[shevek]

Please save me some time here.

2C = 11-15, 6+ & no major
1D = 11-13 balanced (no 5cM) or what's left

That's minors, or 6+ diamonds, or canape with a major, or 3-suited (no 5cM).

You can relay with 1H or 1NT. Or ...

If you want to exclude 6+ Ds no major by opening 2D with them, that's fine too. You can go further by offloading the 5-4 minor hands to 2C & 2D if you wish.
Feel free to recommend the best opening structure.

[suokko]

Opening both minors in 2 level as limited single-suiter or both minors will put you a lot better placed in competitive situation when you can rebid your minor to show major minor canape after 1♦ opening. Too bad relay structure after 2♦ open is hard to create. In magic diamond 2♥ is relay but there is case to play 2♥ as natural.

There should be easily enough space for relays after any other opening so you can even play not so perfect relays and still have enough space for everything.

Also system structure depends on if you live in country which has some limitations what you can play. But you could even play 1♦-2m both as possible inv+ start of relay sequence to make it acceptable in acbl.

[akhare]

shevek, on Dec 7 2009, 12:05 AM, said:

Please save me some time here.

2C = 11-15, 6+ & no major
1D = 11-13 balanced (no 5cM) or what's left

That's minors, or 6+ diamonds, or canape with a major, or 3-suited (no 5cM).

You can relay with 1H or 1NT. Or ...

If you want to exclude 6+ Ds no major by opening 2D with them, that's fine too. You can go further by offloading the 5-4 minor hands to 2C & 2D if you wish.
Feel free to recommend the best opening structure.

I too agree that using 2♣ / 2♦ for 6+ cards is a better approach.

This pretty much limits the 1♦ opening to:

Balanced hands with 5m332, 4432, 4333 hands outside NT range
Three suited hands with 5m431, 4441m and 5m440m hands (and possibly 5-5 in the minors as well)

Given this, a 2♣ GF relay should be able to resolve the shapes pretty easily.

Note that this also allows playing a variable NT scheme.

Over 2♦, you can probably use 2♠ as the relay...then:

2N: 6322, 7222 (no stiff)
3C: High short
3D: Mid short
3H+: Low shortage shapes

Granted you will go over 3N with some shapes, but then again, the relay should be used only with at least some slam interest.

[ontherock]

From Volmac Precision

2D Opening
Meaning:
6+D, 11-15, KJT+ (or 5D AKQT/AKQJ), may have 5-crd major, may have 16+ if 6+ losers
if minimum 1-suiter, have reason: like 2 of 3 top honors or 7 cards
if 6-4 minors with good 4 and bad 6, consider opening 1D

Responses
2H = relay (balanced invit+, or semisolid M slammish, or wk scramble nv)
2S = 5+S forcing
2N = 5+H forcing
3C = transfer to 3D: weak D, or 6+C GF+, or 5M-5other slam, or 5H-4S invit+
BPH: strong limit no major
3D = 5+C, 4M, 1D, no stop oM, GF+
BPH or after strong 1C: pree
3M = 6+M, invit, no C fit
3N = to play
4C = RKC for D
4D = pree


2D 2H relay (balanced invit+, or semisolid M slammish, or wk scramble nv)

2S = max
2N = relay (3C = unbal [3D asks which sing, 3H length ask D], 3D = bal 1-suiter [3M asks stop],
3M = 4-crd, 3N = 4C)
3C/D = 4H/S weak
3M = slammish M

2N = minimum no major
3C = GF relay, or strong invite BPH (3D = bal or s.o. opposite PH, 3M = sing, 3N = sing C or
to play opposite PH)
3D = to play
3M = slammish M

3C = minimum, 4H (3D/H = to play, 3S = slammish S, 4C/D sets H/D)
3D = minimum, 4S (3H = slammish H, 3S = to play, 4C/D sets S/D)
3H = 5H ( 3S = H?, 4C sets •, 4D/H = to play, 4S slammish S, 4N RKC for H)
3S = 5S (4C/H sets D/S, 4D/S = to play, 4N RKC for S)
3N = 5C (4m = to play, 4H/S sets C/D, 4N RKC for D)

2D 2S (5+S forcing)

2N = 4H any strength
3C = relay (3D = min, no fit [3H = asks C stop, cue sets D], 3H = max no C stop [3S asks:
3N = half-stop C, 4C = HxS, 4D = no stop no xxS, 4S = xxS], 3S = min fit,
3N = max C stop, 4D = length, cue/4S = Hxx/xxxS max)
3D = to play
3H = 4H limit
3S = 6S GF
4D/cue = sets D/H

3C = max, at most xxxS
3D = to play (3S = xxx)
3H = C stop, maybe H stop (3S denies H stop)
3S = 6S GF
3N = H stop, no C stop
4D = sets D
4H = 5H GF

3D = min, no S fit or 4H (responses as above to 3C)

3H = 5H (3S = 6S or no C stop, 4D/M = to play, 4C sets H or D [4N RKC for D], 4N RKC for H)

3S = min 3-crd supp (3N = S?)

3N = max, HxxS

4C = 5C (4D/S = to play, 4H sets C or D, 4N = to play)

4D/H = max 4-crd supp picture/cue

4S = min 4-crd supp.

[ontherock]

From SCREAM

The 2D opening shows either a one-suited hand with diamonds, or a two-suited hand with at least six diamonds and exactly four clubs.

In first and second position: 9-13 HCP 6+D 0-3S 0-3H 0-4C.
In third position: (5)6+D, weak, discipline according to vulnerability.
In fourth position: 2D 13-16 HCP 6D 0-3S 0-3H.

Responding to the 2D opening
After 2D

A game-forcing relay, natural non-forcing major suit bids, an invitational notrump bid, non-invitational raises, a three-level minor-suit scramble and fit-showing jumps are available.

2H Game-forcing relay
2S 2-suited with 6+D and 4C (symmetric continuations) (impossible shapes are omitted from the structure)
2NT+ 1-suited with 6+D (symmetric continuations) 2S Natural, non-forcing (5)6+S
2NT 7+D with broken suit and heart and club honours
3C 3S 3+C 0-1H
3D Solid 7+D
3H 3S 3H 0-1C
3S 3S minimum balanced
3NT Impossible
4D Solid diamonds and 3S
4H 3S maximum balanced

2NT Natural, invitational

3C Not invitational, wide-ranging, seeking a club contract when responder has four clubs and a diamond contract otherwise

3D Not invitational, wide-ranging

3H Natural, non-forcing (5)6+H
3NT Impossible
4D Solid diamonds and 3H
4H 3H useful hand

3S/4C Fit-showing jump, 6 cards in the suit bid and 3D

4NT Both minors, requesting a 5C response when holding four clubs
Games To play

[ontherock]

From Ultra Club

2D ! = 10-15 HCP 6+D & 0-2H & 0-2S [WITH 5-5 IN THE MINORS: 2NT (4-10 HCP); WITH 5D & 4C OPEN 1D, (WITH 6D & 4C OPEN 2D)]
2H 6+H Natural & 10-11 HCP & N.F. [BID 2H WITH 8+ HCP & HXX IN D]
Pass H / xx+ & Minimum
2S S: Hx & 0-1H: xx & MAXIMUM: 2263 / 2164 / 2173
2NT 14-15 HCP S & C Stoppers
3C 14-15 HCP & C Stopper , no S Stopper
3D 0-1H & 6D: KQJxxxx+
3H 2H & MAXIMUM: 2263
3S SPLINTER: 1462 / 0463 with very good D: AQJxxx / KQJxxx & MAXIMUM
3NT AKQxxx(x) & 6(7)222+ with K or Q in 2 suits outside C

2S 6+S Natural & 10-11 HCP & N.F. [BID 2S WITH 8+ HCP & HXX IN D]
FOLLOW-ONS = SAME AS ABOVE

2NT! 10-11 HCP G.I. with D: Hxx: or 12+ hcp & G.F., Opener accepts with 14+ hcp
3C Maximum & C stopper & only 1M stopper
3D Minimum

3C To Play: long C and 0-1D
3D PRE-EMPTIVE
3M 6-CARDS M G.F. SAB-2: 1ST STEP = 0-1M, 2ND STEP = 2M & 1-2 CONTROLS, ZOOM >
3NT TO PLAY
4C SPLINTERS, AGREEING D
4D 3+D PRE-EMPTIVE
4H SPLINTER, AGREEING D
4S SPLINTER, AGREEING D
4NT REGULAR BLACKWOOD FOR ACES ONLY: 5C = 0/4, 5D = 1, 5H = 2, 5S = 3
5D To play

[lowerline]

shevek, on Dec 7 2009, 12:05 AM, said:

Please save me some time here.

2C = 11-15, 6+ & no major
1D = 11-13 balanced (no 5cM) or what's left

That's minors, or 6+ diamonds, or canape with a major, or 3-suited (no 5cM).

You can relay with 1H or 1NT. Or ...

If you want to exclude 6+ Ds no major by opening 2D with them, that's fine too. You can go further by offloading the 5-4 minor hands to 2C & 2D if you wish.
Feel free to recommend the best opening structure.

1♦ = 11-15 4+♦ unbal (longer clubs possible; 1435/4135 possible)
1NT = 12+-15 balanced (incl 5♣422)
2♣ = 11-15 6+♣; not 4♦/5M (4M possible)
2♦/♥ = 11-15 4414/4405/3415/4315

[wclass___]

2♣ 5♣+unbal no 4M 11/15
2♦ 5♦+unbal no 4M 11/15

Actually i had the same problem some years ago, but now i am absolutely sure that this is the best usage for these two bids.

[benlessard]

if having a 4M when opening 2C bother you I suggest what lowerline say.

The unbalanced 1D showing 4 is clearly a better upside then the downsides of having a possible 4M when opening 2C + the downside of a wider 1Nt range (not close at all imo).

Some slight variation


(41)35 or (14)35 that you can open with 2C or with 1D. I prefer 2C unless the D are great

Also you might want to keep a weak 2D and decide to open 1H with 4414 and 2C with (43)15 im in the minority here but i prefer the weak 2D+2H rather than 2d ROMAN because I dont mind too much having a 4M with my 2C opening.

Also its very clear to me that diamonds hand in the 16-22 range are better in 1D than in the the strong club. As a nice side benefit 1C--1?---2D show a strong balanced hand.

[shevek]

I'm used to 2C & 2D as 6+ no Major or 5-4 minors, as wclass advocates.
6 & no major is a bit too rare and overloads 1D.

That leaves 1D as 11-13 bal or major canapes, or the 3-suiters.
With this reduction, 1NT can be GFR. This means occasional responses in a 3-cd major, which is okay by me. Anyway ...

1D  1NT*

2C  4 ♠s
2D  11-13 bal, no 5cM
2H  4 ♥s, 5+ ♦s
2S  3-suited without 4♠s (3 hand patterns)
2N+  4 ♥s & 5+ ♣s

The 2-suited structure is square symmetric:

2♥  2♠*
2N  HS
3♣  2-4-5-2
3♦  3-4-5-1
3♥  2-4-6-1
3♠  3-4-6-0
3N  2-4-7-0
4C  1-4-7-1 (orphan)

Likewise with ♥s & ♣s.
Spade hands emerge at the same place.
There are 7 3-suiters with 4 spades. I guess 7-3 is not a good split.
Still, can resolve 7 by 3NT anyway.

That leaves 2D for the 22 balanced hands.
Unfortunately, Fibonacci means there is only room for 21 below 3NT.

That's acceptable. An alternative is to bid 2C with balanced, throwing the 3-suiters in there as well, though this messes up some of the spade hands.

Suggestions welcome.

[shevek]

& this to unravel balanced 11-13

1D  1N*
2D  2H*

2S  4♠s
2N  4♥s
3C  5♦s
3D  2-3-4-4 / 3-2-4-4
3H  2-3-3-5
3S  3-2-3-5
3N  3-3-2-5

2S  2N*
3C  4♠s & 4♥s (one free space)
3D  4♠s & 4♦s
3H  4-2-3-4
3S  4-3-2-4
3N  4-3-3-3

This shows 21 of the 22 hands & wastes 1 space.
The 2 that miss are 3-3-4-3 & 3-3-3-4.

They can live quite happily with the 3-suiters with spade shortage (3 hands)