The telling and ambiguous response 2 Diamonds as reponse to opening 1 major

Opening 1NT with 5 cards in major and with 15-17H and balanced hand, is not a good idea. Much better is to open 1 or 1 and to use the ambiguous response 2 which brings more other benefits.

After opening 1 or 1, the ambiguous response 2 presumes a fit in major but with a very weak hand of 5-6HCP, limit of Pass. After this response 2 the opener must always complete in major to 2 or 2, except if he has at least 18HCP. This response 2 is a complement of classical fitted responses such as, for instance after opening 1 :

2(with 7-8HCP or 9-10HCP) which justifies a trial bid by opener if he has at least 15H
3 (with 4 and 11HSP *)
2NT (with 3 and 11HSP *)
4/4 (splinter) with 4 and 11HSP and singleton /
4 (competitive) weak but with 5
2 (Drury) when the opener has opened in 3th or 4th position

* High Support Points

Of course, bidding the response 2 rather than 2 or 2 depends also on distribution. For instance if the responder has a flat hand 4333 of 7HCP with fit of 3 cards but without no more, he will response 2 instead of 2 or 2. On the contrary if his hand has only 4HCP but fitted with 3 or 4 cards and a singleton, he will bid 2 rather than Pass.

But of course, this response 2 is not always fitted, does not exclude neither a stronger or very strong hand nor a long suiter. By theese last cases, the responder will describe his hand by his second biddind.

Main profits of this response 2 Diamonds

It enables to limit the contract to 2 or 2 if the responder is very weak, by dissuading the opener from bidding an unseful and dangerous trial bid when he has 15-17HCP.
It makes useless to open 1NT with a balanced hand with 5 cards in major and 15-17H : By opening 1 or 1, and whatever is his strenght, the opener is absolutely certain to find a fit 53 or 54 in major if it exists. Therefore, why open 1NT with risk to miss an optimal fitted contract.
Better than Pass with fit in major and 5-6HCP, the response 2 is competitive, mainly whan the trump is : If each line has about 20HCP, why let the opponent play quietly a contract at level 2. And mainly when no vulnerable.

NB : In case of overcall by Double or by a color, the response 2 becomes natural and classical.

The responder has a long D suiter with at least 11HSP and is fitted in major

He bids 2NT (fit in major, and at least 11HSP), with game hope or for game.
He bids 2, then after completing 2 by opener he bids 3 if he has a slam hope with at least 15HCP

The responder has a long D suiter with at least 11HCP but is not fitted in major

He responds 2 then, after completing in major by opener, he rebids 3, with 6 and just 11HCP
He responds 2 then, after completing in major by opener, he bids 2NT with balanced hand and 5 and 11HCP, and 3NT with at least 12-13HCP
He responds 2 then, after completing in major by opener, he bids his second suiter of 4 cards with 5 and 11HCP

NB : If the opener has 5 4 he opens 1 then, after response 2, he bids 2 instead of 2
As response to 2, if the responder has a weak hand he passes with 4 and 3, but bids 2 with 3 without 4.

NB : If not yet done, we suggest strongly reading Digest of precised major

Contact : maubird at orange.fr