a 2♦ opening bid shows one of the following hands:

  1. a weak 2♥ (often)
  2. a weak 2♠ (often)
  3. 4-4-4-1 shape, 17-24 HCP (rarely)


Responses to 2♦

Response Meaning
2♥ Weak hand, does not promise heart support
2♠ Game invite in hearts (eg 3+♥, 13+ HCP)
2NT Strong and artificial
3♣ 7+♣, signoff
3♦ 7+♦, signoff
3♥ Game invite in spades (eg 3+♠, 13+ HCP)
4♣ Strong ♣ with support for both majors
4♦ Strong ♦ with support for both majors


Opener’s Rebids after the artificial strong 2NT

Rebid Meaning
3♣ strong, weak 2♥
3♦ strong, weak 2♠
3♥ weak, weak 2♥
3♠ weak, weak 2♠
3NT strong 4-4-4-1♣
4♣ strong 4-4-4-1♦
4♦ strong 4-4-4-1♥
4♥ strong 4-4-4-1♠


Opener makes undocumented rebid (examples)

Opener Response Rebid Meaning
2♦ 2♥ 2NT strong 4-4-4-1♣
2♦ 3♦ 3♠ strong 4-4-4-1♣


In Competition

  • Double by LHO, responses unchanged (except pass now shows 6+ diamonds)
  • Double by RHO, rebids unchanged
  • Suit bid by LHO (wip)
  • Suit bid by RHO, rebid shows strong 4-4-4-1 with singleton in suit one above the suit bid (wip)
Opener LHO Response Meaning
2♦ 2♥ Double ?
2♦ 2♠ Double ?
2♦ 2NT Double strong hand, equivalent to bidding 2NT without the intervening bid. Openener should respond as for the artificial 2NT response bid (wip)
2♦ 3♣ Double support for both majors?
2♦ 3♦ Double support for both majors ?

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