Defending Against the Multi Two Diamonds
Introduction
The most popular version of the Multi 2♦ convention in play today covers three options : 6 card major : 6-10 ♠KQ10876 ♥32 ♦QJT ♣86 Balanced 25-26 : ♠A4 ♥AQJ8 ♦AQ5 ♣AKJ4 8 playing tricks in a minor: ♠62 ♥A43 ♦2 ♣AKQJ1076
If the second player passes, the responder normally makes one of three bids: Opener can pass with 6 spades and 6-10, and with 6 hearts may
sign off in 3♥ or bid game with 9-10
Examples of these responses and opener’s rebids are shown below :
2♦ : 2♥ P
6 Heats 6 -10
| 2♦ : 2♥ 2S
6 Spades 6-10 | 2♦ : 2♥ 2NT
Balanced 25-26 | 2♦ : 2♥ 3C/♦
8 Playing Tricks | 2♦ : 2S P
6 Spades 6-10 | 2♦ : 2♠ 3 / 4 Hearts
6 Hearts 6-8/9-10 |
For the opening side there are two main strengths of the multi 2♦ convention:
Ambiguity unsure of the nature and strength of the bid, defenders face different sets of risks by entering the bidding or remaining silent Economy the benefit of covering three different hand types with one bid
The one weakness of the convention is that ambiguity is a double edged sword and thus the responder, just like the defenders, is unclear about the precise nature of opener’s hand until the second round of bidding. This is why the convention can go astray for either side if there are no agreements on how to handle follow up bidding sequences. This is why it is essential to have firm agreements by the defenders, not only in 2nd seat but also in the 4th and 6th seats, as will be outlined in this article.
Building a Defence to Multi
The following points are worthy of consideration in planning a defence to Multi 2♦:
The frequency of the weak version occurring is much higher than the two stronger versions, so the first step is to assume that the opening is weak If the multi opener has a 6 card major there could be other unbalanced hands around the table so care needs to be taken if intervening The risks of entering the bidding, if partner has a poor hand, could be high, but like a two headed coin, staying out of the bidding might result in missing a safe part score or potential game or even slam One big advantage for both defenders is that there will always be two chances to enter the bidding, either more directly on the first round, before opener has clarified the nature of the initial bid, and later on the second round when the content of the bid is confirmed
Taking these points into account the ideal defence will facilitate the following actions:
Bid directly with stronger hands, differentiating balanced and unbalanced ones Bid directly with hands with opening values and shape Pass initially with minimum hands with shape and re-enter the bidding with a takeout double or bid a long suit when the opponent’s opening confirms the weak 6 card major
The defensive measures fall into two situations : Direct action in 2nd seat or 4th seat Balancing action in 2nd seat or 4th seat following an initial pass
Sitting in second seat the following actions are recommended over the opening Multi 2♦:
BID | MEANING | EXAMPLE | X | Balanced 12-15 Balanced 19+ Unbalanced 17+ | ♠KQ8 ♥AJ7 ♦A32 ♣J987 ♠AT9 ♥AQ9 ♦KQ65 ♣KJ8 ♠AKJT86 ♥AK5 ♦7 ♣QJ2 | 2H/♠ | 12-16 : good 5+ suit | ♠K7 ♥KQJ87 ♦A62 ♣987 | 2NT | 16-18 : balanced | ♠QT98 ♥KQ2 ♦AJ9 ♣AJT | 3C/D | 12-16 : 6+ suit | ♠7 ♥A9 ♦K65 ♣AKJT86 | 3NT | To play : usually a long running minor | ♠K5 ♥A8 ♦AKJT432 ♣J9 | 4C/D | 5-5 : bid minor and a major | ♠AK876 ♥3 ♦65 ♣AQ987 | 4♥/♠ | To play | ♠KQJT876 ♥A5 ♦6 ♣KQ4 |
In 4th seat, after the bidding sequences of 2♦ : P : 2♥ or 2♦ : P : 2♠, the defender may enter the fray with similar responses as shown above for 2nd seat, noting that in the second sequence responder has support for hearts and denies support for spades, so the chances for winning the contract may be lower than in the former sequence.
There are three auctions when the defender in 6th seat may wish to re-enter the bidding, having passed initially :
2♦ : P : 2♥ P P : ? | 2♦ : P : 2♥ : P 2♠ : ? | 2♦ : P : 2♠ : P P : ? |
In the first auction it would appear that the points between the two sides are evenly balanced, or may be slightly in favour of the defenders, so the options are : X = 9-11: Takeout of hearts: ♠QJT8 ♥7 ♦JT87 ♣AJT8 2♠ = 9-11: 5+ spades: ♠AJT87 ♥32 ♦KQ42 ♣76 2NT = 9-11: 4-4 or better in the minors: ♠87 ♥96 ♦AQ95 ♣KQ864 3C/D = 9-11: 5+ suit: ♠86 ♥5 ♦K764 ♣AQJ432
The second auction is still uncertain regarding whether or not the opening side have a spade fit, so there could be a heart or minor suit fit or even in no trumps if partner has a spade stop. To cover these possibilities the 6th seat defender may bid : X = 9-11: Takeout of spades: ♠52 ♥AJ98 ♦K98 ♣QT87 2NT = 9-11: 4-4 or better in the minors: ♠T9 ♥97 ♦AQJ97 ♣K986 3C/♦/♥= 9-11: 5+ suit : ♠75 ♥943 ♦AK765 ♣K86
In the third auction opener has shown 6 spades and responder has invited in hearts, with invitational values, so there could be bad breaks in the majors as well as the opening side having the balance of strength. Unless the defender holds a long suit it is safer to stay out of the auction.
After the sequence 2 ♦ : P : 2♥ : P : 2♠ : P : P : the defender in 8th seat knows that opener has a weak 6 card spade suit and the responder has less than game going values, so there may be a part score contract available either in a long suit or perhaps a 4-4 fit in hearts or a minor. With the right shape it may be worthwhile balancing, otherwise it is safer to defend.
Responding to a Defender’s Takeout Double of Multi 2♦
The takeout double has three options :
12-15 balanced 19+ balanced 17+ unbalanced
The Lebensohl 2NT convention can be a valuable aid to the advancer when responder passes the double of Multi 2♦, as it asks the intervenor to bid 3♣, and now advancer can :
Playing this convention means that immediate bids over partner’s takeout double show : 2♥/♠ = 4+ : 0-7 3♣/♦ = 5+ : 8+ 3♥/♠ = 5+ : 12+
Examples of Defending against Multi Two Diamonds:
Hand 1
| ♠ T7 ♥ J93 ♦ AQJ3 ♣ AKQ3 | Dealer: East
| EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH 2♦ 2♠ P 4♠ P P P | ♠ 43 ♥ 75 ♦ 9762 ♣ J9875 |
| ♠ 852 ♥ AKT864 ♦ T85 ♣ 8 | South has a clear cut 2♠ overcall of the Multi 2♦, holding a solid six card suit within the 12- 16 range. Without the opening bid, which highlights the |
| ♠ AKQJ96 ♥ Q2 ♦ K4 ♣ T42 |
| heart lead, all 13 tricks are available
|
Hand 2
| ♠ K4 ♥ K62 ♦ A743 ♣ Q832 | Dealer: East
| EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH 2♦ P 2♥ P 2♠ 3♥ P P P | ♠ A6 ♥ 87 ♦ JT5 ♣ KT9765 |
| ♠ QJT973 ♥ A53 ♦ Q98 ♣ 4 | South is not strong enough to bid first time, but when East confirms a weak two in spades, North is marked with some values, so South balances to |
| ♠ 852 ♥ QJT94 ♦ K62 ♣ AJ |
| reach a makeable 3♥ contract.
|
Hand 3
| ♠ KT3 ♥ Q2 ♦ K7 ♣ AKT965 | Dealer: West
| WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH 2♦ 3♣ P 3NT P P P | ♠ QJ9765 ♥ 93 ♦ AQJ ♣ 83 | N W E S
| ♠ 8 ♥ AT87654 ♦ 864 ♣ J4 | North shows a good 6 card club suit, and with the useful queen of clubs and stoppers in both majors, South bids game in 3NT. |
| ♠ A42 ♥ KJ ♦ T9532 ♣ Q72 |
| |
SUMMARY
This article has provided a brief outline of how the opening Multi 2♦ convention works, with either a weak two in one of the majors, a strong balanced hand, or 8 playing tricks in a minor. The main focused then switched to how the defenders can best cope with the ambiguities posed by this convention.
One key theme is that defenders do not need to panic when this convention comes into play as each defender will have two bites of the cherry to compete. With stronger hands in terms of strength or shape it is best to enter the auction immediately, and with values just below an opening bid to keep quiet on the first round and the opening side reveal minimum values to re-enter the bidding with confidence that your side a very likely to have a makeable part score or even game contract. |