Woodgroves Multi

by John-Hallvard Woodgrove

This 2 opening convention is both offensive and defensive. The frequency is high since you quite often have a 5 card major-suit with 3-10 HCP. It's really fun to see your opponents trying to guess what you have when they are strong. If you have played Multi before, you will find many similarities, but the responses are made more flexible so you have better chance to find a fit.

THE 2 OPENER MAY HAVE:

• 3-10 HCP with a 5 card major. You shouldn't have a side-suit in the other major suit, but hey, if you want to have fun. In first/second spot strength is 3-8. (not invitational strength vs 15-17 NT). There are NO requirements for trump quality. 65432 is good enough. 4 card minor is OK and preferred, but 5-5 is OK just if major suit isn't very weaker than the minor suit.
• 25-27 HCP. Balanced. (At least 8 1/2 playing tricks)
• 6+ club without side suit. Game forcing.
• 6+ diamond without side suit. Game forcing.

Those strong hands in the multi means that you can adjust the 2 opening and make it more precise. Woodgroves 2 has these changes in the system. Take a look.

RESPONSES TO 2 OPENING:

• Pass: you take a chance that your partner has weak 2 (if not he will kill you!). Responder has (maybe) diamond and a short suit in one of the major suit. Let your opponent guess.
• 2 - Not game if weak 2 in heart.
• 2 - Invitational if weak 2 in heart.
• 2NT - Lebensohl. Minor suit to play at the 3 level, or 6+card major suit and invitational. Requests 3 bid from partner.
• 3 - Artificial forcing bid. Asks for opener to describe his hand.
• 3 - Preempt in partner's weak 2 suit.
• 3 - Natural game forcing.
• 3 - Natural game forcing.
• 3NT - To play.
• 4 - Preempt in minor suit. At least 5-5.
• 4 - Preempt in partner's weak 2 suit.
• 4 - To play if weak 2.
• 4 - To play if weak 2.

REBIDS AFTER 2 - 2/2:

• Pass - Weak 2 in .
• 2 - Weak 2 in . (After 2 - 2 only)
• 2NT - 25-27 HCP.
• 3 - Game forcing and club suit.
• 3 - Game forcing and diamond suit.
• 3 - Minimum weak 2 heart. (After 2 - 2 only)
• 4 - Maximum weak 2 heart. (After 2 - 2 only)

REBIDS AFTER 2 - 2NT:

• 3 - Compulsory if weak 2.
• 3 - Game forcing.
• 3 - Game forcing and club suit.
• 3NT - 25-27 HCP.
• suit at the 4-level is Natural and forcing.

RESPONDERS REBIDS AFTER 2 - 2NT - 3

• Pass - Club suit.
• 3 - To play.
• 3 - Invitational.
• 3 - Invitational.
• 3NT - Both minor suits. Game forcing.

REBIDS AFTER 2 - 3

• 3 - Weak 2 in heart. then 3 is Invitational.
• 3 - Weak 2 in spade. then 3 is Invitational.

RESPONSES TO 2 - (DBL)

• Pass - I want to play in diamond. This bid may be a tactical bid hoping your opponents on your left will take out. Your partner will take a good look if the double is passed to him.
• RDBL - Bid your weak 2 suit.
• 2 - To play.
• 2 - To play. Otherwise the responses are as without interference.

RESPONSES TO 2 - (DBL) - Pass - (Pass)

• Remember bridge is also psychology. If you can feel your opponents are loving to play against 2, you should run, even with 4 diamonds. Partner may have a difficult hand to bid, and hoped they would bid.
• Pass - 4/5 Diamonds.
• RDBL - 5-3 or 5-4 in the major suits.
• 2 - 5 Heart and; 4/5 Clubs.
• 2 - 5 Spades and; 4/5 Clubs.

RESPONSES TO 2 - (2/2)

• DBL - Request partner to pass with weak 2 in the overcalled suit.
• Otherwise the responses are as without interference.

OTHER OVERCALLS from 2NT.

• DBL - Penalty
• 3/4: If partner hasn't had the chance to bid earlier, the heart bid asks opener to correct if weak 2 spade