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Walsh Diamond (Walsh Responses) - Outside
the Walsh system, after partner opens 1 Club most players bid four card
suits "up the line" looking for a major suit 8+ card fit. Not
necessarily so with the Walsh Diamond where responder begins by showing a 4
card major with a minimum hand. The Walsh philosophy is, "Immediately
bid your major suit with a minimum hand; with game-going values and a long
Diamond suit, only then should you begin with the 1 Diamond response and
belatedly rebid a major suit on your own. When responder does not hold
a 4 card major, Walsh players respond 1 Notrump with 8-10 points; otherwise
respond 1 Diamond with a balanced hand and less than a reasonable 6- 8 point
hand.
|
Bid |
Meaning |
|
1C - 1S; |
Holding a 4=2=5=2 minimum
or invitational hand, responder bypassed 1D, bidding a 4 card
major. |
|
1C - 1D; |
Holding 3=3=5=2 (lacking a
4 card major), bid 1D with less than 8 points |
|
1C - 1N; |
Holding 3=3=5=2 (lacking a
4 card major), bid 1N with a good 8-10 points |
|
1C - 1D;
1N - 2C |
Holding and unbalanced
minimum hand (say 2=1=5=5 shape), signoff in 2 Clubs even though opener
may hold one or two 4 card major suits. |
|
1C - 1D;
1N - 2D; |
Holding and unbalanced
minimum hand (say 2=3=6=2 shape), consider signoff in 2 Diamond even
though opener may hold one or two 4 card major suits. Rebidding 2D
is often best when the Diamond suit may not be promoted, perhaps lacking
honor entries. |
Using the Walsh 1 Diamond approach then, after 1C by opener and 1D
by responder, opener need not rebid a 4 card major (unless they hold an
unbalanced hand). Accordingly, opener can simply rebid Notrump with a
balanced hand.
|
Bid |
Meaning |
|
1C - 1D;
1N - P; |
After responder bids 1D,
opener assumes responder does not hold a 4 card major and bypasses a 4
card major (perhaps 4=3=2=4 shape). Holding minimum values and a
balanced hand, responder passes. With an unbalanced hand,
responder rebids a minor suit. |
|
1C - 1D;
1N - 2S; |
Holding 4=2=5=2 with
opening hand or better, begin by bidding 1D, rebidding a major
suit with game-going values (make a "reverse" rebid of a 4 card major if
necessary, 2S here should opener rebid 1N) |
|
1C - 1D;
1H - 1S; |
After responder bids 1D,
opener rebid of a major signifies an unbalanced hand (say 2=4=2=5).
Should responder rebid 1S, the bid shows an opening hand with 4
Spades and 4+ Diamonds (responder's 1 Spade bid is natural and game
forcing). |
|
1C - 1D;
1S - 2S |
Opener's hand is
unbalanced, rebidding 1S. Responder's rebid agreements vary
depending on partnership understandings:
1. Responder's 2S bid is a signoff bid with minimum values, and
unbalanced hand and only 3 card Spade support (perhaps 3=3=6=1 shape).
With a minimum hand and 4 Spades, responder would have initially bid
1S. 2. Responder 2S
bid is invitational, show 11 points and 3 card support |
In summary, after opener begins 1C and responder bids 1D, with
a balanced hand opener rebids 1N - bypassing a 4 card major suit. If
responder has a good 12+ point hand, responder will rebid a 4 card major
(check-back bid).
Note: on the ACBL Convention Card, the players check "Frequently bypasses 4+
Diamonds."
Some play after responder begins with a 4 card major and jump rebids 3D,
the bid shows a weaker unbalanced hand with a 4 card major and 6+ card
minor:
|
Bid |
Meaning |
|
1C - 1H;
1N - 3D |
Holding a 1=4=6=2 minimum
hand, responder still bypasses 1D, rebidding 3D as a
signoff bid. Unlike other methods, responder's jump rebid is a
conventional signoff bid. Responder's 2D rebid would also be
conventional (New Minor Forcing, Checkback Stayman, X-Y-Z, etc). |
|
1C - 1H;
1N - 2D |
In lieu of the above
methods, some others prefer to rebid only 2D to handle the
above situation (4 card major, 5+ Diamonds and a weak hand).
However, this approach negates conventions like
New Minor Forcing,
2C Checkback Stayman,
etc. |
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