Friday, December 08, 2006 12:52 AM

Strong 2♦

PITBULLS:

Going back to the Goren days of natural strong twos , we play 2♦ as strong , natural & game forcing with most hand types. This treatment takes diamonds out of the 2♣ structure and incorporates the strong Roman 2♦ hands. 2♥ is an automatic waiting bid and no other response is allowed other than a positive diamond raise. This waiting puts responder in a “straight jacket” so that opener can describe his hand. Any bids at the 3 level in a new suit including a jump to 3♠ is a two suiter. 2NT is natural and 2♠ is a relay to 2NT to describe the Roman 2 hands.

The strong 2♦ also includes the ACOL 2♦ hand types which is a strong diamond hand but not forcing to game. Responder is allowed to pass this auction.

2♦-P-2♥-P

3♦-P-P all other bids other than the 3♦ rebid are forcing to game. There is no need for a negative or a 2^nd negative as a pass does the job quite nicely as a 2^nd negative.

If you have a super single suited diamond hand 2♦-P-2♥-P

4♦ is KCB for diamonds.

2♦-P-2♥-P

4♣/♥/♠ is exclusion KCB with diamonds implied.

BJ has come up with an excellent idea over the 2NT rebid by opener. Stayman is of course not needed so he suggests playing 3♣ as a relay to 3♦ which can be passed ! If responder now bids after the relay , it shows interest in a diamond slam. Excellent ! Transfers are still on after 2NT so this relay allows some diamond slam tries. Just like the Wolfe relay , bidding 3NT after the relay is a balanced slam try in diamonds. A slam try under 3NT , again excellent. 2♦ is normally a game force but with a 2NT rebid , there are hands where the dummy is so pitiful you want to bail to your known diamond fit.