Multi: weak or strong.

[NickRW]

But assuming there is no regulatory requirement, what is the rationale for having strong options? The mini-Multi (always weak) is an equally effective preempt, with no strong hands that suffer from self-preemption.

 

"Standard" has no really good home for the "Acol 2" type of hand (hence the fairly regular questions about whether to open a hand with 2♣ or not on these forums). On the other hand "standard" Acol devotes the all of the 2 level openers to solving this matter - which is inefficient.

 

On top of that typically both Acol and Standard open 2NT on a 3 point range (20-22) which is arguably too wide.

 

A possible solution (there are others) is to adopt, say:

 

2♣ 24+ bal or genuine GF hands (no shaded Acol 2s)

2NT 20-21 bal

2♥/♠ Acol 2

2♦ weak 2 in either major/or 22-23 bal/or Acol 2 in a minor about 8.5/9 playing tricks and enough high cards that it can stomach partner wanting to play 3NT on a weakish non fitting hand.

 

This gives an Acol player some sort of access to using weak twos and leaves all the strong options still available (including solving Acol's theoretical problem of what do you do with an Acol 2 in clubs).

 

The downside is that you only get 2 weak twos instead of 3 and it is more difficult to pre-emptively raise them.

 

Though you never see it, you can play Standard this way!

[mgoetze]

This discussion just keeps getting more expert-class all the time, LOL.

[kgr]

We play 2♣ as only weak (mini-precision) and 2♦ as (an overloaded) multi.

 

In Belgium you will see a lot of players having:

- 2♣ multi; with weak option: some Both majors; some for weak with D(and f.i. Semi-GF)

- 2♦ multi; with weak option: 6-card M (and f.i. GF)

 

You also have good players playing both 2♣ and 2♦ as only strong.

[NickRW]

This discussion just keeps getting more expert-class all the time, LOL.

 

Quite so. However, I really couldn't give a monkey's where questions are posted (unlike some folk who seem to get all upset about it for some weird reason)