A Standard Version utilizing Two Diamonds

Presented by Mike Savage

 

     Flannery is a convention designed to handle minimum opening hands with five hearts and four spades.  In the original version (the most popular) an opening bid of 2D is Flannery. In a later version, 2H is used for Flannery; the only difference is that Pass replaces the 2H response - all other bids remain the same.

     The basic structure is almost universally played the same but various experts differ on the meanings of a few responses. The structure presented below is a standard one with some of those other options shown.

 

2D = Shows 5 hearts, 4 spades and 11-15 HCP (some experts vary this a little ±). There are a few players

          who also use Flannery with 6 hearts but in any case, it’s a hand that’s not strong enough to reverse.

           Responses:

            Pass = Bid when you have no interest in game after Flannery, a long diamond suit and no major fit.

2H or 2S = To play with no game interest and responder has shown his best fit. 2H might be bid with

                               only 2 hearts and 2S, with only 3 spades - if there is no better bid. These two responses

                               cover a wide range of HCP – from 0 to up to as many as 11/12 when you have a poor fit.

2NT = Asks opener to describe his strength and shape.

                        Responses over 2NT:           

3C or 3D = First option: Shows a three or four-card minor along with your hearts and spades 

                   Original meaning: Shows a three-card minor along with your hearts and spades.

                        3H = Shows 4-5-2-2 distribution and is a minimum.

                        3S = Shows 4-5-2-2 distribution and is a maximum.

                        3NT = Shows 4-5-2 2 distribution, a maximum and queen or better in both minors.

                        4C or 4D = Show a 4-card minor if you play a 3C or 3D response to show specifically three.

3C = First option:  Shows a weak or non-invitational hand with a long club suit and no major fit.

                  Another option:  A few partnerships play this as natural and forcing.

                3D = First option: Shows a long good suit with an invitational hand and denies a major fit.

                     Another option: A few partnerships play this as natural and forcing.

            3H or 3S = First option: Invitational – usually based more on a good fit and shape than on HCP.

                               Second option: Some partnerships play this natural and forcing with slam interest.

            3NT = To play with no major fits.

            4C or 4D = Original meaning: Transfer to the corresponding major (4C = hearts, 4D = spades).

                                                               Over 4C respond 4H with a minimum and 4D with a maximum.

                                                               Over 4D respond 4S with a minimum and 4H with a maximum.

                               Second option: Roman Key-card in the corresponding major (4C = hearts, 4D = spades).

                              Another option: Some partnerships play this as natural and forcing.

 

Miscellaneous: 1. If you play Flannery, almost all players play that a response of 1S to 1H shows a

five-card suit as partner would have opened Flannery if he had four spades and five        hearts (unless, of course, he had a hand strong enough to reverse).

                         2. Third seat, non-vul vs. vul, you might choose to open Flannery with two points less

     than the bottom of your normal range. This can be a very effective pre-emptive tool.

 3. When defending Flannery, a trump lead is often the best lead for the defenders.

 4. Some partnerships play that after 2D-2NT: 3C or 3D show a stiff or a void but since

     2NT does not establish a known trump suit, it seems better to play this response after           

     2NT as a fragment - which might eventually wind up being the trump suit.