2D: Multi, a weak two bid in Hs or Ss, but not two of top three honours and an ace (so not AKQ in suit either). Can have a 5 card major if hand not considered minimum and not 5-3-3-2. Not vulnerable vs. vulnerable open with 5 card majors aggressively.
Note: M is for major, m is for minor, X is for any.
[2D Responses]
Pass: Ds or comfortable playing 2D undoubled.
xM: pass or correct. NF, but can have constructive or better hand with long length in M.
If bidding goes 2D-2H(p/c)-2S(correct)-3H shows constructive hand with long Hs, NF.
2D-2H(p/c)-2S(correct)-2NT is forcing, asking for further description, can have GF in Hs.
After 2D-nM, if opener has OM & 5+ minor suit, can bid a 5+ minor or bid NT with extra values (doesn’t show balanced hand, just good multi). Examples: 2D-2S-3D = Hs & 5+Ds.
2D-2S-2NT = good H multi
2NT: 2NT, asks for description, see next section.
When not vulnerable, tend to bid 2M instead of 2NT if small doubleton in M.
3m: Natural & forcing to 3NT or 4m. Opener to bid suit under M, or after 3D then 3S with Hs.
3NT, 5m: to play.
4C: transfer me to your major – so responder always plays hand. 4D=Hs, 4H=Ss.
4D: bid your major.
4NT: to play in opener’s best minor.
[5M bid]
Once responder knows opener’s major, 5M in a non-competitive auction asks if opener is min or max based on auction to date.
Typical Multi Hands with Ss – Not Vulnerable vs. Vulnerable, not fourth seat
a) S KJ742 H 873 D 8 C K832
b) S KQ742 H 3 D 875 C KJ32
c) S AT942 H 3 D 87 C KJT32
d) S QJ7432 H 3 D 875 C 732
e) S AJT742 H 873 D 5 C K32
f) S AK8742 H 3 D 87 C J632
Typical Multi Hands with Ss – Vulnerable vs. Not Vulnerable, not fourth seat
g) S KJT82 H 87 D 8 C KQ832
h) S AQT94 H 3 D 87 C KT932
i) S KQT742 H 3 D 875 C K32
j) S QJT982 H 3 D 875 C 732
k) S AJT742 H 873 D 5 C K32
l) S AK8742 H 3 D 87 C J632
[2NT responses]
Weak two bidder considers hand one of three types:
1) minimum, never with two of top three in suit, always 6+ in M.
2) “good suit” – 6+ in M, suit headed by AK, AQT, AQJ, or KQJ.
3) more than a minimum, can have 5 in M, but not “good suit”.
After 2D-2NT
3C: minimum in Hs or Ss, or unbalanced & good suit in Hs or Ss.
3D asks:
3H: poor with Ss or good suit Ss, unbalanced. 3S NF pass with poor Ss, bid 3NT and above with good suit. 3NT over 3H is to play opposite poor Ss.
3S: poor with Hs.
3NT: good suit Hs, unbalanced.
4X: good suit Hs, unbalanced, second suit or extra M length.
3H pass or correct:
Pass: poor with Hs.
3S: poor with Ss.
3NT: good suit Hs, unbalanced.
4X: good suit Ss, unbalanced
3S: natural, forcing.
3NT: to play opposite any hand type given.
3D: Hs more than a minimum, not good suit Hs.
3H asks hand type:
3S: 5Hs, short Ss.
3NT: 5Hs.
4m: good 5-5 or better.
4H: 6Hs.
3S: natural, forcing.
3H: Ss more than a minimum, not good suit Ss.
3S asks hand type:
3NT: 5Ss
4X: good 5-5 or better.
4S: 6Ss
3S: good suit Hs, balanced.
3NT: good suit Ss, balanced.
4X: good suit Ss, unbalanced, second suit or extra M length.
Once responder knows opener’s major, 4NT is RKCB, bids in new suits are to be taken as natural, but returns to M can be passed. After RKCB response and before or after any subsequent bidding, cheapest NT and bid in M are signoffs. After RKCB responses and queen ask if necessary, new suit bids are control asks (see slam section for replies).
Responder can pass 2D. If fourth seat reopens with double, opener normally passes, but can bid major with good suit and very short in Ds, or redouble with at least partial fit for Ds and maximum. After 2D-Pass-Pass-Double-Pass-Pass, system now on as if it had went 2D-Pass (see next section).
[General competitive rules for Multi 2D]
All bids retain meaning from 2D-Pass except where noted.
Doubles by responder are for penalties.
Doubles by opener shows suit if a major doubled, takeout if minor or notrump bid or major already known.
[If 2D doubled in front of responder]
After 2D-Double-?
Pass: shows Ds.
Redouble: has own long major or both minors. Opener is asked to bid 2H (with or without Hs), then will pass with Hs, bid 2S with spades, or bid 2NT, 3C or 3D with both minors.
[If 2D overcalled, exceptions to general rules for responder]
Double of 2M, 3M overcall: Takeout, passable if opener holds this major, implies GI+ in OM if opener has suit.
If overcall of 3M: bids in OM not correctable, use 4C or 4D to play in opener’s major.
[2D-Any-nM-Any Non-Pass]
If nM is 2H, opener should pass unless opener’s suit is bid in which case opener should double if suit should be led by partner.
Otherwise, if nM is 2S or higher, opener should compete if possible with OM.
[2D-Any-2NT-Double or 3X]
If opponents have bid a major then double or redouble shows that major. If opponents have bid both majors, last bid major is their major. If opponents have bid no major, double or redouble shows Hs. Whatever major is shown by double or redouble, the other major is shown by bidding, showing values if possible. However a bid of 3 or 4 of a major by opener always shows that suit, not right shape/values for other action. Pass shows the other major and some length in bid being made, waiting to see if responder can double. Over double of 2NT, pass shows other major and some values that suggest defending.
Examples:
After 2D-2S-2NT-3C: Double = Ss (their suit), 3S=Ss not right to double, pass = Hs & some C length, other bids = Hs and not C length.
After 2D-Double(showing short Hs)-2NT-3S: double=Ss, pass=Hs & some S length, bids=Hs.
After 2D-Double-2NT-3D: Double = Hs (Hs if no major), pass= Ss & D length, 3H = Hs and did not want to double, 3S+ = Ss.
After 2D-Pass-2NT-3H: Double = Hs (their suit), pass= Ss & some H length, bids = Ss.
After 2D-Pass-2NT-Double: Redouble = Hs (if no major), 3Hs=Hs & did not want to redouble, pass and other bids show Ss, pass suggesting defending.
[2D-Any-2NT-Any 3NT or higher]
General competitive rules apply.