MODIFICATIONS TO BENJI
INCORPORATING WEAK TWO IN DIAMONDS
(MULTI 2♣ - BENJI)

(Developed by Tony Haworth – December 2013)

1.      2♣ - eight playing tricks in any suit
                    or
      - strong balanced x-y points
                    or
       - weak 2 in diamonds (5 - 9 pts. 6 or 7 card suit) (if also holding a 4-card major, 5-6 pts)
         (may be only a 5-card suit in third position)

2.      In response (responder should initially assume opener has the weak diamond hand)

2.1         - 2, 2♠, 3♣ - invitational, 6-card (good 5) suit alternative suit (~14-16 points)
            ( - 2 can also show an invitational hand in diamonds, which opener can pass)

(These are similar to suit responses to a benji 2 or 2♠).

In response opener can support, ‘pass’, or revert to 3.
With a ‘strong’ balanced hand opener should bid NT at lowest level.
With strong single suited, bid suit (except diamonds – bid 4).
With a ‘good’ weak 2
, opener can bid 3NT with outside controls.

2.2         -  jump bid in a suit other than diamonds – 7+ card suit ~ 9-12 pts.

2.3         - bid 3D with poor hand and 3-card diamond suit (continuing the pre-empt).

2.4         - with ~13 points and 5/5 in the majors, bid 2♠, and over the expected 3, then bid 3.

2.5         - 2NT – 16 -19 pts. - forcing

     Responses (basically 4-card Stayman

3♣ - weak diamonds, upper end of range, 5-card Stayman, at least one 3-card major (or 8
             tricks in clubs) (not 4-card, since opener's 2 will not also contain a four card major if upper
             end of range (8,9 points)
            3 - weak diamonds, minimum of range
            3/
- upper end of range, heart/spade control; or 8 tricks in hearts/spades
           
            4NT – quantitative – looking for grand slam

     4 – strong single suited diamonds       

2.6        - 2 - others (the usual response)

3.      Other Considerations

            Over intervening bids, treat the same as when opening weak 2 or 2♠ (i.e dbl is usually penalty)

Over 2 - dbl; – the immediate 2suit or 2NT shows lower points (i.e. 14,15, for suit and 16-17 for 2NT), and the delayed bid shows higher points.

Over 2 - dbl; – 2 is 14+ with diamonds, whereas 3 is continuing the pre-empt).

Over 2♣ - (pass) – 2 – (bid), with the strong balanced hand (20-21),  double is best played as take- out, whereas 2NT shows at least a stop in the opposition suit.

As a consequence, an opening bid of 3 shows a seven card suit with two of top three honours.

 

These modifications are licensed at level 4 (usual club level) – Blue Book 7C1. Under previous Regulations – Orange Book – these would not have been permitted at level 3 (the previous ‘club’ level).

AFH