A Better 2 Diamond Opening Bid

There are several conventional 2 diamond opening bids in addition to the usual Weak Two.  These arose because the preemptive value of the Weak Two Diamond opener was so limited.  

The most common alternatives are Roman 2 Diamond, showing a 4-4-4-1 or 5-4-4-0 three-suiter with 17-20 HCP, Mini-Roman showing the same distribution and 11-15 HCP and Flannery showing 5 hearts, 4 spades and 11-15 HCP.  Each has advantages and disadvantages but all are generally agreed to be much better than the Weak Two Diamond bid.

My partner and I had favored Flannery but recently found something we like much better.  It is called Karosel and it’s been around since 2002, although most players have never heard of it.

Karosel shows 18 or 19 HCP and no singletons or voids.  So, you could have a holding with any distribution from 4-3-3-3 to 7-2-2-2.  Without Karosel, on most of these hands you would open 1 of a suit and then rebid 2NT or with a 6+ card suit open it and then jump in it.  Those are both fine unless partner passes or the opponents get into the auction.  In either case you probably won’t get an opportunity to show your big hand.  In my book, that’s a plus for Karosel.

However, I believe the biggest plus for Karosel users is the huge range of responses available to responder.  For the most part, think of responding to Karosel in much the same way you respond to 1NT.  Stayman, Puppet Stayman, Jacoby Transfers, Minor Suit Stayman, Texas Transfers and Gerber (whatever systems you play after 1NT except minor suit transfers) are all possible after a 2 Diamond open and each shows very specific things about Responders hand.  In other words, you use the “No-Trump Systems On” approach for responding to Karosel.   That’s the big advantage of Karosel.  It’s also the big flaw in opening 1 of a suit and rebiding 2NT.  What does responder bid on her second bid?  Another plus is that it is easy to deal with interference should opponents decide to get into the fray.

Responses to Karosel 2 Diamond open

Pass    0-5 HCP and 5 diamonds

2♥         0-5 HCP, Bust, artificial, denies 5 diamonds, opener places the contract

2♠        12+ HCP, Minor Suit Stayman, 5/4 minors, 7 losers if you play Losing Trick Count, Slamish

2NT     0-5 HCP, 5/5 in Majors, Responder’s natural second bid will show his strength

3♣         6+ HCP, Stayman or Puppet Stayman if you play it

3♦ /♥      0+ HCP, Jacoby Transfer, 5 card Major

3♠         6-11 HCP, Relay to 3NT (opener must rebid 3NT), right sides the hand, no slam interest

3NT     (not part of published Karosel)  We use it as Niemeijer showing 6+ HCP, 5♠ s and 4♥ s

4♣         12+ HCP, Gerber

4♦ /♥      8/9 HCP, Texas Transfer, 6 card Major

Opener’s second bid will always be in accordance with the particular convention or per your partnership agreement.

Responses to Karosel when the Opponents Interfere

Pass    0-5 HCP, Bust

X          Play it as a “Stole My Bid” double showing same holding as without interference.

           (If interference is a Weak Jump Overcall, responder’s double is Negative)

Cue     Western (at the 3 level), 6-11 HCP (Opener bids 3NT with a stop in Opponent’s suit)

3NT     6+ HCP, 5♠ s and 4♥ or could be 5/5 in Majors.  Opener will pick a Major

All other available bids are the same as they would have been without interference.

If you decide to give Karosel a try, I suggest you begin by using only the Responder Conventions that you already use after a 1NT opening.  It will greatly simplify the adaption and if you and your partner decide you like Karosel, then you can pick and chose whatever else you want to add.  If you do that, you will likely want to add the same responses after 1NT just to keep things easy to remember.

Remember, all of these bids are alertable.  Happy Karoseling.