Magic Diamond

This system by Lars Andersson and Hans Gthe of Sweden is for people who hate passing. On the majority of hands you can open the bidding! The version presented below is simplified and changed to my personal needs. The original is can be found on Sven-Olov Flodqvist's Homepage. This system is very well suited to be played as a forcing pass system, which can be called the Magic Pass system. In fact it was derived from a forcing pass system but in a different way as presented there.

Opening bids in 1st and 2nd seat

1 1 1 1 1NT 2 2 2 2 2NT 13 - 16 HCP unbalanced (rule of 22) or 15 - 17 balanced 17+ unbalanced (rule of 26) or 18+ balanced 8 - 12 HCP, 4+ , longer side suit possible 8 - 12 HCP, 4+ , longer side suit possible 11 - 14 balanced 8 - 12 HCP, 5+ , no 4 / 8 - 12 HCP, 5+ , no 4 / 8 - 12 HCP, 5 5+ other 8 - 12 HCP, 5 5+ / 8 - 12 HCP, 5 5

Responses
Vezi mai jos Vezi mai jos 1 / -raspunsuri 1 / -raspunsuri Bidding after weak NT 2 / -raspunsuri 2 / -raspunsuri 2 / -raspunsuri 2 / -raspunsuri Unusual 2NT

In 3rd and 4th seat the opening bids are all3 HCP stronger (2 for the non-suit-bids). All responses stay the same (3 HCP weaker of course) except after 1 and 1NT. The responses to the 3rd hand 1 opening bid can be found here. The different ranges in 3rd and 4th seat are:

Suit bids: 11 - 15 1 : 16 - 18 unbal. / 17 - 19 bal. 1 : 19+ unbal. / 20+ bal. 1NT: 13-16 HCP (same responses).

The lower limit of the weak openings may be violated in 3rd seat.

Responses to 1
If responder has 7 - 10 HCP, responder describes his hand and bidding continues as if there had been no opening bid of 1 . With all other hands, responder bids 1 . Response Further Bidding 1 0 - 6 (7) or Game Forcing Vezi mai jos + 1 7 - 10 HCP, 4 , longer side suit possible 1 / -raspunsuri + 1 7 - 10 HCP, 4 , longer side suit possible 1 / -raspunsuri 1NT 8 - 10 balanced Bidding after weak NT + 2 7 - 10 HCP, 5 , no 4 / 2 / -raspunsuri + 2 7 - 10 HCP, 5 , no 4 / 2 / -raspunsuri + 2 7 - 10 HCP, 5 5 other 2 / -raspunsuri + 2 7 - 10 HCP, 5 5 / 2 / -raspunsuri 2NT 7 - 10 HCP, 5 5 Unusual 2NT

After interference: If they double, pass is 0-3, 1 4-7 and redouble GF. If they bid 1 , pass is 0-7 and double is GF. 2 is Michael's. If they bid 1 / , double is a 4-card in the other major. A new suit shows a 5-card. The cuebid is GF. If they bid 1NT or more, we treat it as an opening bid.

1 -1 -?
The ball is back with opener. Having limited his strength last turn, he now describes his shape. Rebid Further Bidding + 1 13 - 16 HCP, 4 , longer side suit possible 1 / -raspunsuri 1 13 - 16 HCP, 4+ , longer side suit possible 1 / -raspunsuri 1NT 15 - 17 balanced Bidding after strong NT + 2 13 - 16 HCP, 5 , no 4 / 2 / -raspunsuri + 2 13 - 16 HCP, 5 , no 4 / 2 / -raspunsuri + 2 13 - 16 HCP, 5 5 other 2 / -raspunsuri + 2 13 - 16 HCP, 5 5 / 2 / -raspunsuri 2NT 13 - 16 HCP, 5 5 Unusual 2NT

Responses to a 3rd or 4th hand 1 opening

Opener has shown 16 - 18 HCP unbalanced, or 17 - 19 balanced. Responder is known to have 0 - 7 HCP, or up to 10 HCP with a balanced hand. The responses still have the same structure, take notice of the strength though. Response Further Bidding See 1 - 1 and add 3 0 - 3 Unbalanced, or 0 - 4 / 9 - 10(11) balanced 1 HCP + 1 4 - 7 HCP, 4 , longer side suit possible 1 / -raspunsuri 1 4 - 7 HCP, 4+ , longer side suit possible 1 / -raspunsuri 1NT 5 - 8 balanced Bidding after weak NT + 2 4 - 7 HCP, 5 , no 4 / 2 / -raspunsuri + 2 4 - 7 HCP, 5 , no 4 / 2 / -raspunsuri + 2 4 - 7 HCP, 5 5 other 2 / -raspunsuri 2 4 - 7 HCP, 5 5+ / 2 / -raspunsuri 2NT 4 - 7 HCP, 5 5 Unusual 2NT

Responses to 1
Response 1 Negative Further Bidding 1 is 22+ or 23+ bal., the rest is natural and limited (1NT 18-20, 2NT 21-22). Opposite a passed-hand, 1 is GF (about 2 HCP more).

1 GF, 5+ , unbal. 1NT GF, 5+

2 2 2 2 2NT

GF Balanced GF, 5+ GF, 5+ GF, 4441 GF, 5 5

2NT asks shortness

Further Bidding after the natural positive responses A new suit is natural, bidding partner's suit is TAB. NT without jump is 18-21 without fit. 1 -2 -?

2 : At least one 4-card major, no 5-card major 2 / : Natural, 5-card suit 2NT: No 4- or 5-card major After interference If they double, a suit bid is GF (1M shows 4 cards, 2 shows 5 cards, 2-suiters as if opened), 1NT is 7 - 10 balanced, 2 shows 11+ balanced, redouble shows . If they bid 1 / , double shows a 4-card in the other major. A new suit shows a 5-card. If they bid 1NT or higher, we treat is as an opening bid (keeping in mind partner's great strength)

1 / module
This module handles the bidding after someone has shown a limited hand with 4-card or longer in a major. This bid shows an unbalanced hand (5332 is included in 1NT). The major is usually 4 or 6 cards long but possibly 5M + 4m. With 5-4 majors bid the 4-card suit first. If the bidding was preceded by 1 , then responder is never very weak but everything stays the same. If the bidding was preceded by 1 - 1 , responder is either weak or GF. The weak type may take the following actions: Direct raise Bid 1 over 1 (and pass any response) Make a 2/1 transfer with a long suit (and possibly correct to 2M if partner bids a new suit) Fit showing bids Response 2M 3M 4M 2M-1 2NT To play, often a 3-card suit. Pre-emptive To play 3-card support and game interest Invitational to game or slam, 4-card support Further Bidding "Opener" passes unless he has a 6-card suit.

Vezi mai jos 3M signoff, 3NT balanced maximum, new suit is a singleton

Responses without fit Response 1 (after 1 ) 10+ HCP, 4+ 1NT Transfer to 2 Transfer to 2 (after 1 ) Transfer to 2 (after 1 ) To play 3lower GF, 6-card suit Bidding after 1M - 2M-1 After responder has shown 3-card support, opener usually accepts: 2M shows a 4- or 5-card major (if 5 then minimum) 2NT shows a 5+card M and maximum 3 / shows a good hand with 4M + 6+ m A non-jump in the other major shows a maximum, and 5-4 majors 3M shows a minimum hand with 6-card M A bid above 3M shows a splinter (with good 6-card M) If opener accepts the transfer to 2M, any bid by responder is a natural game try. Bidding after 1 -1 Further bidding Natural, Vezi mai jos See transfer 2/1 See transfer 2/1 See transfer 2/1

This is the only 1-over-1 response in the system. Bidding continues naturally. 1NT: 5 + 4-card minor 2 / : 4 + 5-card minor 2 : 6-card suit 2 : 3-card support (or minimum with 4-card support) 2NT: Maximum, 4-4 majors 3 / : Maximum, 4-card support, singleton The 2/1 Transfer response To create extra bidding space, the 2/1 responses are made via a transfer. They usually show a 5card suit, although they can be made with a 4-card suit on strong hands, or with very weak hands with a 6-card suit. Further bidding is natural: Accepted transfer: Any normal hand, usually not singleton in transfer suit. 2 (over 1NT): 4M + 5-card 2 (after a 1 -opening): 4 + 5 2 (after a 1 -opening): 5 + 4 2NT: Maximum with 4-card support of transfer Transfer accepted with jump: minimum with 4-card support If the transfer has been accepted, responder can show his real intentions: 1M - 2x-1 - 2x - ? 2M: Doubleton M, looking for part score

 2NT: Invite to 3NT 3M: GF, pick a game After interference: A double is ignored. After a natural non-jump overcall: A 2/1 response is natural NF The cuebid shows 4-card raise, at least invitational 2NT is natural A jump is a fitbid

2 / module
This module handles the bidding after someone has shown a limited hand with at least a 5-card minor, without a 4-card major. The bidding continues naturally as after a weak two bid. Response Further Bidding 2NT and repeating the minor are negative bids, anything else Invite or better, 5+card New Suit is GF Repeating the minor is negative, 3NT shows a semi-solid 6Asks feature 2NT card suit.

2 / module
After 2 , 2 is pass or correct, 2NT is strong and asks for the second suit. After this the 3 rebid shows 5 - 5 majors. 3 is forcing and shows 6+ After 2 , 3 is pass or correct, 2NT is strong and asks for the second suit. 3 is forcing and shows 6+ Afer both bids, 3 shows a fit in the known suit and invites to game.