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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

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