Magic Diamond

This system by Lars Andersson and Hans Göthe 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

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

In 3rd and 4th seat the opening bids are all 3 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: 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 See below
1 7 - 10 HCP, 4+, longer side suit possible 1/-module
1 7 - 10 HCP, 4+, longer side suit possible 1/-module
1NT 8 - 10 balanced Bidding after weak NT
2 7 - 10 HCP, 5+, no 4/ 2/-module
2 7 - 10 HCP, 5+, no 4/ 2/-module
2 7 - 10 HCP, 5 5+ other 2/-module
2 7 - 10 HCP, 5 5+/ 2/-module
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/-module
    1 13 - 16 HCP, 4+, longer side suit possible 1/-module
    1NT 15 - 17 balanced Bidding after strong NT
    2 13 - 16 HCP, 5+, no 4/ 2/-module
    2 13 - 16 HCP, 5+, no 4/ 2/-module
    2 13 - 16 HCP, 5 5+ other 2/-module
    2 13 - 16 HCP, 5 5+/ 2/-module
    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
    1 0 - 3 Unbalanced, or 0 - 4 / 9 - 10(11) balanced See 1 - 1 and add 3 HCP
    1 4 - 7 HCP, 4+, longer side suit possible 1/-module
    1 4 - 7 HCP, 4+, longer side suit possible 1/-module
    1NT 5 - 8 balanced Bidding after weak NT
    2 4 - 7 HCP, 5+, no 4/ 2/-module
    2 4 - 7 HCP, 5+, no 4/ 2/-module
    2 4 - 7 HCP, 5 5+ other 2/-module
    2 4 - 7 HCP, 5 5+/ 2/-module
    2NT 4 - 7 HCP, 5 5 Unusual 2NT

    Responses to 1

    Response Further Bidding
    1 Negative 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 GF Balanced
    2 GF, 5+
    2 GF, 5+
    2 GF, 4441 2NT asks shortness
    2NT GF, 5 5

    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 Further Bidding
    2M To play, often a 3-card suit. "Opener" passes unless he has a 6-card suit.
    3M Pre-emptive
    4M To play
    2M-1 3-card support and game interest See below
    2NT Invitational to game or slam, 4-card support 3M signoff, 3NT balanced maximum, new suit is a singleton

    Responses without fit
    Response Further bidding
    1 (after 1) 10+ HCP, 4+ Natural, see below
    1NT Transfer to See transfer 2/1
    2 Transfer to See transfer 2/1
    2 (after 1) Transfer to See transfer 2/1
    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

    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 5-card 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
    New Suit Invite or better, 5+card 2NT and repeating the minor are negative bids, anything else is GF
    2NT Asks feature Repeating the minor is negative, 3NT shows a semi-solid 6-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.