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2♦ Opening and Responses

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Two Diamond Opening & Responses

The 2♦ Opening shows 16-23 points with any 4441 distribution. The Opening is unconditionally forcing for One Round [although it is not unknown for Responder to pass with a Yarborough and a long (7+) Diamond suit]. This range of hand-types is one of only two 16+ types that are not opened with 1♣ (the other being whatever range you assign to a 2NT Opening (26-27 balanced in this system).

Initial Responses

The responses to the 2♦ Opening are as follows:

2♦-2♥ is forced with most hand-types. The exceptions appear further below:
-2♠ shows 16-19 and any 4441 distribution.
-2NT is an automatic relay asking for the location of the singleton suit, and now
-3♣ shows a Diamond singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first.
-3♦ shows a Heart singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first.
-3♥ shows a Spade singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first.
-3♠ shows a Club singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first.
-2NT shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Club. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted.
-3♣ shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Diamond. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted.
-3♦ shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Heart. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted.
-3♥ shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Spade. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted.
2♦-2♠ shows 0-4 with 6-card or longer Spades. Opener normally passes unless both upper range and with a 4-card Spade fit.
2♦-2NT shows 14+ with at least 4-card suits in both Majors. Now
-3♣ shows 4-card in both Majors and a Diamond Singleton. Now 3♦ is Beta, but otherwise Responder bids Eta in their stronger Major. Asking Bids are now established. If Responder uses Beta, they must sign-off over the Beta response (ie: the use of Beta here tends to be the route with weaker hands)
-3♦ shows 4-card in both Majors and a Club Singleton. Now 4♣ is Beta, but otherwise Responder bids Eta in their stronger Major. Asking Bids are now established. If Responder uses Beta, they must sign-off over the Beta response but with weaker hands it is normal for Responder to make an Eta Ask and then sign off in that suit at the 4-level. (ie: here Beta is a more expensive option than Eta, whereas when Opener shows a Diamond singleton, Beta is the cheaper option if Responder is weak).
-3♥ shows 4-card Hearts and a Singleton in Spades. and is Gamma in Hearts (Minimum length being 4-cards). Asking Bids are now established.
-3♠ shows 4-card Spades and a Singleton in Hearts. and is Gamma in Spades (Minimum. length being 4-cards). Asking Bids are now established.
2♦-3♣ shows 0-4 with 6-card or longer Clubs. Opener normally passes unless both upper range and with a 4-card Club fit.
2♦-3♦ shows 0-4 with 6-card or longer Diamonds. Opener normally passes unless both upper range and with a 4-card Diamond fit.
2♦-3♥ shows 0-4 with 6-card or longer Hearts. Opener normally passes unless both upper range and with a 4-card Heart fit.
2♦-3♠ shows 14+ with 4-card or longer suits in Spades and an undisclosed Minor. Now:
-3NT shows a Singleton Spade and tells Responder to make an Eta Ask in their Minor suit, so now:
-4♣ shows Spades and Clubs and is Eta in Clubs, and
-4♦ shows Spades and Diamonds and is Eta in Diamonds.
-4♣ and upwards are Gamma responses for Spades (Min length 4-card).
2♦-3NT shows 14+ with 4-card or longer suits in both Minors and denies possession of a 4-card Major. Opener bids Gamma at the 4-level (Min length 4-card) to set trumps and a relay over the response is Beta, so
-4♣ is Gamma in Clubs, and
-4♦ is Gamma in Diamonds.

Notes

  • No responses other than the above are permitted.
  • Eta/Gamma asks are only available when Responder shows 14+ hands. It must be remembered that Responder can be weak, and no good fit is guaranteed. Hence unless Responder shows one of the 14+ hand-types, all bidding is natural and non-forcing (invitational at best) except for Beta in the disclosed singleton suit.
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