Name of a Convention

[steve2005]

I'm thinking of a 2♦ opening bid which is weak and shows at least 4-4 in the majors.

Cant remember the name. Anyone out there know?

[smerriman]

Ekren?

[nullve]

Ekren (or Ekren's) 2♦

[pilowsky]

Or fighting Irish? - https://www.bridgebum.com/fighting_irish_2d.php

[mw64ahw]

Ekren

https://www.chrisryall.net/bridge/weak.two/ekren-1994.htm

and a defence

https://www.chrisryall.net/bridge/weak.two/ekren-defence.htm

[Douglas43]

The Bridgebum site has a summary of Ekren with advice about its ACBL status Ekren 2D Bridge Convention - Bidding and Responses (bridgebum.com)

 

Don't know about Canada, but it's open for club use under EBU. A friend plays it regularly. With him I stick to at least 5-4. Good alternative to natural 2♦ even if you don't play many gadgets.

[mycroft]

I can give that:

 

Not legal Basic/+ (hope I don't have to give quotes for that one)

Not legal Open: [Disallowed:] "An Artificial opening Preempt below 3NT; except, 2NT may be used to show two known suits." (*)

Legal Open+, and doesn't require defence.

 

(*) Note that there is a weird exception (which probably isn't playable without Multi 2♦, not legal Open Chart, but still) for the Open Chart: Ekren *2♥* is legal, provided it promises 5+♥ - because it's Natural.

[Douglas43]

The Bridgebum site has a summary of Ekren with advice about its ACBL status Ekren 2D Bridge Convention - Bidding and Responses (bridgebum.com)

 

Don't know about Canada, but it's open for club use under EBU. A friend plays it regularly. With him I stick to at least 5-4. Good alternative to natural 2♦ even if you don't play many gadgets.

 

To expand, permitted two level openings at EBU Level 4 include: "(iii) One or more meanings which all show at least 4-4 in the same two specified suits".

 

The Blue Book says about Level 2: "This level is suggested for novice events, no fear events and events where there are several flights and a separate level is wanted for the lowest flight". 2♦ Ekren is not allowed in Level 2 (but 2♥ would be).

 

I think levels 1 and 3 used to exist, but have been rationalised away.