The Precision Club Piggery        Guest User

The responses to the 2♦ Opening are as follows:

2♦-2♥	is forced with most hand-types. The exceptions appear further below:
	-2♠	shows 16-19 and any 4441 distribution.
		-2NT	is an automatic relay asking for the location of the singleton suit, and now
			-3♣	shows a Diamond singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first.
			-3♦	shows a Heart singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first.
			-3♥	shows a Spade singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first.
			-3♠	shows a Club singleton. No Eta Asks are permitted. Responder either signs off in the denomination of their choice at the appropriate level, or may bid Beta in the singleton suit first.
	-2NT	shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Club. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted.
	-3♣	shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Diamond. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted.
	-3♦	shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Heart. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted.
	-3♥	shows 20-23 and 4441 shape with a singleton Spade. Responder signs off at the appropriate level in the suit of their choice or can bid the singleton suit as Beta, but no Eta Asks are permitted.
2♦-2♠	shows 0-4 with 6-card or longer Spades. Opener normally passes unless both upper range and with a 4-card Spade fit.
2♦-2NT	shows 14+ with at least 4-card suits in both Majors. Now
	-3♣	shows 4-card in both Majors and a Diamond Singleton. Now 3♦ is Beta, but otherwise Responder bids Eta in their stronger Major. Asking Bids are now established. If Responder uses Beta, they must sign-off over the Beta response (ie: the use of Beta here tends to be the route with weaker hands)
	-3♦	shows 4-card in both Majors and a Club Singleton. Now 4♣ is Beta, but otherwise Responder bids Eta in their stronger Major. Asking Bids are now established. If Responder uses Beta, they must sign-off over the Beta response but with weaker hands it is normal for Responder to make an Eta Ask and then sign off in that suit at the 4-level. (ie: here Beta is a more expensive option than Eta, whereas when Opener shows a Diamond singleton, Beta is the cheaper option if Responder is weak).
	-3♥	shows 4-card Hearts and a Singleton in Spades. and is Gamma in Hearts (Minimum length being 4-cards). Asking Bids are now established.
	-3♠	shows 4-card Spades and a Singleton in Hearts. and is Gamma in Spades (Minimum. length being 4-cards). Asking Bids are now established.
2♦-3♣	shows 0-4 with 6-card or longer Clubs. Opener normally passes unless both upper range and with a 4-card Club fit.
2♦-3♦	shows 0-4 with 6-card or longer Diamonds. Opener normally passes unless both upper range and with a 4-card Diamond fit.
2♦-3♥	shows 0-4 with 6-card or longer Hearts. Opener normally passes unless both upper range and with a 4-card Heart fit.
2♦-3♠	shows 14+ with 4-card or longer suits in Spades and an undisclosed Minor. Now:
	-3NT	shows a Singleton Spade and tells Responder to make an Eta Ask in their Minor suit, so now:
		-4♣	shows Spades and Clubs and is Eta in Clubs, and
		-4♦	shows Spades and Diamonds and is Eta in Diamonds.
	-4♣	and upwards are Gamma responses for Spades (Min length 4-card).
2♦-3NT	shows 14+ with 4-card or longer suits in both Minors and denies possession of a 4-card Major. Opener bids Gamma at the 4-level (Min length 4-card) to set trumps and a relay over the response is Beta, so
	-4♣	is Gamma in Clubs, and
	-4♦	is Gamma in Diamonds.

Immediately over the 2♦ Opening

• With any hand that would normally make the 2♥ Relay or any of the long-weak-suit bids, Responder simply passes (but see below with a 2-suiter).
• With any hand that would make one of the 14+ Responses, Responder doubles. This simply shows values rather than being specifically for penalties or takeout. Now Opener bids the suit below their singleton.
• With a limited (0-7 HCP) hand but with two 4-card or longer suits, responder bids their cheapest suit

Over Responder's Initial Response

This also applies when partner has passed or doubled over the interference and this has been passed back to Opener:

• Opener doubles or redoubles with a singleton in the last suit bid, and is effectively for takeout. eg:
  • 2♦-(X)-No-(No)-???, now a redouble shows a singleton ♦.
  • 2♦-(2♠)-No/X-(No)-???, now a double shows a singleton ♠
• With a 4-card holding in the last suit bid, Opener bids their cheapest 4-card suit, eg:
  • 2♦-(2♠)-No-(No)-???, now 3♦ shows 4-card Spades and Diamonds, and shows a singleton ♣ (since that suit has been bypassed). Bidding proceeds naturally.
  • 2♦-(2♠)-No-(No)-???, now 3♣ shows 4-card Spades and Clubs, but their singleton could be either in Diamonds or Hearts. Bidding proceeds naturally.
• If 4th-in-hand has bid (ie: Opener's RHO), then a Pass from Opener shows a 4-card holding in the last suit bid (and probably 16-19 range). This pass is not forcing on Responder, but (depending on vulnerability and their values/distribution) Responder should aim to protect with a double or redouble where it seems appropriate rather than bidding a new suit. eg:
  • 2♦-(No)-2♥-(X)-No-(No)-???. Here Opener has effectively promised a 4-card holding in Hearts (or they'd have redoubled themselves). A pass here shows minimal values but 4-card or better Heart Support. A Redouble suggests a Heart shortage and so is SOS. Suit Bids are natural
  • 2♦-(No)-2♥-(2♠)-No-(No)-???. Here Opener has promised a 4-card holding in Spades (or they'd have doubled). A Double from responder here is essentially for takeout, but promises some values and Opener may well pass for penalties (depending on the vulnerability).
• In general, doubles and redoubles are for takeout, and suit bids are showing a willingness to compete. Responder will always have a limited 2-suiter if they start bidding a suit over interference (ie: we're assured of a fit somewhere).

• No responses other than the above are permitted.
• Eta/Gamma asks are only available when Responder shows 14+ hands. It must be remembered that Responder can be weak, and no good fit is guaranteed. Hence unless Responder shows one of the 14+ hand-types, all bidding is natural and non-forcing (invitational at best) except for Beta in the disclosed singleton suit.