The ambiguous response 2D as reponse to opening 1H or 1S
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 2D
- 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
.
Contact : maubird at orange.fr