San Diego Bridge Academy

Two Diamonds Waiting

Introductory Ideas

To see how some typical sequences work, some hands from Sample Power Hands (best opened in a different tab or printed) are reviewed. In the sample hands below, 2♦ is usually the response. In fact 2♦ is the catchall for all hands that do not qualify for a positive response.One exception, hand 21 illustrate a suit response, while hand 13 illustrates something unusual, a no-trump response.

Hand 9

Here is the sequence (opponents pass)

	2♣	2♦
	2 ♥	2 ♠
	3 ♠	4 ♠

With responder is so close to one-level response (if opener had bid 1♥), it is easy for responder to rebid 2♠, showing a suit.

Hand 20

The sequence (opponents pass)

	2♣	2♦
	2♠	3♣
	3♠	4♠

Responder would have passed a one-level opener, so the 3♣ second negative is used. Over 3♠, game is bid to show the king. With the ♦K lead, declarer would make 5♠.

Hand 13 A Positive Suit Response

One type of hand where 2♦ is not bid, contains a powerful suit.

	2♣	3♣
	3♦	3♥
	4♣	4NT
	5♥	7♣
	7NT

Some comments on the bidding:

• 3♣ is a game force.
• 4♣ is 3014 Roman keycard for clubs, giving up on spades.
• 4NT shows two with the queen.
• 5♥ asks for the © ace, implying all the keycards.
• 7♣ shows the rock solid club suit.
• 7NT gets the lead up to the tenances and shows at least one club!

Hand 21 A Positive No-trump Response

It is hard to conjure up a hand where it is right to bid no-trumps opposite a 2♣ opener but hand 21 might qualify.

	2♣	2NT
	3♥	4♦
	4NT	5♥
	6♥

So the two no-trump bid shows something like a 2NT raise opposite a opener's 1NT rebid. (playing strong no-trumps) Some comments on the bidding:

• 2NT shows 10 – 11 HCPS.
• 3♥ is a suit
• 4♦ is a cue bid in support of hearts (Kings cue-bid below game)
• 4NT is 3014 Roman keycard.
• 5♥ shows two key cards without the queen.
• 6♥ prays that partner has some filler cards!

With careful declarer play, 6♥ can be made by ruffing out the ♦Q.

Hand 4

Why did hand 4 get left until last? Well there is always one rotten apple in the bag. (Remember, these are random hands, not selected by the author). Here are two possible auctions:

1. First of all West will likely bid clubs, so you need to have some sort of defensive bidding agreement. After a 3♣ or a 4♣overcall, North should double. Accepted practice is DOPS. (Double shows nothing (0), Pass shows something (S - usually, a king or better) and bidding a suit shows a good suit and is game forcing). The auction might proceed

	2♣	3♣	dbl	P
	3♥	P	P	P

3♥ should go down one, since declarer is locked in hand to lose two spades, and a trick in each of the other suits.

2. Second, if West does not pre-empt you are still in trouble. Now the auction would proceed:

Again, 3♥ should fail. Although Deep Finesse can make 4♠, without double dummy declarer play you will not!

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