Wednesday, July 15, 2009

2D Openings -- Yet Another Idea

2D is the one opening that could be just about anything sensibly. Maybe a strong option. Maybe three-suited. Maybe Flannery, or Reverse Flannery. Maybe minors.

What the hey! How about another idea?

I at one time thought about solving the high-reverse problem by having 2M show that major and clubs, with 2D as the spade-diamond hand. all light openings. This way, for example, 1S-P-2D-P-??? Not a problem with clubs. If you have enough for a high reverse, bid 3C. If not, you would have opened 2S.

Well, people like weak twos a lot. But, people seem willing to give up 2D as a weak opening, often trying this and that along the way. Seat sometimes matters.

I still think this high-reverse solving idea has a lot of merit for fourth-seat openings, but maybe 2D as spades (5+) and diamonds (4+), not enough for a weak two, is the most critical of the three. And, perhaps the most likely to be accepted.

Why, you ask?

Consider 1S-P-2H-P-3D. This is the death sequence. No 4SF available below 3NT. No room for diddly-squat. Decide, and decide now.

So, maybe you like this idea. Maybe just red on white. Maybe just in fourth seat. Whatever.

1 comment:

Kenneth Rexford, Esq. said...

Thought a bit more on this. If, like me, you have 1S-P-1NT!-P-2C as a catch-all, and 1S-P-1NT!-P-2D as 4+, then opening 2D like this means that 1S-P-1NT!-P-2D shows extras, enough to high reverse. If 1S-P-1NT!-P-2NT! is a GF relay, then 1S-P-1NT!-P-3D has no real utility and would be redundant. If 1S-P-1NT!-P-3H shows a 5-5 hand with intermediate values, because 2NT is the GF relay, then in this structure and obvious idea comes to mind, namely 1S-P-1NT!-P-3D as 6S/4H and intermediate values.

It is amazing how many different ways 2D as an opening showing any number of trouble patterns can create powerful tools in other auctions, eh? So hard to choose which 2D meaning helps the most!