The Monaco Bidding System, the Monaco System, or simply designated as the Monaco Convention was devised by Mr. Pierre Ghestem, (born February 14, 1922 and died on April 11, 2000), and Mr. Claude Delmouly, (born 1927 in Tour and died 2006), of France. The original Monaco responses to a strong, artificial 2 Clubs opening bid constitute a feature of the Monaco Bidding System devised by Mr. Pierre Ghestem and Mr. Claude Delmouly.

Variation of the Monaco Responses of Pierre Ghestem

The origin of the following variation, which employs natural responses, is unknown. They are, reportedly, generally taught and played in the country of Israel. These responses are based on the conventional method of natural responses, and are indeed natural responses instead of artificial responses. These natural responses are a version and/or variation based on the natural response principle. The only artificial response is the first response of 2 Diamonds. See: Natural Responses

Note: Compare with the Monaco Responses to a strong, artificial 2 Clubs Opening bid as devised by Mr. Pierre Ghestem, of which this version is a variation on the concept.

The designation of the conventional method is the key to understanding this version or variation. If the first response is anything other than 2 Diamonds, then the responder guarantees at least a 5-card suit in the bid suit and at least 5 high card points, constituting a 5-5 feature.

Note: Whether or not this requirement can be extended to include a maximum / minimum number of losing tricks is decided by the partnership. The number of losing tricks is not included in the requirements.

The first responses and their meanings are shown below. The first response of No Trump is not specified and is left to the partnership to assign any specific information. The first response of No Trump can also remain idle and have no significance per partnership agreement. Examples are not provided since the concept should be self-explanatory.

Opener		Responder		Meaning
2				Artificial. Strong. Forcing.
		2		Shows a holding which does not correspond to any of the requirements listed below for other suit bids. (Generally this first response is considered to be the same as with the original concept of natural responses, namely, artificial and negative promising fewer than 6/7 high card points, and shows a possible distribution of 4-4-4-1, 4-4-3-2, or 4-3-3-3.)
		2		A suit at the lowest level shows a 5-card Heart suit plus with 5 plus high card points.
		2		A suit at the lowest level shows a 5-card Spade suit plus with 5 plus high card points.
		2 NT		Per partnership agreement.
		3		Shows a minimum of a 5-card Club suit and 5 plus high card points.
		3		Shows a minimum of a 5-card Diamond suit and 5 plus high card points.

The first response of 2 Diamonds is negative showing a range between zero points and a maximum of 6 high card points. The responder may hold a King at the most, but otherwise Queens and Jacks or less.

Continuances

The continuances following a first response of 3 Diamonds and higher, as shown below, are a matter of partnership agreement as to whether they will be employed or not employed. Following is one example of a possible partnership agreement on idle bids of 3 Hearts and higher. Such an understanding is generally based on a holding containing a minimum of 3 losing tricks.

Opener		Responder		Meaning
2				Artificial. Strong. Forcing.
		3		Shows a good Heart suit with only one loser, such as: AKQ10, AKJ10, KQJ10, etc.
		3		Shows a good Spade suit with only one loser, such as: AKQ10, AKJ10, KQJ10, etc.
		3 NT		Shows a balanced to semi-balanced holding with a range of 10 to 12 high card points, and no 5-card suit.

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.