This conventional method was created by Mr. Charles L. L. Dalmas of Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, and first published in the ACBL Bridge Bulletin, June, 2002, pages 50-52.
Note: The following presentation has been contributed by Mr. Charles L. L. Dalmas, for which we are greatly thankful and express to him our appreciation for his time and effort.
Note: For additional notes written by Mr. Charles L. L. Dalmas on the concept Karosel Two Diamonds the following cyberspace web page is presented, which has also been purely archived and preserved on this site in .pdf file format for future reference.
As explained by the author, the designation is a play on words borrowed from the German word for the designation of the Diamond suit, which is called Karo, hence Karosel, which is normally spelled carousel, which has several meanings: 1. A merry-go-round, as one at an amusement park; 2. A circular conveyor on which objects are displayed or rotated; 3. A tournament in which knights or horsemen engaged in various exercises and races.
This particular method or approach, as conceded by the author, began circulating among the sectional and regional tournaments around July, 2002, but until his article had not been published in written word. Mr. Charles L.L. Dalmas devised, defined, detailed, and designated this particular conventional method.
Before 2000 the Standard system was generally accepted by the bridge community and most players were using as their foundation the following partnership agreements:
| 1 NT: |
|
15-17 points: |
in conjunction with Stayman, Puppet Stayman, etc. |
| 2 NT: |
|
lowest range 20 points: |
in conjunction also with Stayman and Puppet Stayman, etc. |
2  : |
|
lowest range: 19 points;
general range: 22 plus points: |
in conjunction with different conventional methods |
To some degree, this left the range of 18-19 points open to interpretation and which proved somewhat difficult for the individual partnerships to overcome, much less describe. The prevailing agreement was to open the auction in either a Minor or Major suit, await the positive response from partner, and then jump to 2 No Trump when possible, showing 18-19 high card points.
This approach worked well only if the opponents remained silent and did not compete in any fashion. However, if the opponents decided to enter the auction as in: 1
- 2 (Michaels Cuebid), then the opener had bidding difficulties informing partner that he/she holds an 18-19 point holding.
This is the cause and reason for the application of a different conventional method defined by Mr. Charles L.L. Dalmas and designated as Karosel 2 Diamonds. The concept of Karosel 2 Diamonds addresses specifically this 18-19 high card point range.
When a player employing the Karosel 2 Diamonds conventional method opens with 2 Diamonds, then this player has exactly a point range of 18-19 high card points and is limited to holdings with a distribution of from 7-2-2-2 to more balanced distribution, no singletons and no void. Since an opening of 2 Diamonds describes the holding precisely to the partner, then the partner becomes the captain and sets the contract via the ensuing auction.
Using this conventional method, there are only ten responding bids to a Karosel 2 Diamonds opening bid. It must also be remembered that the bidding of 2 Diamonds after an opponent has opened the auction is no longer applicable. For example:
| Opponent |
|
Next Player |
| 1 |
|
2  |
| 1 |
|
2 |
1  |
|
2 |
| 1 |
|
2 |
| 1 NT |
|
2 |
Karosel 2 Diamonds
The ten possible responses, as described by the author, are as follows:
| Opener |
|
Responder |
|
Meaning |
| 2 |
|
|
|
This opening bid describes a semi-balanced hand with exactly 18-19 high card points. |
|
|
Pass |
|
Shows a weak hand with 5 plus Diamonds and no other side values. |
|
|
2 |
|
Shows 0-5 points and is a negative response. This response strongly suggests that the opener rebid 2 NT to play unless opener has a long suit (6/7 card length), which is rebid instead. |
|
|
2 |
|
This response is Minor Suit Stayman showing at least a 5-4 distribution in both Minor suits and at least 6+ points. This response is game-forcing and could indicate slam interest. |
|
|
2 NT |
|
This response promises a two-suiter in both Major suits. The opener bids the better Major by rebidding either 3 or 3. The responder then bids either game or shows slam interest. |
|
|
3 |
|
This first response is Puppet Stayman. The responder promises at least 3 cards in each Major suit. |
| Rebids |
|
|
|
|
| 3 |
|
|
|
The opener promises at least one 4-card Major suit. The continuing auction is the same as with the Puppet Stayman convention. After 3, the responder bids the Major suit not held or 4 with both Major suits. |
| 3 |
|
|
|
The opener promises a 5-card Heart suit. |
| 3 |
|
|
|
The opener promises a 5-card Spade suit. |
| 3 NT |
|
|
|
The opener holds neither a 4-card nor a 5-card Major suit. |
|
|
3 |
|
This response is a transfer to Hearts showing at least a 5-card plus Heart suit and at least 6 plus points. In the 2 opener only accepts the transfer by rebidding 3, then the opener is showing a 3- or 4-card Heart suit and no slam interest. If the opener super-accepts when holding a 4-card Heart suit, then this strongly indicates a mild slam interest if the responder has additional values. If the responder is interested in a slam try, then after acceptance or even super-acceptance the responder may bid 4, which is then Roman Keycard Blackwood 1430:
|
|
|
|
4 NT: |
Shows 1 or 4 Keycards. |
|
5 : |
Shows 0 or 3 Keycards. |
|
5 : |
Shows 2 Keycards without the Queen of Hearts. |
|
5 : |
Shows 2 Keycards with the Queen of Hearts. |
|
Example:
|
|
|
|
West |
|
East |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
|
3 |
|
Transfer to Hearts. |
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
Super-acceptance, indicates slam interest. |
|
|
|
|
|
Pass |
|
Responder has no slam interest. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
This response is a transfer to Spades showing at least a 5-card plus Spade suit and at least 6 plus points. In the 2 opener only accepts the transfer by rebidding 3, then the opener is showing a 3- or 4-card Spade suit and no slam interest. If the opener super-accepts when holding a 4-card Spade suit, then this strongly indicates a mild slam interest if the responder has additional values. If the responder is interested in a slam try, then after acceptance or even super-acceptance the responder may bid 4 NT, which is then Roman Keycard Blackwood 1430. The same principles apply as with a transfer to Hearts.
|
|
|
|
5 : |
Shows 1 or 4 Keycards. |
|
5 : |
Shows 0 or 3 Keycards. |
|
5 : |
Shows 2 Keycards without the Queen of Hearts. |
|
5 : |
Shows 2 Keycards with the Queen of Hearts. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
3 |
|
This is a relay to 3 No Trump. This response promises a supporting holding but which is not strong in values to attempt a slam try. Generally promises between 6-11 high card points and no distributional values. |
|
|
3 NT |
|
This is not a possible response when employing the Karosel 2 conventional method. |
|
|
4 |
|
This response is the Gerber convention and is a slam attempt. The responder holds at least 13 points. |
|
|
4 |
|
This response is a Texas Transfer to Hearts and promises at least a 6-card plus Heart suit. This response indicates no slam interest. With slam interest the responder bids 3, the three level. |
|
|
4 |
|
This response is a Texas Transfer to Spades and promises at least a 6-card plus Spade suit. This response indicates no slam interest. With slam interest the responder bids 3, the three level. |
The above responses and rebids are valid if there is no competition from the opponents. In the case that the opponents compete, then the lebensohl conventional method is employed, which solves most of the problems in the same manner as it achieves this goal after opening 1 No Trump with competition.
lebensohl is system on over 2 and 2 overcalls. Since the Karosel 2 opening bid is slightly stronger than a generally accepted 1 No Trump with a range of 15-17 points, the partner is required to hold 3-5 high card points over competition to employ the 2 No Trump lebensohl response, which is a relay to 3. With additional values, 6 plus high card points and a stopper in the suit(s) of the opponent, the responder should double first to indicate the preference to play in 3 No Trump, especially if the overcall of the opponent is 2 or 2.
In Competition
In competition, if the opponent doubles the Karosel 2 opening bid, then the responder can redouble holding 9 plus high card points. If the opener holds a 5-card plus Diamond suit, then the opener may pass the redouble since the result of making 2 redoubled would result in a better score. If the Karosel 2 opener does not have a 5-card Diamond suit, then the Karosel 2 opener should rebid 3 No Trump.
In competition, if the responder of the Karosel 2 opening bid has absolutely no values to improve the contract, then the responder may pass the double and/or overcall. In this auction, all other agreements are "system off" and/or not binding. A pass informs the opener of the values held by partner. In this instance, as strongly suggested by the author, the partnership shifts to Rescue Mode.
This action requires the opener to pass if the right hand opponent bids. If, however, the right hand opponent passes, then the opener rebids his/her 5-card suit at the cheapest level, but with a 4-3-3-3 distribution the preference is to redouble if the overcall after the Karosel 2 opening bid was a double. If the left hand opponent, who has doubled then passes for penalty, then the partner of the Karosel 2 bidder bids his/her longest suit. This is the so-called Rescue Mode. In the case that the left hand opponent bids over the redouble, then the partner may pass knowing that the distribution is 4-3-3-3 and the preference is to defend.
The following contains the procedure and explanations for higher level preemptive overcalls and included from direct email correspondence with Mr. Charles L. L. Dalmas:
Over a three level bid, a double by the 2 opener's partner shows a stopper in the enemy suit (or suits, if conventional), and is the equivalent of a 3 bid (the aforementioned transfer to 3 No Trump showing 5-11 points). The 2 opener, however, is free to convert to a penalty pass.
Over a three level interference, without a stopper, the responder bids 3 No Trump with a desire to play 3 No Trump, and the opener cannot pass without a stopper in the enemy suit (or suits). If the responder bids a suit, it is natural. If the responder passes, it shows less than is required for the 3 transfer to 3 No Trump, so leaves suit bids up to the 2 opener (or in rare cases 3 No Trump ... sort of a gambling 3 No Trump-ish hand).
The suit bids after the responder passes a three level overcall are all natural. Over any four level bid, or higher, the principles of Negative Doubles applies (as per the excellent book by Marty Bergen). This includes the 4 NT takeout bid for the unbid suits. To make this double, responder needs 6 plus points (since opener has shown 18-19 points).
Note: The published book, to which reference is made, is: Negative Doubles - Point Schmoints series by Marty Bergen, published 2000.
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.