The origin of this opening bid is unknown. Any information about the originator or developer of this conventional method would be greatly appreciatated and acknowledged.
The Morgan Two Diamonds opening bid is an artificial opening bid that is forcing for one round. However, the opening bid is not game forcing. Herein lies the uniqueness of the concept that the opening bid is only one-round forcing, but never game-forcing.
The opening bid of 2 Diamonds promises a holding of near game-forcing values and strength if the rebid is in No Trump. Otherwise the holding may be either semi-balanced or have any distributional pattern.
If the holding is balanced, then the strict requirement is that the holding contain 23-24 high card points.
Example 1 - Balanced Distribution
South AQ9 KQ73 KQJ AQ8
North 1076 8642 104 9643 South North Meaning 2 South may have either of two holdings. 2 An artificial waiting bid in order that partner clarify the holding. The responder is forced to bid. 2 NT Promises a balanced distribution with 23-24 high card points.
If the holding constitutes an unbalanced distribution, then the holding should contain a 4-card Major suit and a second longer suit, even if the longer suit is the other Major suit.
Example 2 - Unbalanced Distribution
South AQ94 KQ973 K54 10
North J1065 A86 Q96 QJ7 South North Meaning 2 South may have either of two holdings. 2 An artificial waiting bid in order that partner clarify the holding. 2 Shows opening values. Promises unbalanced distribution, a 4-card Spade suit, and an unspecified 5-card longer suit.
It is the responsibility of the responder to obtain more information about the holding of partner, and therefore the responder first makes an artificial waiting bid of 2 Hearts.
South North Meaning 2 2 An artificial waiting bid in order that partner clarify the holding. 2 Shows opening values. Promises unbalanced distribution, a 4-card Spade suit, and an unspecified 5-card longer suit. (See Example 2 above.) 2 NT Promises a balanced distribution with 23-24 high card points. (See Example 1 above.) 3 Shows opening values. Promises a 4-card Heart suit and a 5-card or longer Club suit. 3 Shows opening values. Promises a 4-card Heart suit and a 5-card or longer Diamond suit. 3 Shows opening values. Promises a 4-card Heart suit and a 5-card (or longer) Spade suit. Note: Some partnership agreements guarantee only a 4 Hearts - 5 Spades distribution.)
As soon as the distribution of the opener has been clarified with the rebid, then the continuances are generally natural.
The responder, who has made only an artificial waiting bid, returns to the original 4-card Major suit when holding also a 4-card support in the Major suit of partner. If the support is in the specified longer suit, then the responder should make a preference bid below game with fewer than game values. This partscore contract will always be on the three level and is a sign-off bid.
However, if the rebid is a Minor suit, either 3 Clubs or 3 Diamonds, then the responder is allowed to pass with fewer than Minor suit game values and shortness in the other identified 4-card suit. The following example illustrates this action:
South AQ KQ93 85 QJ1086
North J1065 J87 Q96 K74 South North Meaning 2 South may have either of two holdings. 2 An artificial waiting bid in order that partner may clarify the holding. 3 Shows opening values. Promises a 4-card Heart suit and a 5-card or longer Club suit. Pass The responder may pass with fewer than game values in a Minor suit. 3 NT (Note: With sufficient values and insufficient support in either of the suits held by partner, then the responder can rebid a game contract in No Trump with stoppers in both remaining suits.)
If the rebid, however, is 3 Hearts, a Major suit, showing 4 Hearts and 5 Spades, then the responder will make a preference bid, pass, or bid No Trump with sufficient values.
South AQ974 KQ97 K54 10
North J1065 J83 Q96 K74 South North Meaning 2 South may have either of two holdings. 2 An artificial waiting bid in order that partner may clarify the holding. 3 Shows opening values. Promises a 4-card Heart suit and a 5-card (or longer) Spade suit. Note: Some partnership agreements guarantee only a 4 Hearts - 5 Spades distribution.) 3 The responder makes a Major suit preference bid, which is a sign-off bid. Values are insufficient for a game contract. 3 NT (Note: With sufficient values and insufficient support in either of the suits held by partner, then the responder can rebid a game contract in No Trump with stoppers in both remaining suits.)
South AQ94 KQ973 K54 10
North J1065 A85 Q96 KQ7 South North Meaning 2 South may have either of two holdings. 2 An artificial waiting bid in order that partner clarify the holding. 2 Shows opening values. Promises unbalanced distribution, a 4-card Spade suit, and an unspecified 5-card longer suit. 3 By raising partner's known Major suit only one level the responder is promising 4-card plus support in Spades and invitational values. Additional rebids by the responder: 4 Sign-off. By jumping to a game contract in partner's known Major suit the responder is showing game values. 3 NT This is a slam-try bid with Spades as the trump suit. The responder is showing possible slam values opposite even minimum opening values. 4 This is a slam-try bid with Spades as the trump suit. This is a splinter bid showing either a singleton or a void in Clubs. 4 This is a slam-try bid with Spades as the trump suit. This is a splinter bid showing either a singleton or a void in Diamonds. 4 This is a slam-try bid with Spades as the trump suit. This is a splinter bid showing either a singleton or a void in Hearts.
In general, and with more frequency, the responder will respond first with an artificial waiting bid of 2 Diamonds to allow partner to clarify the holding. However, the responder has other options when holding possible slam values opposite a 2 Diamonds opening bid. Instead of responding first with the artificial waiting bid of 2 Diamonds the responder will take the initiative and respond as follows to show slam interest:
South A KQ93 Q85 QJ1086
North K107 AJ4 AK963 K4 South North Meaning 2 South may have either of two holdings. 2 This is a natural bid, as opposed to an artificial waiting bid, showing a 4-card plus Heart suit, and slam interest. 2 NT Shows a semi-balanced to balanced holding and sufficient values to attempt a slam-try in No Trump. 3 This is a natural bid, as opposed to an artificial waiting bid, showing a 5-card plus Club suit, and slam interest. 3 This is a natural bid, as opposed to an artificial waiting bid, showing a 5-card plus Diamond suit, and slam interest. A first response of 3 is the correct response to partner's opening bid in the above example. Slam values are present for a small slam. If the opener holds at least a 3-card Diamond suit, then partner will support.
Note: If the opener has insufficient support, then the opener will seek a possible slam contract in No Trump.
South North Meaning 2 South may have either of two holdings. 2 This is a natural bid, as opposed to an artificial waiting bid, showing a 4-card plus Heart suit, and slam interest. 2 NT Promises a balanced distribution with 23-24 high card points. 3 Shows a 5-card plus Club suit and a 4-card Spade suit. 3 Shows a 5-card plus Diamond suit and a 4-card Spade suit. 3 Promises a 4-card Heart suit and no side-suit singleton. 3 Shows a 4-card Heart suit, and promises a singleton or void in Spades. 3 NT The rebid of 3 No Trump is an idle bid, to which no meaning has been assigned. 4 Shows a 4-card Heart suit, and promises a singleton or void in Clubs. 4 Shows a 4-card Heart suit, and promises a singleton or void in Diamonds.
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible. (AK)
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