AUTOMATIC
TWO DIAMOND
RESPONSE

After one partner opens the bidding auction with a Strong Artificial 2 Clubs, showing either a majority of the points or eight/nine plus Quick Tricks, or less than four Losing Tricks, several partnerships have agreed to use the Automatic Two Diamond Response, regardless of the holding. A Two Diamond response then becomes only a Waiting Bid by the responder.

This Waiting Bid does not describe any strength held by the responder, nor does it impart any descriptive information regarding the Diamond holding. The Automatic Two Diamond Response, owing to the partnership understanding, does not give any information to the opener.

The concept behind this agreement is to allow the opener to describe his holding on the lowest level of bidding. After the opener has made his rebid, showing either balanced distribution with corresponding values or his preferred suit, then the responder is in a better position to decide the final contract.

In the case that the opener is indeed two-suited, the Automatic Two Diamond Response gives the opener the opportunity to describe his holding on the lowest level.

The flaw in this treatment is that the opener has no information about the holding of the responder, who must then act singularly to place the contract. If you and your partner wish to use the Automatic Two Diamond Response as part of your partnership agreement, then it is strongly suggested that the partnership experiment with this treatment.

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.