The Murray Two Diamonds convention was devised by Mr. Eric Rutherford Murray of Canada and is similar to the Two Way Stayman concept. After one partner opens the auction with 1 No Trump, the partner, with a holding such as the following, must bid 2 Diamonds holding both 4-card plus Major suits.

Biographical Details

Mr. Eric Rutherford Murray is the most successful Canadian player ever. In addition to all his successes with Mr. Sami Kehela he also won the Vanderbilt in the year 1961 with Mr. Charles Coon, the Men's Pairs in 1954 and 1955 with Mr. Doug Drury, and the Master Mixed Teams (1962) and Mixed Pairs (1963) with Agnes Gordon. He also won the Pairs Trials with Mr. Charles Coon for the 1962 North American Bermuda Bowl team, where they finished second to Italy. He won the Lou Herman Trophy for best performance at the 1963 Fall Nationals. He won CNTCs in 1980, 1981 and 1987 and the CSTC in 2007.

Concept of Murray Two Diamonds

The point range can be very weak, even as low as 5 or 6 points. The distribution is generally 4-4, but can also be 5-4 or even 5-5. Even though the 2 Diamonds response is artificial, it is still an artificial and unlimited bid.

	K9754
	QJ865
	93
	3

An example of the bidding auction follows:

North		South		Meaning
1 NT		2		Initiates the Murray Two Diamonds conventional method.
2				Promises at least a 3-card Major suit fit.

The 2 Diamonds first response indicates the holding above and requests the No Trump bidder to bid his longer Major suit, whether it is Hearts or Spades. In the case that the No Trump bidder holds both Majors and both Major suits are of equal length, then the No Trump bidder first bids the lower Major, or Hearts. In the case that the No Trump bidder does not have a 4-card Major suit in either Spades or Hearts, then the No Trump bidder should bid his better 3-card Major suit.

If the responder is relatively weak and has no game aspirations, then the responder will pass after the No Trump bidder has named a Major suit. Otherwise the responder will bid game in the Major suit when holding game values. If the responder has game-going values and an odd distribution, such as the following holding, then the second rebid by the responder is 2 No Trump, asking the No Trump bidder to bid three of his lowest ranking 4-card suit. The natural bid of 2 No Trump by the responder is lost to the partnership

For example, the responder holds:

	KQ97
	QJ86
	KJ32
	3

then the bidding sequence would be:

North		South		Meaning
1 NT		2		Initiates the Murray Two Diamonds convention.
2				Promises at least a 3-card Major suit fit.
		2 NT		Requests the No Trump bidder to bid a 4-card suit up the line.
3				The No Trump bidder shows Clubs as his lowest 4-card suit.
3				The No Trump bidder shows Diamonds as his lowest 4-card suit.
3				The No Trump bidder shows Hearts as his lowest 4-card suit.
3				The No Trump bidder shows Spades as his lowest 4-card suit.
		3 NT		Shows game values and no fit in the response by the No Trump bidder.
4 Major				A possible correction to a Major suit fit.
		4 NT		Slam try.

Following this guideline of the Murray Two Diamonds conventional response method allows the partnership to determine whether the partnership has a 4-4 Major suit fit. If the immediate opponent overcalls 2 Hearts or higher, then the responder of the No Trump bidder must consider defending especially if the holding is weak in points. If the overcall is 2 Clubs, then the responder can still play system on. If the overcall is 2 Diamonds, then the responder can double indicating that 2 Diamonds is his/her bid.

 

 

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.