♥ over 4♦ ) is RKCB (Kickback) as 4NT is not suitable to ask for aces/keycards with a minor suit as trumps. |
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Note that the double should have an upper limit of about 18-19 points. Now it would be nice to defend 1NT doubled when you have a huge hand but partner is very likely to have less than 5 points and will pull it! |
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| What's the point range for 2♦ - 2♥ - 2NT? |
It's up to you, but here's my suggestion: - |
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| Your opening 2NT |
is 20-21 |
| 2♦ - 2♥ - 2NT |
is 22-24 |
| 2♣ - 2♦ - 2NT |
is 25+ |
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The big advantage of this scheme is that you never need to open or rebid 3NT, so Stayman and transfers are always on. Another big advantage is that a 2♣ opening is always absolutely game forcing. |
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Raising the pre-empt |
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| Hand A |
Hand B |
Hand C |
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| ♠ |
KJ76 |
♠ |
7 |
♠ |
KJ6 |
| ♥ |
7 |
♥ |
KJ76 |
♥ |
QJ6 |
| ♦ |
J7652 |
♦ |
J7652 |
♦ |
J7652 |
| ♣ |
965 |
♣ |
965 |
♣ |
65 |
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Here we see one of the major disadvantages of the Multi two diamonds – opener is usually weak with a major, but you don't know which one. With Hands A or B, if playing a traditional weak two, you would pass if partner opens with two of your singleton but raise to 4♥/♠ if he opens with two of your 4-carder. But if partner opens a Multi then you are in the dark. With Hand A you simply respond 2♥ and with Hand B you respond 2♠ - showing a hand willing to compete if partner has a weak ♥ hand. Unfortunately this has little pre-emptive effect and if partner does indeed have a weak ♥ hand then LHO can come in cheaply or show his ♠'s with a double. |
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With this Hand C you can do something. If partner opens 2♦, then bid 3♥ - this shows a pre-emptive raise in either major and is pass or correct. Unfortunately it also tells the opponents an awful lot about your hand. |
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Opener's rebid after 2♦ - 2♠ |
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| pass |
= |
weak ♠'s, either lower or upper point range. |
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| 2NT |
= |
strong NoTrump hand, see above for point range (I suggest 22-24). |
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| 3♣ |
= |
strong hand with a good long ♣ suit. |
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| 3♦ |
= |
strong hand with a good long ♦ suit. |
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| 3♥ |
= |
weak ♥'s, either lower or upper point range. |
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| How strong a hand for 2♦ - 2♥ - 3♣/♦? |
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It's up to you. I recommend something like: - |
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| ♠ |
65 |
or |
♠ |
5 |
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| ♥ |
A |
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♥ |
A6 |
i.e. about 9 playing tricks |
| ♦ |
AKQ9854 |
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♦ |
KQJ |
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| ♣ |
A65 |
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♣ |
KQJ9874 |
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So what is an opening 2♥/♠ bid? |
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Again, it's up to you. You can play them as strong but one popular treatment in Holland is weak (say 6-9) with 5 cards in the major and 4 cards in an unspecified minor, the Muiderberg Convention. |
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So no weak 2♦ ? |
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If you play 2♦ as the multi then obviously you have lost the 2♦ as a weak hand – no great loss in my opinion. But the Dutch have actually come up with a solution!! Some (mainly Dutch) players play that an opening 2♣ bid is either very strong or else is a weak 2♦ opening. This means that when partner opens 2♣ you have to bid 2♦ unless you have a hand good enough to press on over a weak two in ♦ 's. We'll leave it there! |
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Other variations of the Multi |
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Many players include 4441 type distributions in their multi 2D, and this is a very good idea. Possibly the best solution for what point range is required will be given later when I write up more on accurate bidding methods. |
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Expect it in 2007. |
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Interference (double, overcall) |
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If you want to know what to do when the opponents intrude, refer to 'When your Multi 2♦ is interfered with'. |
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And you may also want to check up on the defense to the Multi 2♦. |
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For more extensive information about the Multi two diamonds opening and how to defend against it, get the new book "The Mysterious Multi: How to Play it, How to Play Aginst it"
by Mark Horton, available from Feb 2010. |
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Pattaya Bridge Club - |
www.pattayabridge.com |
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