Is the Multi 2 Worth it?

1.5k · October 22, 2011

The Multi 2♦ is often the subject of much criticism, including but not limited to -

1.) Most Multi's are a weak 2 in a major. When your major is ♠, LHO is now still able to show a ♥ suit on the 2 level. The pre-emptive effect of a weak 2♠ bid is lost.

2.) The strong balanced hand pattern can be bid with a natural 2NT.

3.) Freeing up the 2NT bid to show both minors 5-10 HCP has also been questioned. Information is given to the opponents on the hand layout and HCP distribution making it easier for them to balance and/or the subsequent play of the hand.

4.) The 4441 hand pattern with 17-24 HCP is so rare that many users of the Multi don't even have it as an option in their 2♦ structure.

POLL:

1.) What are your thoughts on the Multi?

2.) If you don't use it, what do you use the 2♦ bid for?

EricK · October 22, 2011

Against well-prepared opponents, it causes fewer problems than natural weak 2s would (as they have extra room, and an extra round of bidding). Against poorly prepared opponents it will probably give you a few extra good scores!

I use 2♦ as a weak 2 in ♦. Pre-empts in a minor are surprisingly effective. For instance, if LHO is 5-3 in the majors, he can overcall in his longer one and risk missing a fit in the other, or make a take out double and risk ending up in the wrong major. This is especially true at the 3 and 4 level, but still true at the 2 level.

rhm · October 22, 2011

The Multi 2♦ is often the subject of much criticism, including but not limited to -
1.) Most Multi's are a weak 2 in a major. When your major is ♠, LHO is now still able to show a ♥ suit on the 2 level. The pre-emptive effect of a weak 2♠ bid is lost.
2.) The strong balanced hand pattern can be bid with a natural 2NT.
3.) Freeing up the 2NT bid to show both minors 5-10 HCP has also been questioned. Information is given to the opponents on the hand layout and HCP distribution making it easier for them to balance and/or the subsequent play of the hand.
4.) The 4441 hand pattern with 17-24 HCP is so rare that many users of the Multi don't even have it as an option in their 2♦ structure.

POLL:
1.) What are your thoughts on the Multi?
2.) If you don't use it, what do you use the 2♦ bid for?

The truth is that it depends.

Sometimes opponents gain because a 2♦ bid is a lower preempt.

The uncertainty of preemptor's suit cuts both ways.

Partner may not know immediately about a major suit fit or misfit, but neither do both opponents know for sure what major preemptor has and have no obvious cue-bid in opponents suit available.

The 2♦ may or may not be less effective than a weak two in the suit, but it frees 2♥ and 2♠ for other purposes.

Whether to pack other hands into the Multi is a completely separate question.

Rainer Herrmann

the hog · October 22, 2011

I use it. I like it.

You don't have to use 2NT for the minors, nor do you have to include strong options in the Multi/ I must admit I do prefer 2H as weak in either major and 2D as Wilkosz.

ggwhiz · October 22, 2011

I don't know enough about it but read an interesting thread on opening 2♥/♠ to show 10-14 with a 6 bagger.

The ability to play that in conjuction with multi may be the big gain as it seems popular with many strong pairs and has a good structure. I don't play it but defending a multi comes easily and defending against this gives me fits. Of course, playing against strong pairs does too.

I recall Kaplan(?) saying that the big advantage to playing a weak notrump is when you open 1 of a suit.

awm · October 22, 2011

I like the weak-only version. Basically:

(1) You come out slightly behind when you open multi instead of a weak two against a good pair. However, most of us play quite a number of boards against weaker players and/or unpracticed partnerships, of which there are many even in national/international-level open events. Multi is a huge winner against weaker pairs. In a pairs event especially, multi is probably a net win over opening weak twos, and in any case it's not a big long-term loss.

(2) You free up the 2M bids for another meaning. This is where the big wins come from (especially against decent opponents). Personally I like the intermediate twos, which can really put the screws to opponents (who must guess whether to come in with a strong notrump hand for example, in an auction where they are a level higher than the field and extremely vulnerable to a penalty double). This approach also simplifies your bidding after 1M by taking the minimum one-suiter out as a hand type.

(3) You lose the weak two in diamonds, which is more effective than some people make it out to be.... but you are basically gaining two intermediate twos (2M) in exchange for one weak two (2D) which should be a net win (especially since they should be close to equal in frequency).

Flameous · October 22, 2011

I agree with Hog that I prefer Wilkoz and multi 2H, but I think that normal multi (especially without strong options) also gives you significant advantages.

It simply comes from that you can open more weak hands with descriptive _enough_ bid. Every bid you use to take room away from opps is good.

Sure you lose compared with W2 opening compared with Multi opening, but multi gives you two weak openings more, and I think it gives you the advantage.

I must admit that playing W2 so that you open it most of the time with 5-4 might make up for it, sure your partner knows less about your hand but so does opps. But it's hard thing to measure, and I prefer to take my constructive gains until someone shows otherwise.

Free · October 22, 2011

Didn't we have a huge thread about this 1 or 2 months back where we compared the weak two's vs multi. With a weak two you can better open 2M, but the multi has advantages when you don't have a weak two. Most people seemed to agree that you shouldn't include strong versions in the multi to get the best results. I like the weak-only multi.

glen · October 22, 2011

At top levels, one has to question whether a weak two in a major is necessary. For example the second pair in the Bermuda Bowl Butlers (after 21 rounds) do not play a weak two in a major when not vulnerable. For Fantunes, they have no weak two, and for transnational teammates Meckwell, the opening one bids are so light that the weak two does not get bid that much. Certainly the weak two can get a partnership quickly to 4M, but it can also get the opponents into 3NT playing double dummy.

For further on my opinions on this, please see page 3 of:

http://www.bridgematters.com/6mia.pdf

1eyedjack · October 22, 2011

You can split your ranges for weak 2 openers. And you can split your ranges of strong balanced 2N hands. The latter point of of marginal utility on frequency grounds. Of just a couple of points I am convinced from practice: Using it as a weak 2 in Diamonds is a waste. Using it as a strong 2 in Diamonds is a waste (actually I think less of a waste than a weak 2 in Diamonds). Using it as a random strong 2 (Benji style) is, well, random. Gotta be something better for it.

Others like Mexican. Not for me, though.

blackshoe · October 22, 2011

The great think about this game is that there's room for almost everybody. :D

nige1 · October 22, 2011

Multi 2♦ is easy to defend but fun to play. The paranoia that it generates in the ACBL is puzzling. It has drawbacks but it does free up 2♥ and 2♠ for other purposes. For a long time, with Tsetse Club we've played Trypanosomiasis twos. Their main advantage is that they are so easy to counter that opponents are likely to fall asleep:

2♣ = Nat 8-12 & 4+ ♣ & 4+ ♦.
2♦ = Multi 5-9 & 5+M or 16+ 4441.
2♥/♠ = Nat 8-12 & 4 M & 5+ m.
2N = Art 5-9 & 5+ ♥ & 5+ other.

kenrexford · October 23, 2011

So many options seem better to me, depending on what seems best for system structure. Some of my favorite for 2D are...

Minors and 13-16

Strong with 4 or more spades

5S/4-5H 10-13

5S/4-5D 19-15

When I play multi I like Roman 2M.

inquiry · October 23, 2011

Don't play multi 2♦ just to be playing it. You need a systemic reason, so that the gains from using 2♦ is related just as much, or perhaps even more, due to the other bids that you free up because you have the 2♦ bid available.

For me, i include three type hands in my multi 2♦. The typical weak two in one of the majors everyone does, the very strong balanced hand, and a very strong minor one suiter (9.5 to 10 tricks in hand).

Let me say that i don't use 2NT as natural, so having the balanced hand here is important to me. Let me further say that i don't open 2♣ with a two suiter (defined at two five card or longer suits), and I do open a "forcing 2♣" on some weaker than normal hands (a benjamin two type hand, 8, 8.5 tricks and a major one suiter is good enough). So if I open 2♣ and rebid a minor, it is game forcing, since this will be stronger than the minor one suiter that I included in multi 2♦. I PLAY ritong 2♣ rebid (after 1M) and to make this clear, i use 2H/2S to show minimum normal opening hand with the bid major and clubs, this frees up the 2♣ rebid by opener to be artificial and forcing (think like gazilli, but always strong).

i am note fond (sorry guys) of playing the weak only version of the multi-2♦. The weak two diamonds as a diamond suit is a horrible thing to give up for such a limited purpose. i am surprised the loss of a natural weak 2♦ wasn't mentioned in the original post.

mgoetze · October 23, 2011