The Toddler 2♦ Response to 1♥ or 1♠

      My bridge buddies were debating what the single worst convention ever devised would be. 
      There were various candidates: the Dynamic 1NT opening, Mexican 2♦, and many others — some of which weren't even part of Romex. 
      The Precision 2♦ came under attack due to the "free" double that it allowed LHO. 
      While these were all fine suggestions, I had to insist that, without doubt, the worst bid ever envisioned was the forcing 1NT response to 1♥ or 1♠.  At matchpoints especially, 1NT is often the "dream spot" for many part score hands. 

      Why bypass it ?  

      My pals looked at me like I'd sworn in church.  One of them, nicknamed "Toddler", voiced their collection consternation:

"How else can Responder show a mediocre hand ?"

      In his honour, my partner (Bill Treble) and I fashioned, the "Toddler" 2♦ response to 1-of-a-major. 
      Similar to a Multi-2♦ opening, it handles the following hands:

      (1).  All 9-11 HCP hands with 5+ cards in the unbid major.

J K Q J x x x K x x x x x

South West North East — 1 — 2

K Q J x x x J K x x x x x

South West North East — 1 — 2

      (2).  All constructive raises of partner's major.

K x x Q x x x x A x x x x

South West North East — 1/1 — 2

      (3).  Any flat 10-12 HCP hand.

J x x J x x K Q x K J x x

South West North East — 1/1 — 2

      (4).  All forcing hands with Diamonds as the longest suit.

K x J x K Q x x x A K x x

South West North East — 1/1 — 2

      Now, a strong Opener will rebid 2NT or, less often, 3-of-a-suit, which will allow Responder to clarify the basis of the 2♦ call via a natural rebid.

Opener (West) A Q x x x K x x x A Q 10 x

South West North East — 1 — 2 — 3 — —

      Weaker Openers will usually rebid 2♥, permitting Responder to pass or rebid naturally, with 3♣ and 3♦ as the only forcing rebids.

Opener (West) K J x x x x x A x x A J x

South West North East — 1 — 2 — 2 — —

      Weak 1 Openers short in Hearts will baulk at rebidding 2♥ and, instead, rebid 2♠.  Again, Responder passes or rebids naturally.

Opener (West) K Q 10 9 x x Q x x A J x x

South West North East — 1 — 2 — 2 — —

      After 1♥:2♦, Opener can bid 2♠ to show a hand, which is interested in game, Unless Responder has long Spades and 9-11 HCPs.

Opener (West) x A K J 10 x K J x x K x x

South West North East — 1 — 2 — 2 — —

      It follows that, playing the Toddler 2♦, a direct raise of a major (1♥:2♥, and 1♠:2♠) is destructive (6-8 HCPs), allowing the partnership to "pre-empt" the 4th-seat player.

Responder (East) K x x K x x x x x x x x

South West North East — 1 — 2 South West North East — 1 — 2

      In the years since that original conversation, Bill and I have discovered some of the following pros and cons to the Toddler 2♦ response:

      The first disadvantage (D1) can be addressed by using the Golady 2♣ response, by jump rebidding the major (e.g., 1♥:2♦:2♥:3♠), or by bidding Diamonds twice before the major (e.g., 1♥:2♦:any:3♦:3♥:3♠).

      The second "disadvantage", responding a non-forcing 1NT with a long minor, may or may not work to the partnership's detriment.

      The third disadvantage (D3) is a thornier problem.  The legality of the Toddler 2♦ in ACBL events seems to depend on who — and what time of day — you ask. 
      One "solution" employed by many is to not play in ACBL events (ahem !).  Another is to continue to petition the ACBL to permit any and all constructive methods.
      Our approach is to clear matters with a director before entering any ACBL event.  Our experience is that most directors are very reasonable here. 

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P.S.: "What the heck is «G.I.R.L.S.» ?"

      I knew you'd ask.
      The acronym stands for
         "Game-tries In Responder's Long Suit."
      It is a long-suit game (or slam) try by Responder, rather than by Opener.
      Typically, Responder will hold a 5-card side-suit headed by two top honours, 3-card support, and little in the unbid suits for the game try.

Responder (East) x x A x x x x x K Q x x x

South West North East — 1 — 2NT

Game may make opposite as little as this:

Opener (West) x x x K Q x x x A x A x x

South West North East — 1 — 2NT — 3 — 3 — 4 — Pass

      Here, 1♥:2NT forces Opener to bid 3♣, whereupon
      (1) 3♦ is natural, inviting 4♥,
      (2) 3♥ invites 4♥ based on Club length.
      (3) 3♠, 4♣ and 4♦ invite slam 6♥ based on length in the bid suit.

West A x x K Q x x x K x x x x     East x x A J x A Q x x x A x x

South West North East — 1 — 2NT — 3 — 4 — 4 — 4NT — 5 — 5NT — 6 — 6

      Similarly, 1♠:2NT forces 3♣, whereupon
      (1) 3♦ and 3♥ are natural, inviting 4♠,
      (2) 3♠ invites 4♠ based on Club length.
      (3) Rebids 4♣, or jumps to 4♦ or 4♥ to invite 6♠ based on length in the bid suit.

West K Q x x x x x x K x x A x     East A J x A Q x x A x x x x

South West North East — 1 — 2NT — 3 — 4 — 4 — Pass

      Now, aren't you sorry you asked ?

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