[cnszsun]

In my local club, most people play 2♦ opening as weak in either major, no strong hands included.
Is there a simple but effective defence to it?
Thanks for your advice.

[helene_t]

Natural bidding works quite well. Here are some things to consider:
- How aggresive are your opps generally with respect to raising 2♦ to 3♥ immediately? If they d so often, you will have to be somewhat aggresive too, as you can't afford to wait, plannig to bid 3m next round.
- Strength of overcalls. If an overcall is something like 12-16 HCPs, you can show 7-11 by passing first, and 17+ by double'ing first, or by a jump overcall. It could be argued that a 2♥ overcall should be allowed more freely than other overcall since it's your only chance of bidding 2♥ if opps have spades. 3♣/♦ should be sound as otherwise you would have to either double or bid 4♣/♦, neither option is very attractive.
- Notrump ranges: For example X=13-15 or some strong hand. 2NT=16-18.
- When does 2M show a stop, when does it show length, and when does is ask a stop? After a 3♣ overcall you can you 3♦ to ask for stops, then a 3M response to 3♣ shows length. In general, when we have bid in major, the other major asks for a stop.
- Does an X on the P/C 2♥-bid show hearts, or is it t/o? I think most play it as t/o, whether partner passed or doubled 2♦.
- 2NT by a passed hand shows both minors.

[Adebisi]

DBL =Take out as after 2♠ opening
2NT=16-18 bal
4♣/♦=55 ♥/minor
2♥♠3♣♦nat

[Free]

Simple and efficient: treat it as a 2♠ opening. Pass first to consider it as a 2♥ opening.

In short:
2♦ - ?
Dbl = takeout with short ♠
2♥ = natural
2♠ = (only exception) natural
2NT = NT with ♠ stop (usually also with ♥ stop, but not necessary), consider NT opening

2♦ - p - 2♥ - p
p - ?
Dbl = takeout with short ♥
2♠ = natural (stronger than bidding immediately - dunno if this is the best choice)
2NT = NT with ♥ stop

Specials: you get penalty doubles, especially if opener has ♠:
2♦ - p - 2♠ - p
p - Dbl

2♦ - p - 2♥ - p
2♠ - Dbl

...

[mycroft]

Neet one, Free, haven't seen that before.

I'd probably change (2D)-2S to "NT with H stop" (or even "NT without S stop") and hope it doesn't go 2D-p-3H too often. OTOH, I would need something for the 2D-p-2S, so maybe yours is better (after all, you have to play against it).

Matt Granovetter pushes "Multi vs. Multi", which is also simple, fun, and probably really annoying to those 90% of Multi players who don't actually have a complete system. Double is "one major, opening hand, or BIG balanced" (the multi vs multi), 2M show strong corresponding m, 2NT is strong NT, 3m is competitive, 3M invitational nat, 3NT is a strong 2NT opener. Doubles in 4th and 6th hand are takeout-oriented.

While probably not a great in terms of effectiveness, it's *always* fun to play Vic Mitchell's Nuttin' Defence agaisnt a weird convention. Don't ask until the end of the auction, and treat their bids as natural. This one also tends to throw the players who feel more comfortable with the "question and answer support" they usually get from their opponents.

Michael.

[FrancesHinden]

There are various defences around, some better than others.

One important point is not to play any defence that involves passing over 2♦ with a strong hand (possibly unless holding long diamonds), particularly vul against not. LHO is under no obligation to bid: holding xx xx Jxxxx xxxx he just passes 2D and waits to see if it ends the auction.

Compared to a weak two, you have one extra call in 2nd seat: Double. The Granovetter defence uses this to distinguish between good and bad 3m overcalls. The defence most popular in England is to use double as 13-15 balanced or very strong. The big advantage is that it makes bidding your HCP games very straightforward (4-4/5-3 major or 3NT) while against a weak two the auction may go 2H all pass when you have a balanced 14 opposite a balanced 12 (say).

Whatever defence you play you also need some good agreements about what constitutes a cue bid. For example, I have agreed that after a 2M or 3M overcall (natural), a non-jump of the other major is a cue bid, a jump is natural.

[inquiry]

cnszsun, on Jan 30 2007, 01:16 AM, said:

In my local club, most people play 2♦ opening as weak in either major, no strong hands included.
Is there a simple but effective defence to it?
Thanks for your advice.

Choose your poison... I like multi-versus-multi... but dixon is very popular...

Link to Chis Ryall's Defense to Mulit 2D page

While I prefer Multi-versus multi. ... Chris Ryal multi versus multi page -- but may not equate with your simple requitement.