Is multi 2♦ a good convention?

Is it better to play it or weak two in major?

It is certainly better to show immediately the major to allow rapid defense.

But is not this the only positive point of the weak two in major?

 

Let's review the positive points of the Multi 2♦ :

1. It keeps the openings of 2 ♥ and 2 ♠ for another use. For example you can

    play 2 major FANTUNES which is much more common than the weak two major.

    This must represent more than 4 times of openings to the  2 level.

 

2. It can seriously disrupt the opposing auctions.

    I remember a hand where Vulnerable with:

    ♠ R

    ♥ D109865

    ♦ xx

    ♣ 10942

    I opened a 2 MULTI and on the 2♠ response  I passed ...

    down 6 on a rough defense, but there was a cold 6♠ in the other side.

   This example is anecdotal, but it shows the unknown possibilities of 2MULTI ...

 

3. A third argument which is relentless.

    A system of suitable responses often helps playing contract from the strong hand .

    Whether a part-score, a game or a slam, this is a clear advantage.

    The defense is more difficult because the unknown hand is hidden and protected.

 

4. Most of the world's best pairs play the MULTI 2♦ (even the French have come to adopt it). 

    Is this not a proof of the effectiveness of this opening!

 

But be careful to use intelligently the auction.

    ♠ A63                  One poor suit and a very defensive hand in the other major: forget the opening ...                                                                         ♥ D107652

    ♦ x

    ♣ R96

 

    ♠ V108654             Quite in the spirit of a MULTI 2♦ opening. In PASSING you are likely to be overwhelmed to announce that hand.

    ♥ 6 

    ♦ 65

    ♣ R942

 

I just celebrated the 30th anniversary of MULTI 2♦ I'm playing with my competition partner.

Back Olympiad in Miami in September 1986 I decided to combine the  old good  2♣ ALBARRAN with MULTI 2♦.

My personal experience tells me that the MULTI 2♦, well used with the subtleties associated with it, is well above the weak two in major.

 

What should the MULTI 2♦ contain?

 

Balanced strong hands (2NT rebid), but in what range? 20-21 or 22-23 H HCP? Note that opening a balanced hand 20-21 HCP is 3 times more likely than in the  22-23 HCP range. Now you can, thanks to an adapted system of developments, take advantage of responses 2♥ and 2♠ made on the MULTI 2♦. We'll see that you can bid specifically a major singleton that can not be satisfactorily bid on 2NT opening. So it is much better to open 2♦ in the most frequent range of 20-21 HCP.

 

It remains there to incorporate hands difficult to bid in the system you play.

One can think of 4-4-4-1 over 20 HCP (very rare), or a strong single-suiter.

As part of the MAJEURE SECURISEE, not too much trouble to open these hands at a one level because the responder is expected to  to bid a major with as less as 3-4 points.

 

With 4-4-4-1 ♦ open 1 ♣ semi-forcing, if the responder bids a major then rebid 3 ♦ which is a bad SPLINTER (the SPLINTER 4 ♦ shows a concentrated 5-4). By cons, if the respondent is very weak without major he will pass  1 ♣ and this will probably be the best contract.

With 4-4-4-1 ♣ opens 1 ♦, if the respondent bids a major  one goes through 1NT GAZZILLI before making a Splinter in singleton if necessary. By cons, if the respondent is very weak without major he will pass 1 ♦ and this will probably be the best contract.

With 4-4-4-1M with a big honor singleton treat hand as a balanced hand.

With 4-4-4-1M with a small singleton open MULTI 2 ♦ followed by 3 in the 4th major.

Open MULTI 2♦ every strong minor single-suiter.

 

 

 

NEW ON 2 Multi

As balanced hands 20-21 HCP are opened 2♦, you must take the opportunity to create a response system that will solve some almost insurmountable problems when opening these hands 2NT. This response system must also address problems that may arise facing a strong 2 minor.

But all this must be done while preserving the developments facing a weak 2!