FLANNERY
TWO DIAMONDS
The Flannery Two Diamond convention was devised by Mr. William Flannery. Mr. Flannery kept running into a problem with a certain distributional holding and limited values. With a balanced hand and a No Trump range, Mr. Flannery would bid No Trump. With an unbalanced hand and a No Trump range, a 5-card suit lower than a 4-card suit, Mr. Flannery would apply the Reverse bid convention.
But Mr. Flannery had a problem with a distribution of a 5-card Heart suit and a 4-card Spade suit, and limited values between 11-15 high card points. So, Mr. Flannery devised the Flannery Two Diamond bid to cover such distribution and values. Using this convention, one partner can open the auction and describe his hand quickly and accurately.
AQ75 AK943 64 52 2 
THe above distribution can be quickly described to the partner with the Flannery Two Diamond bid. The point range, although large in comparison, and the distribution is known. The Flannery Two Diamond bid can be made in any seat or position at the table, as long as no player has made a bid in the auction. This is the entire concept behind the Flannery Two Diamond bid.
As with all holdings, the value of the hand becomes an important factor after a suit has been established. A hand with only 9 high card points may become worth 13 support points, a void for example, once a suit has been established. This element must be considered carefully by the partner when responding. The responder may already be a passed hand, but his values may have increased dramatically after discovering the holdings of his partner who has just bid a Flannery Two Diamond.
A54 AK943 A64 52 1
When playing Flannery Two Diamonds, it is important for the partnership to remember that the above holding may not be opened with 2 Diamonds. Although the holding contains 15 high card points, which is the maximum range for a 2 Diamond Flannery opening, the holding does not contain a 4-card Spade suit. By opening this holding with 1 Heart, the opener denies holding a 4-card Spade suit.
The responder usually makes the following bids:
Pass:
Responder may pass the Flannery Two Diamond bid if Responder has less than 10HCPs and a 6-card Diamond suit 2
:
this is a sign-off indicating less than 10 support points, but with more support in Hearts 2
:
this is a sign-off indicating less than 10 support points, but with more support in Spades 3
:
if the Responder bids a Minor in Clubs, then his partner should bid 3 No Trump with a Fit of Ax or Kx or Qxx in Clubs 3
if the Responder bids a Minor in Diamonds, then his partner should bid 3 No Trump with a Fit of Ax or Kx or Qxx in Diamonds 3
this is an invitational jump bid, and partner may pass 3
this is an invitational jump bid, and partner may pass 4
this is a transfer bid to 4 Hearts and Game 4
this is a transfer bid to 4 Spades and Game
If the responder bids 2 No Trump, a totally artificial bid, then the responder wishes more information about the Minor holdings. To describe his Minor holdings, the Flannery Two Diamond bidder can describe his Minor suit holding in the following fashion.
3
shows 11-13 HCPs and 2 cards in each Minor suit 3
shows 14-15 HCPs and 2 cards in each Minor suit 3 NT:
shows 14-15 HCPs and values mainly in the Minor suits consisting of 2 cards each 3
shows a 3-card Club holding 4-5-1-3 distribution 3
shows a 3-card Diamond holding 4-5-3-1 distribution 4
a jump bid to show a 4-card Club holding 4-5-void-4 distribution 4
a jump bid to show a 4-card Diamond holding 4-5-4-void distribution
In general, the Flannery Two Diamond bid is considered an essential convention for all bridge players, The distribution and strength is described accurately and quickly. By means of the responses, the opener can further describe his Minor suit holding. However, the bridge player must be aware that in selecting to add the Flannery Two Diamond convention to his list means that the Weak Two Diamond bid must be dropped. Both conventions can not be applied at the same time and mean something different.
There is also a Defense to the Flannery Two Diamond convention, and this is always a matter of the Partnership Agreement. Many bridge players play the standard defense, which is as follows:
Overcall
Meaning 2
indicates a 3-suited Takeout, with shortness in Hearts Double:
indicates the equivalent of a strong 1 No Trump opening, 15 plus HCPs 2 NT:
indicates the Unusual No Trump convention signifying both Minor suits Suit Overcall:
all other suit overcalls are natural Overcall
Alternative Meaning Double:
indicates a balanced in the 13-16 HCPs range 2 NT:
indicates a stronger balanced hand
As with all defense methods and treatments, they must be first approved by the partners and should become part of the Partnership Agreement. As the reviewer can see, there are different approaches when defending. These should be discussed beforehand and, if selected, applied if the opponents are using the Flannery Two Diamond convention.
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.
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