Mexican 2♦

♦
New and Improved!
Revised March 21, 2014 Kootenay Jewel Bridge Club Warren Watson
http://watsongallery.ca/bridge/aaBidding/Mexican2Diamonds.pdf

Barest-Bones Mexican 2♦
♦

18-19 balanced

Note: Every bid except the 2NT bid itself after the alerted 2♠ relay is
alertable. All transfers in this system are alerted not announced.

Mexican 2♦
♦ Responses

2♦ Pass (weak 0-6 with 4 or more ♦'s)

2♥ transfer to 2♠ ("Alert!") automatic with 5 or more ♠'s
2♠ relay to 2NT ("Alert!")
2NT transfer to 3♣ (0-6, weak and 5+ ♣'s)

Mexican 2♦
♦ Responses After The 2♠
♠ Relay

2♦ 2♠
2NT P 0-6 HCP without a five card suit and 3 ♦'s or fewer.
3♣ Regular or Puppet Stayman, 7+ points
3♦ transfer to ♥'s
4♣ Gerber
4NT Quantitative

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 Bare-Bones Mexican 2♦
♦

18-19 balanced

Mexican 2♦
♦ Responses

2♦ Pass (weak 0-6 with 4 or more ♦'s)

2♥ transfer to 2♠ ("Alert!") automatic with 5 or more ♠'s
2♠ relay to 2NT with three or fewer ♠'s ("Alert!")
2NT transfer to 3♣ (0-6, weak and 5+ ♣'s)
3♣ Regular Stayman, 7+ points and a 4-card major
If partner replies 3♦, 3♠ relays him to 3NT
If you had 5+ spades you would transfer to ♠'s first.

Mexican 2♦
♦ Responses After The 2♠
♠ Relay

2♦ 2♠ (3 or fewer ♠'s)
2NT P 0-6 HCP
3♣ Regular Stayman, 7+ points
3♦ transfer to ♥'s
4♣ Gerber
4NT Quantitative

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Is the 2♠
♠ relay automatic?

No, 2♠ shows 3 or less ♠'s or a desire to pass 2NT with four ♠'s

With 5+ ♠'s, one must first transfer to 2♠

2♦ 2♥
2♠ P 0-6 points including distribution with 6 ♠'s
3♣ 7+ HCP and 5♠'s and allows partner to bid 4♠ or 3NT
3♠ 6 points and six spades
4♠ 7+ points and six+ spades

With four ♠'s and 7+ points, one goes directly to Stayman

2♦ 3♣

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 Advanced Mexican 2♦
♦
Introduction

This is a bid for the advanced player. It needs lots of memorization and may
require very advanced declarer play for the awkward bidding situations it creates
when it is opened and partner is bust and balanced. However a basic bare-bones
system at the start of this document could find use for a player at any level.

When partner is bust, the opponents may balance or overcall a one-level opening,
especially of 1♣ or 1♦, but they are very unlikely to balance at a high-level when
they know one opponent has 18-19 points.

Because of the 2♠ relay, all spade contracts may be wrong-sided which means the
strong hand becomes dummy and not only does the opening lead go through the
strong hand and not up to it, but also, the defenders can usually find the best
defense when the strong hand is tabled as dummy.

Using 2♥ as a transfer to ♠'s or 3♣ as Puppet Stayman directly over 2♦ eliminates

this problem as shown in the new and improved Mexican 2♦ system I have outlined
below.

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The System

2♦ is alertable and shows:

18 to 19 balanced points
any 5-4-2-2 or 5-3-3-2 hand except not 5-4 in the majors
all suits stopped
No singleton Ace or King.

2NT shows:

20 to 21 balanced points
any 5-4-2-2 or 5-3-3-2 hand except not 5-4 in the majors
all suits need not be stopped even the doubletons
No singleton Ace because it makes the hand too valuable to be opening
Notrump.
Singleton King is fine but is dangerous with lesser-range notrumps.

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Mexican 2♦
♦ Responses

2♦ 2♥ transfer to 2♠ ("Alert!")
2♠ relay to 2NT with two or fewer ♠'s ("Alert!")
2NT transfer to 3♣ weak or 4441 with 10+ (slam intentions)
3♣ Puppet Stayman (See Examples 8 and 9)
3♦ RkcBw in ♦'s, 1430
3♥ RkcBw in ♥'s, 1430
3♠ RkcBw in ♠'s, 1430
3NT Roman Keycard Blackwood (RkcBw) in ♣'s, 1430
4♣ Exclusion Blackwood in ♣'s, 1430
asks for aces excluding the ace of ♣
4♦ Exclusion Blackwood in ♦'s, 1430
asks for aces excluding the ace of ♦
4♥ Exclusion Blackwood in ♥'s, 1430
asks for aces excluding the ace of ♥
4♠ Exclusion Blackwood in ♠'s, 1430
asks for aces excluding the ace of ♠
4NT quantitative (2-2 in the majors-Need the Lead)
All the above responses are alertable not announcements.

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Responses With A Weak Hand

• Weak Hand with ♣'s

2♦ 2NT
3♣ Pass

Need five or more ♣'s because you are going to the three-level

• Weak Hand with ♦'s

Pass

Even with 4 diamonds this can be done

• Weak Hand with ♥'s

2♦ 2♠
2NT 3♦
3♥

• Weak Hand with ♠'s

2♦ 2♥
2♠ Pass

• All Other Weak Hands

2♦ 2♠
2NT Pass

The Drawback of the 2♦ systems, and anything has drawbacks, is that with weak
flat hands one may be forced to play 2NT or the three-level in ♣'s or ♥'s without
a hope.

Had partner opened one of a minor with the intention of jump rebidding to 2NT:
• an opponent could overcall
• you could have passed and:
o either the opponents may balance or
o partner might even make one of a minor.

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It is more likely the opponents will get into an auction starting with one of a minor
than getting into an auction starting with a strong 2♦.

If the opponents are aware that you play Mexican 2♦, they will balance over one of
a minor and not let it pass out.

You want the opponents to play the hand anytime:

o partner is bust
o you worry about transportation
o you have a misfit.

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Sequences after a relay to 2NT

2♦ 2♠
2NT 3♣ Puppet Stayman with two ♠'s or fewer
3♦ Transfer to hearts
3♥ Transfer to Spades (not used)
3♠ Minor Suit Stayman
3NT (2-2 in the majors)
4♣ Gerber
4♦ Transfer to 4♥
4♥ Transfer to 4♠ (not used)
4NT Quantitative

Sequence With 5 ♠'s:

N S
2♦ 2♥
2♠ 3♣ or 3♦ Partner will pick:
3NT with two spades or three spades and no
ruffing possibilities and good stoppers
3♠ with three spades
4♠ with four spades

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Puppet Stayman:

With 3 or 4 cards in a major:

2♦ 2♠
2NT 3♣
3♦ no five card major but 1 or 2 4-card majors
3♥ five ♥'s
3♠ five ♠'s
3NT no five or four-card major

2♦ 2♠
2NT 3♣
3♦ 3♥ four spades
3♠ four hearts
3NT no 4-card major
4♣ Gerber
4♦ two four-card majors

Watson-Greenwood Modification:

One relays partner to 2NT with one's shorter major.

2♦ 2♥ relay to 2NT with longer ♠'s than ♥'s
2♦ 2♠ relay to 2NT with longer ♥'s than ♠'s.

Hunchak Modification:

2♦ 18 to a bad 20
2NT good 20 to 22

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11
Roman Addition:

2♦ 2NT
3♣ Pass with a club bust

However, with 9+ HCP's, one shows slam aspirations by continuing the bidding

2♦ 2NT
3♣ 3♦ 4-4-1-4 or 4-4-0-5
3♥ 4-1-4-4 or 4-0-5-4 or 4-0-4-5
3♠ 1-4-4-4 or 0-4-5-4 or 0-4-4-5
3NT 4-4-4-1 or 4-4-5-0

If partner has Axxx or xxxx opposite your shortness, he should continue to the
appropriate slam by just bidding it.

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Notes:
• Partner may pass a one-level opening with 4 or 5 points so it is imperative to
open 2NT with 20 to 21 balanced points because game may be missed if one
opens at the one-level because of an unstopped suit.
• However, it is not imperative to open 2♦ with 18 to 19 points. If partner cannot
respond to a one-level bid, you are not missing game.
• Mexican 2♦ must be used with all of the bells and whistles to get the benefits

• Special Distributions:
• What you bid when partner opens 2♦, and you are 5-3 in the majors:
o If the 5-card major is weak, relay to 2NT and then use puppet Stayman
o If the 5-card major has 3 of the top 5 honours, ignore the 3 card major
and transfer to the 5-card major.

• What you bid when partner opens 2♦, and you are 5-4 in the majors:
o Relay to 2NT and use Puppet Stayman.
o You may miss a 5-3 fit, but this is not as critical as missing a 5-4 fit.

• What you bid when partner opens 2♦, and you are 5-5 in the majors:
o ♠'s are better than ♥'s:
2♦ 2♥
2♠ 3♥

o ♥'s are better than ♠'s:

2♦ 2♠
2NT 3♦
3♥ 3♠

Defensive Notes:
Normally, one should never let the one-level pass out with shortness in the bid
suit and a ten-count. However, when one is playing against someone who is using
Mexican 2♦, one should never let the one-level pass out with shortness in the
bid suit.

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14
Examples

Example 1.
AK43
♠AK43 ♥543 ♦AK2 ♣AJ2

♠62 ♥
♥762 ♦QJ43 ♣10986

N S
2♦ Pass

Example 2.
AK43
♠AK43 ♥543 ♦AK2 ♣AJ2

2
♠109872 ♥76 ♦43 ♣10986

N S
2♦ 2♥
2♠ Pass

Example 3.
AK43
♠AK43 ♥543 ♦AK2 ♣AJ2

10987
♠10987 ♥76 ♦43 ♣109863

N S
2♦ 2NT
3♣ Pass
Note: If partner opens 1NT, you need six of a minor to transfer to a minor and
pass. But the Mexican 2♦
♦ situation is different. With a five card minor, 1NT is
certainly better than the three
three-level
level in a minor, however, with a five card

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minor, 2NT is not clearly bett
better than the three-level
level in a minor. Use your
discretion.

Example 4.
AK43
♠AK43 ♥543 ♦AK2 ♣AJ2

1098
♠1098 ♥109876 ♦543 ♣109

N S
2♦ 2♠ Alert-Relay.
2NT 3♦ Alert-Transfer
3♥ Pass Ouch! Three level with a bust.

Example 5.
AK43
♠AK43 ♥543 ♦AK2 ♣AJ2

109872
♠109872 ♥AK6 ♦43 ♣10986

N S
2♦ 2♥
2♠ 3♣
4♠ Pass

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Example 6.
♠AK4 ♥
♥543 ♦AK62 ♣AJ2

109872
♠109872 ♥AK6 ♦43 ♣10986

N S
2♦ 2♥
2♠ 3♣
3♠ 4♠
Pass

Example 7.

AK432
♠AK432 ♥543 ♦AK ♣A72

♠76 ♥
♥8762 ♦Q43 ♣K1098

N S
2♦ 2♠ Alert!
2NT Pass

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Example 8.
AK432
♠AK432 ♥543 ♦AK ♣A72

765
♠765 ♥A72 ♦Q32 ♣K1098

N S
2♦
♦ 3♣
3♠
♠ 4♠

South is balanced with 4 triple 3. So why does he not just let partner play 3NT
because there is no short
short-hand
hand ruffing value? Because of the fundamental
reason for having the trump suit in the first place. To stop the opponents from
running a long suit. Therefore,
erefore, South should ask himself what if partner has
10xx in ♥'s or ♦'s.
's. Spades are needed to stop the opponents running ♥'s in this
case.

Using the relay with three ♠'s or longer just risks wrong-siding
siding the contract.

Example 9.

AK432
♠AK432 ♥543 ♦AK ♣A72

♠76 ♥
♥A72 ♦Q432 ♣K1098

N S
2♦
♦ 2♠ 2♠ is a relay to 2NT with 2 or fewer ♠'s
2NT 3♣ Puppet
3♠
♠ 3NT Hopefully ♥'s are split 4-3
3 or not led

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Example 10.

AK432
♠AK432 ♥543 ♦AK ♣A72

♠Q6 ♥
♥762 ♦Q432 ♣K1098

N S
2♦
♦ 2♠ 2♠ is a relay to 2NT with 2 or fewer ♠'s
2NT 3♣ Puppet
3♠
♠ 3NT Hopefully ♥'s are split 4-3
3 or not led

Example 11.

AK432
♠AK432 ♥543 ♦AK ♣AJ2

♠Q6 ♥
♥762 ♦QJ432 ♣1098

N S
2NT
NT 3♣ Puppet Stayman
3♠
♠ 3NT

If North chooses to ignore the length point for the fifth spade:

N S
2♦
♦ 2♠
2NT P

There are nine tricks off the top and 11 if the spades break 3
3-3
3 depending on
the opening lead because ♥'s are wide open.

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Example 12.

AK43
♠AK43 ♥543 ♦AK2 ♣AJ2

♠62 ♥
♥KQJ762 ♦2 ♣10987

N S
2♦
♦ 2♠
2NT 4♦
4♥
♥

Example 13.

AK43
♠AK43 ♥543 ♦AK2 ♣AJ2

♠62 ♥
♥AKQ762 ♦2 ♣K1098

N S
2♦
♦ 2♠
2NT 3♦
3♥
♥ 4♥ Mild Slam Try
6♥
♥ P

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Example 14.

KQJ3
♠KQJ3 ♥54 ♦KQJ2 ♣AQ2

♠62 ♥
♥AKQ762 ♦2 ♣K1098

N S
2♦
♦ 2♠
2NT 3♦
3♥
♥ 4♥ Mild Slam Try
P
Mild slam try asks partner: "Are your points aces and kings and is your support
good?"

Example 15.

♠KQ32 ♥543 ♦AKQ2 ♣A3

♠A1098 ♥8 ♦J765 ♣KJ98

N S
2♦
♦ 2NT transfer to ♣'s
3♣
♣ 3♥ I Have 9+HCP's and a stiff ♥
6♠
♠ P

Ruff two hearts before drawing trump

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Example 16.

KQ32
♠KQ32 ♥KJ4 ♦AKQ2 ♣43

A1098
♠A1098 ♥8 ♦J765 ♣KJ98

N S
2♦
♦ 2NT
3♣
♣ 3♥
4♠
♠ P

North signs off in 4♠ because his KJx of hearts are wasted opposite a stiff or
void in hearts.

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