Limiting Opener's One Diamond — Two Clubs Sequence

by Denis Lesage

This structure allows a one-diamond opener to rebid two clubs only with a minimum opening and enables him to show or to deny three-card support for responder's major when he has the values to rebid three diamonds--a three-diamond rebid will deny three cards in the major. For purposes of this article, 2=4=5=2 hands are lumped with balanced hands, opened or rebid in notrump. Opener is said to have extra values with 17-18 HCP and five-four suits or 16-18 HCP with 5-5 suits, a game-force with strength beyond extra values.

After a One — Spade Response

After a one-spade response, opener, with extra values or a game-force rebids either a natural two notrump or reverses with two hearts, which may turn out to be artificial. [Over two hearts, responder bids two spades with five-plus spades (limited but not promising a further bid), two notrump (with four clubs)or three diamonds to deny additional values, three clubs as an artificial game-force, or three spades as a natural game-force; any responder's rebid not in spades denies as many as five spades. On the next round:

(1) After responder's two-spade rebid, opener continues as follows: (a) With fewer than three spades: two notrump (then: (i) responder's three clubs is to play facing four or more clubs; with extra values, opener passes or corrects to three diamonds; (ii) responder's three diamonds is to play in three hearts facing four hearts; opener passes or bids three hearts with extra values, or bids higher with a game-force; further bids are natural; (iii) responder's three hearts is a game-forcing relay; opener bids three spades with 1=3=5=4, three notrump with 1=4=5=3 or 1=4=4=4, four clubs with 5=5, 6=4 or 6=5 in the minors; four diamonds with 4=6 in the red suits; or four hearts with 5=6 in the red suits; (iv) any other bid by responder is natural and game-forcing. (b) With three spades (therefore with at least extra values, so the bidding is forced to game): three clubs with four-plus clubs, three diamonds with six-plus diamonds, three hearts with 3=4=5=1 or 3=4=6=0, or, with game-forcing strength, three spades with 3=4=5=1 or three notrump with 3=4=6=0.

(2) After responder's two-notrump rebid: opener bids three clubs or three diamonds (which shows four hearts) to play; with game-forcing strength, opener makes a natural bid of three hearts or higher.

(3) After responder's three-club rebid, lacking game-forcing strength opener bids three diamonds with either four-plus clubs or four-plus hearts (then, three hearts is a relay; in reply, three spades shows clubs and three notrump shows hearts), or three hearts with six plus diamonds and three spades; with game-forcing strength, opener bids three spades with 3=4=5=1, three notrump with 1=4=5=3 or 1=4=4=4, four clubs with 6=4 or 6=5 or 5=5 in the minors, four diamonds with 4=6 in the red suits, or four hearts with 5=6 in the red suits.

(4) After responder's three-diamond rebid: opener passes, bids three hearts to play, or makes a natural bid of three spades or higher.]

After a One — Heart Response

After a one-heart response, opener with at least extra values, rebids a natural two notrump or jump-shifts to two spades, which may turn out to be artificial. After two spades, responder rebids three clubs as a game-forcing relay or two notrump, preliminary to signoff when opener lacks game-forcing strength. On the next round:

(1) After responder's two-notrump rebid, opener, lacking game-forcing strength bids three clubs with at least four clubs or three diamonds with six plus diamonds and three hearts; in either case, responder concludes by passing or by bidding three of a red suit. With game-forcing strength, opener makes a natural bid of three hearts or higher.

(2) After responder's three-club rebid, lacking game-forcing strength opener bids three diamonds (then, three hearts is a relay, and the replies are three spades with at least four clubs and three notrump with six-plus diamonds and three hearts). With game-forcing strength, opener bids three hearts with 4=1=5=3, three spades with 4=3=5=1, three notrump with 4=1=4=4, four clubs with 4=0=5=4, four diamonds with 4=4=5=0, four hearts with four spades and six diamonds, or four spades with five spades and six diamonds.

After a One — Notrump Response

After a one-notrump response, opener with at least extra values, rebids a natural two notrump or two hearts, which may turn out to be artificial. After two hearts, responder rebids two spades as a game-forcing relay or two notrump, preliminary to signoff when opener lacks game-forcing strength. On the next round:

(1) After responder's two-spade rebid, opener, lacking game-forcing strength, bids two notrump (then, three clubs asks, and three diamonds shows four-plus clubs or three hearts shows four hearts plus diamonds and three hearts). With game-forcing strength, opener bids three clubs with 1=4=5=3, three diamonds with 3=4=5=1, three hearts with 1=4=4=4, three spades with 0=4=5=4, three notrump with 4=4=5=0, four clubs with four hearts and six diamonds, or four diamonds with five hearts and six diamonds.

(2) After responder's two-notrump rebid, opener, lacking game-forcing strength, bids three clubs with at least four clubs or three diamonds with four hearts; in either case, responder concludes by passing or by bidding three of a red suit. With game-forcing strength, opener makes a natural bid of three hearts or higher.

Gains and Losses

Compared with standard methods, there is no major loss, but the gains come at the cost of a bit of complexity. Patterns in the descriptions of exact distributions are repeated, facilitating memorization. The gains are a reduced range for opener's two-club rebid, allowing responder to pass two clubs when this may be the last plus; it is risky for the opponents to bid after the opening side has shown three suits and its degree of fit is uncertain. It is sensible to use one diamond — one notrump — two clubs — three clubs as preemptive; responder can bid two of a major or two notrump to show a maximum with a fit. Another gain is that after one diamond — one of a major, opener can show the values for a same-suit jump-rebid either with or without three-card support. In a variety of sequences, opener can show his exact distribution at a convenient level.

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