Complex Two Diamonds

The Complex System uses a 3-way Multi 2 Opening. The possible hand-types are as follows:
  1. A weak 2 in either Major (typically 5-9 points with a 6-card suit), OR
  2. 16-23 points and any 4441 distribution, OR
  3. 8 Playing Tricks (Acol-style) in a 2-suited hand with at least a 5-card Major and a 6-card Minor, but less than 16 points

Given that Multi-style openings are effectively outlawed in the USA and UK (but nowhere else in the world) you will need to have an alternative strategy available of you're ever playing in an ACBL tourney on BBO or face-to-face in either of those two places (ie: the Simple System 2, since you will need some way of showing 16+ 4441 hands). The hand-types (1) and (2) shown above are relatively common (many Precision Pairs use a Multi with these two options), but option (3) is not. You may think that most 8-trick 5-6 hands would qualify for a 1 Opening, but lower range hands of this shape very often will not be upgradeable to 1 without pushing the envelope of a 1 Opening too much, eg: AK109x, xx, -, KJ109xx. Most upper-range hands of this shape will inevitably qualify for a 1 Opening and should indeed be opened as such.

Initial Responses

The 2 Opening is unconditionally forcing for one round and initial responses are as follows:-
2-2 Shows any hand that wishes to play in 2 opposite a weak-2 in Hearts even if they have game ambitions opposite one of the other hand-types.
2-2 Shows any hand that wishes to play in 2 opposite a weak-2 in Spades but with game interest if partner has a weak-2 in Hearts (or any other hand-type)
2-2NT Shows any strong hand (or possibly an intermediate one with both Majors) and is unconditionally forcing on Opener to show their hand-type.
2-3/4 Weak and pre-emptive with both Majors (at least 4-4). In using these bids (especially 4) Responder must bear in mind that Opener may be very strong, so these really must only be used on weak hands with shape where the possibility of a slam is remote even if partner has a 23-count.
No other initial responses are permitted to this Opening

After 2-2

The 2 response shows almost any weak or intermediate hand (apart from one that qualifies for a pre-emptive raise in Hearts) that has no game ambitions opposite a Weak-2 in Hearts. Opener's rebids and continuations are as follows:
2-2 -Pass Shows a Weak 2 in Hearts
-2 Shows the Weak 2 in Spades. Now:
-2NT Shows game interest in Spades and is a forcing enquiry. Now:
-3 Shows an upper range hand with a Diamond shortage.
-3 Shows an upper range hand with a Heart shortage.
-3 Shows an upper range hand with a Club shortage.
-3 Shows any lower range hand.
-3NT Shows a maximum hand, semi-balanced (6322) with a good suit (KQ109xx minimum)
-4 Shows an upper range hand with a 4-card or longer Club suit
-4 Shows an upper range hand with a 4-card or longer Diamond suit
-4 Shows an upper range hand with a 4-card or longer Heart suit
-4 Shows a maximum hand, semi-balanced with a suit not good enough for a 3NT rebid
-2NT Shows 16-19 points and any 4441 distribution
-3 is a forcing relay asking for the location of the singleton suit
-3 Shows 4144 shape with a singleton Heart
-3 Shows 1444 shape with a singleton Spade
-3 Shows 4441 shape with a singleton Club
-3NT Shows 4414 shape with a singleton Diamond
Once Opener has shown their singleton suit, Responder either sets the final contract or may make a Beta Ask first (in the singleton suit). Eta Asks are not permitted (nor are Epsilons). Bids of No Trumps and jumps in the singleton suit are strictly "to play".
-3 Shows the 8-trick hand with Clubs and Hearts
-3 is Lebensohl, forcing 3 from Opener, following which any rebid is "to play"
-3 is Gamma in Hearts. Asking Bids established.
-3 A forcing enquiry, asking about distribution. Now:
-3NT Shows exactly 1516 shape. (Now 4 is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows a Diamond void. (Now 4 is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows a Spade void. (Now 4 is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows at least 6-6 or 5-7 distribution. (Now 4 is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-3NT is Beta. Responder must set the final contract after the Beta Response
-4 is Gamma in Clubs. Asking Bids established.
-3 Shows the 8-trick hand with Diamonds and Spades
-3 is Lebensohl, forcing 3 from Opener, following which any rebid is "to play"
-3 is Gamma in Spades. Asking Bids established.
-3NT A forcing enquiry, asking about distribution. Now:
-4 Shows a Heart shortage. (Now 4 is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows exactly 5161 distribution. (Now 4 is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows a Club shortage. (Now 4NT is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows at least 6-6 or 5-7 distribution. (Now 4NT is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 is Beta. Responder must set the final contract after the Beta Response
-4 is Gamma in Diamonds. Asking Bids established.
-3 Shows the 8-trick hand with Diamonds and Hearts
-3 is Beta. Responder must set the final contract after the Beta Response
-3NT is Gamma in Hearts. Asking Bids established.
-4 is Gamma in Diamonds. Asking Bids established.
-4 is strictly "to play"
-4 is strictly "to play"
-3 Shows the 8-trick hand with Spades and Clubs
-3NT is Beta. Responder must set the final contract over the Beta Response.
-4 is strictly "to play".
-4 is Gamma in Spades. Asking Bids established.
-4 is Gamma in Clubs. Asking Bids established.
-4 is strictly "to play".
-3NT Shows 20-23 points and 4441 shape with a singleton Club
-4 Shows 20-23 points and 4414 shape with a singleton Diamond
-4 Shows 20-23 points and 4144 shape with a singleton Heart
-4 Shows 20-23 points and 1444 shape with a singleton Spade
When any of the stronger 4441 hands have been shown, no Eta Asks are permitted. Responder sets the final contract (but may make a Beta Ask in the singleton suit before doing so). All bids of No Trumps and jumps in the singleton suit are strictly "to play".

After 2-2

Typically the 2 Response will be showing 16+ with good Heart support and a Spade shortage, but may be intermediate with a source of tricks outside Spades.
2-2 -Pass Shows the Weak 2 in Spades
-2NT Shows 16-19 points and any 4441 distribution
-3 is a forcing relay asking for the location of the singleton suit
-3 Shows 4144 shape with a singleton Heart
-3 Shows 1444 shape with a singleton Spade
-3 Shows 4441 shape with a singleton Club
-3NT Shows 4414 shape with a singleton Diamond
Once Opener has shown their singleton suit, Responder may make an Eta Ask below game level (in which case Asking Bids are now established and Epsilons are subsequently permitted). If Responder uses Beta immediately in the singleton suit, they must set the final contract thereafter. Bids of No Trumps and jumps in the singleton suit are strictly "to play".
-3 Shows the 8-trick hand with Clubs and Spades
-3 is Lebensohl, forcing 3 from Opener, following which any rebid is "to play"
-3 is Beta. Responder must set the final contract over the Beta Response.
-3 is Gamma in Clubs (Note: System change March 2019 - Gamma in Spades very unlikely given the 2 bid). Asking Bids established.
-3NT is a forcing enquiry. Now:
-4 Shows exactly 5116 distribution. (Now 4 is Beta but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows a Heart void. (Now 4 is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows a Diamond void. (Now 4NT is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows at least 6-6 or 5-7 distribution. (Now 4NT is Beta but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-3 Shows the 8-trick hand with Diamonds and Spades
-3 is Lebensohl, forcing 3 from Opener, following which any rebid is "to play"
-3 is Gamma in Diamonds (Note: System change March 2019 - Gamma in Spades very unlikely given the 2 bid). Asking Bids established.
-3NT A forcing enquiry asking about distribution. Now:
-4 Shows a Heart shortage. (Now 4 is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows exactly 5161 distribution. (Now 4 is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows a Club shortage. (Now 4NT is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 Shows at least 6-6 or 5-7 distribution. (Now 4NT is Beta, but thereafter Responder must set the final contract)
-4 is Beta. Responder must set the final contract after the Beta Response
-3 Shows a minimum weak-2 in Hearts.
-3 is a forcing enquiry, asking Opener to show a shortage if they have one. Now:
-3NT shows a Club shortage. Now 4 is Beta. Epsilons are now permitted on the basis that Hearts are the agreed suit. 4NT is an invitation to cue-bid.
-4 shows a Diamond shortage. Now 4 is Beta. Epsilons are now permitted on the basis that Hearts are the agreed suit. 4NT is an invitation to cue-bid.
-4 shows a Spade shortage. Now 4 is Beta. Epsilons are now permitted on the basis that Hearts are the agreed suit. 4NT is an invitation to cue-bid.
-4 shows any 6322-shape hand. Now 4 is Beta and 4NT is an invitation to cue-bid. Any other side-suit bids are Epsilon on the basis that Hearts are agreed.
-3NT is Beta. Subsequent side-suit bids are Epsilon on the basis that Hearts are the agreed suit. A bid of 4NT is asking Opener to cue-bid.
-3 Shows a maximum weak-2 in Hearts with a shortage
-3NT is a forcing enquiry, asking Opener to show their shortage.
-4 shows a Diamond shortage. Now 4 is Beta. Epsilons are now permitted on the basis that Hearts are the agreed suit. 4NT is an invitation to cue-bid.
-4 shows a Spade shortage. Now 4 is Beta. Epsilons are now permitted on the basis that Hearts are the agreed suit. 4NT is an invitation to cue-bid.
-4 shows a Club shortage. Now 5 is Beta. Epsilons are now permitted on the basis that Hearts are the agreed suit. 4NT is an invitation to cue-bid.
-3NT Shows 20-23 points and any 4441 shape
-4 A forcing relay asking for the location of the singleton suit. Now:
-4 Shows 4144 shape with a singleton Heart.
-4 Shows 1444 shape with a singleton Spade (unlikely if Opps silent)
-4 Shows 4441 shape with a singleton Club.
-4NT Shows 4414 shape with a singleton Diamond.
When any of the stronger 4441 hands have been shown, Eta Asks are permitted. If Responder does not use an immediate Eta Ask and instead uses Beta in the singleton suit, they must set the final contract over the Beta Response. All bids of No Trumps and jumps in the singleton suit are strictly "to play".
-4 Shows the 8-trick hand with Clubs and Hearts. Subsequent bidding is predicated on the assumption that Hearts will be the agreed suit, since Responder has already shown an interest in Hearts. Thus:
-4 A forcing enquiry, asking about top honours in Opener's long suits. Now:
-4 Shows 3 Top Honours in Clubs and Hearts
-4 Shows 4 Top Honours in Clubs and Hearts
-4NT Shows 5 Top Honours in Clubs and Hearts
- A Relay over the response to the 4 Ask, is a further enquiry about distribution. Now:
1 Step Shows 1516 distribution.
2 Steps Shows 2506, 1606 or 1507 distribution (Diamond Void)
3 Steps Shows 0526, 0616 or 0517 distribution (Spade Void - very unlikely if Opps silent)
If Responder does not make the distribution enquiry, then other side-suit bids are Epsilon.
-4 is strictly "to play".
-5 is strictly "to play".
-4 Shows the 8-trick hand with Diamonds and Hearts. Subsequent bidding is predicated on the assumption that Hearts will be the agreed suit, since Responder has already shown an interest in Hearts. Thus:
-4 is strictly "to play".
-4 Asks about top honours in Opener's long suits. Now:
-4NT Shows 3 Top Honours in Diamonds and Hearts
-5 Shows 4 Top Honours in Diamonds and Hearts
-5 Shows 5 Top Honours in Diamonds and Hearts
- A Relay over the response to the 4 Ask, is a further enquiry about distribution. Now:
1 Step Shows 1516 distribution.
2 Steps Shows 2560, 1660 or 1570 distribution (Club Void)
3 Steps Shows 0562, 0661 or 0571 distribution (Spade Void)
If Responder does not make the distribution enquiry, then other side-suit bids are Epsilon.
-5 is strictly "to play".
-4 Shows a maximum weak-2 in Hearts but with no shortage. All continuations natural with 4NT a general slam try asking Opener to cue-bid a side-suit control if they have one.

After 2-2NT

2-2NT -3 Shows the 8 trick hand with Clubs and Hearts
-3 is Gamma in Clubs. Asking Bids established.
-3 is Gamma in Hearts. Asking Bids established.
-3 Shows the 8 trick hand with Diamonds and Hearts
-3 is Gamma in Hearts. Asking Bids established.
-3 is Gamma in Diamonds. Asking Bids established.
-3 Shows a maximum weak-2 in Hearts
-3 is a forcing enquiry. Now:
-3NT shows a shortage in Clubs (Now 4 is Beta and 4NT asks for cue-bids)
-4 shows a shortage in Diamonds (Now 4 is Beta and 4NT asks for cue-bids)
-4 shows a shortage in Spades (Now 4 is Beta and 4NT asks for cue-bids)
-4 shows a semi-balanced hand with no shortage (Now 4 is Beta and 4NT asks for cue-bids)
All other continuations are strictly natural and do not agree Hearts as trumps
-3 Shows a maximum weak-2 in Spades
-3NT is natural and "to play".
-4 is a forcing enquiry. Now:
-4 shows a shortage in Spades (Now 4 is Beta and 4NT asks for cue-bids)
-4 shows a shortage in either Minor. Now:
-4NT is a forcing relay and now:
-5 shows a Diamond shortage.
-5 shows a Club shortage.
-4 shows a semi-balanced hand with no shortage (Now 4NT is Beta and others are cue-bids)
All other continuations are strictly natural and do not agree Spades as trumps
-3NT Shows 16-18 points and any 4441 distribution.
-4 Asks for the location of the singleton suit. Now:
-4 Shows 4144 shape with a Heart Singleton
-4 Shows 1444 shape with a Spade Singleton
-4 Shows 4441 shape with a Club Singleton
-4NT Shows 4414 shape with a Diamond Singleton
Responder now sets the suit with an Eta Ask (in which case he has Beta and Epsilons available over the Eta Response) or can make an immediate Beta but then has to set the final contract over the Beta Response. As usual, bids of No Trumps and jumps in the singleton suit are always "to play" unless Responder has initially agreed a Major suit with an Eta Ask.
-4 Shows the 8 trick hand with Clubs and Spades.
-4 is Gamma in Spades. Asking Bids established.
-4 is Gamma in Clubs. Asking Bids established.
-4 Shows the 8 trick hand with Diamonds and Spades.
-4 is Gamma in Diamonds. Asking Bids established.
-4 is Gamma in Spades. Asking Bids established.
-4 Shows a minimum weak-2 in Hearts. Now:
-4NT is a mild slam try and asks Opener to show a shortage by bidding the suit below.
-5 is invitational to 6, but strictly interested only in trump quality. Opener should bid slam only if holding at least 2 of the 3 top honours.
-4 Shows a minimum weak-2 in Spades. Now:
-4NT is a mild slam try and asks Opener to show a shortage by bidding the suit below.
-5 is invitational to 6, but strictly interested only in trump quality. Opener should bid slam only if holding at least 2 of the 3 top honours.
-4NT Shows 22-23 points and any 4441 distribution.
-5 Asks for the location of the singleton suit. Now:
-5 Shows 4144 shape with a Heart Singleton
-5 Shows 1444 shape with a Spade Singleton
-5 Shows 4441 shape with a Club Singleton
-5NT Shows 4414 shape with a Diamond Singleton
Responder now sets the suit with an Eta Ask (in which case he has Beta and Epsilons available over the Eta Response) or can make an immediate Beta but then has to set the final contract over the Beta Response. As usual, bids of No Trumps and jumps in the singleton suit are always "to play" unless Responder has initially agreed a Major suit with an Eta Ask.
-5 Shows 19-21 points and 4414 distribution with a singleton Diamond.
-5 Shows 19-21 points and 4144 distribution with a singleton Heart.
-5 Shows 19-21 points and 1444 distribution with a singleton Spade.
-5 Shows 19-21 points and 4441 distribution with a singleton Club.
Over any of the 5-level rebids, Responder now sets the suit with an Eta Ask (in which case he has Beta and Epsilons available over the Eta Response) or can make an immediate Beta but then has to set the final contract over the Beta Response. As usual, bids of No Trumps and jumps in the singleton suit are always "to play" unless Responder has initially agreed a Major suit with an Eta Ask.

Notes

(1) The minimum shape for the 8-trick 2-suiters is a 5-card Major and a 6-card Minor. The scales for Gamma, therefore, have to be adjusted accordingly. HCP should be concentrated in the long suits (hence the very good playing strength on intermediate values). If not meeting these requirements the hand should be opened with 1 or 1 rather than 2. The hands that present Precision with something of a problem are those where the Minor suit is longer than the Major suit. Hands that are 6-6 or 6-5 with a 6-card Major can be shown fairly easily using normal methods for the Major suit Openings (or by Opening 1).

(2) Some of these sequences are more theoretical than anything else. The likelyhood of a 2NT response opposite a 20+ 4441 Opener, for example, is very small (has never occurred as far as I know), but these sequences are included merely for completeness.
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OCP System Change Log
Gammas after 2 - 2 (23-Mar-2019)
This change was suggested a number of years ago but never pursued. After 2 - 2 - 3 and 2 - 2 - 3, it is almost inconceivable that Responder will suddenly want to pursue a slam in Spades after initially showing a Spade shortage. Since bidding space is always at a premium, it makes more sense for a 3 rebid by Responder to be Gamma in Opener's Minor, which frees up 2 or 3 bidding steps that might be crucial.

All reference to the 4 Gamma and 4 Gamma have therefore been removed and in each case a 3 rebid by Responder will henceforth be Gamma in Opener's declared Minor.

Please Note: This change only applies to 2 - 2 sequences, not to any of the 2 - 2 or 2 - 2NT sequences.