Sunday, February 08, 2004 9:49 PM

Multi 2D

PITBULLS:

Most of the top world class pairs whose convention cards I analyzed play some sort of disruptive weak 2 structure. In order to play these bids they need a multi 2 ♦ opener. Here is a rather standard multi 2♦ structure :

A Multi 2D opening bid shows one of the following hand types:

1. A weak two-bid in hearts
2. A weak two-bid in spades
3. Any 4-4-4-1 shape with 17-24 HCP

Responder's available bids are:

2H	Weak hand, does not promise heart heart support. Opener can rebid 2S should he hold hand type 2). Pass or convert is the message for this bid.
2S	Inviting game in hearts if that is opener's suit, but signoff if opener's suit is spades. Opener can rebid 3H (signoff), 4H (signoff), or Pass with spades.
2NT	Strong and artificial (see below).
3C	7+ clubs, signoff.
3D	7+ diamonds, signoff.
3H	Hand inviting game in spades, if that is opener's suit. Opener can rebid 3S (signoff), 4S (signoff), or Pass with hearts.
4C	Strong clubs with support for both majors.
4D	Strong diamonds with support for both majors.Opener's responses to the artificial 2NT query are:

3C	Weak two-bid in hearts, good hand.
3D	Weak two-bid in spades, good hand.
3H	Weak two-bid in hearts, bad hand.
3S	Weak two-bid in spades, bad hand.
3NT	Strong three-suited hand (17-24 HCP) with a singleton club.
4C	Strong three-suited hand (17-24 HCP) with a singleton diamond.
4D	Strong three-suited hand (17-24 HCP) with a singleton heart.
4H	Strong three-suited hand (17-24 HCP) with a singleton spade.

If responder makes an original signoff bid, any strange-sounding rebid by opener shows the strong three-suited hand. The partnerships should discuss this i.e. does the bid show the stiff etc

ParadoX Advances

A paradox bid is a non-forcing call of the suit you don't hold when length in one of two suits has been shown or implied by partner's bid, generally when the partnership expects to subside in one of these suits.

Tricks opposite the Multi 2 diamonds

I claim no originality for ParadoX advances which are an intrinsic part of the Multi. But even here partnerships tend to underuse the method. Let's start with "standard" responses Partner opens Multi 2♦ showing a weak two in either major (commonly) or various stong hands (rarely)

♠5 ♥A853 ♦K104 ♣KJ732

You respond 2♠ Usually you play there, but the message is that game is possible if partner has hearts.

However ParadoX allows similar bids at the three level - extending the preempt

♠ J54 ♥ K853 ♦ 9 ♠ Q10732

This time game looks on for opponents and a rapid ParadoX preempt extension of 3♠ makes things hard for them. In practice it always seems safe. Play there, or in 4 hearts. I have often made the same bid on ♠ Qx and four hearts and it works fine.

It would be nice to play similar ParadoX preempt extentions at the four level, but my view and experience is that this does not work. There will always be hands where you simply want to simply bid game in your own major when partner pre-empts. 4♥ and 4♠ should be natural responses.