- This article concerns contract bridge and uses terminology associated with the game. See Contract bridge glossary for an explanation of unfamiliar words or phrases.
Multi or Multi 2 diamonds is contract bridge convention whereby the opening bid of 2♦ shows multiple types of hands, which always includes a weak two bid in either major suit, while the additional meaning may be a strong balanced hand (commonly 20-21 high card points), or a 20-22 three suiter. The inherent ambiguity as to both suit and strength makes it a powerful and popular convention capable of seriously disrupting the opponents' bidding. Although it's technically a brown sticker convention (since no long suit is initially known), its popularity and availability of defenses persuaded World Bridge Federation to allow its usage on tournaments of lesser ratings. It is described in WBF Convention Booklet.
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Description
An opening bid of 2♦ classically shows one of four types :
- Weak two in a major suit (6-11 HCP)
- A strong balanced hand of a defined range
- Strong three-suited hand
- An ACOL 2 type ; typically in a minor
Often the convention is played with only one of the strong options being present, ie a three-way bid. As long as at least one strong option is present, the multi 2♦ opening is a forcing bid. More recently a trend has been seen to play a "hearts only multi" in which the weak 2 option is always hearts. "Spades only multi" also presumably exists. The first response assumes that opener has a weak two in a major.
- 2♥: Pass or correct;
- 2♠: Pass or correct to 3♥ implies interest in game if the opener has hearts;
- 2NT: Forcing, asking opener to clarify his hand.
Opener's rebids:
- With type (1):
- Over 2♥: pass or bid 2♠;
- Over 2♠: with hearts, bid 3♥, pass with spades;
- Over 2NT several schemes exist for answering:
- Scheme 1:
- bid 3♣ to show hearts, upper range or type 4 with clubs;
- 3♦ to show spades, upper range or type 4 with diamonds;
- 3♥ or 3♠ with lower range.
- Scheme 2, first variant (not playable if type 4 hands are possible):
- bid 3♣ to show hearts, lower range;
- bid 3♦ to show spades, lower range;
- bid 3♥ or 3♠ with upper range.
- Scheme 3, second variant:
- bid 3♣ or 3♦ as in first variant;
- bid 3♥ to show spades, upper range;
- bid 3♠ to show hearts, upper range.
- Scheme 4 (PLauken), second variant:
- bid 3♣ to show upper range, unknown suit;
- bid 3♦ to show hearts, lower range;
- bid 3♥ to show spades, lower range.
- Scheme 1:
- With type (2):
- rebid in notrumps at minimum level
- Other rebids show type (3) and should be specified on the Convention card.
