Walsh Diamond (Walsh Responses)

Walsh Diamond (Walsh Responses) - Outside the Walsh system, after partner opens 1 Club most players bid four card suits "up the line" looking for a major suit 8+ card fit.  Not necessarily so with the Walsh Diamond where opener begins by showing a 4 card major with a minimum hand.  The Walsh philosophy is, "Immediately bid your major suit with a minimum hand; with game-going values and a long Diamond suit, only then should you begin with the 1 Diamond response and belatedly rebid a major suit on your own.  When responder does not hold a 4 card major, Walsh players respond 1 Notrump with 8-10 points; otherwise respond 1 Diamond with a balanced hand and less than a reasonable 6- 8 point hand.

  Using the Walsh 1 Diamond approach then, after 1C by opener and 1D by responder, opener need not rebid a 4 card major (unless they hold an unbalanced hand).  Accordingly, opener can simply rebid Notrump with a balanced hand.

Bid	Meaning
1C - 1D; 1N - P;	After responder bids 1D, opener assumes responder does not hold a 4 card major and bypasses a 4 card major (perhaps 4=3=2=4 shape).  Holding minimum values and a balanced hand, responder passes.  With an unbalanced hand, responder rebids a minor suit.
1C - 1D; 1N - 2S;	Holding 4=2=5=2 with opening hand or better, begin by bidding 1D, rebidding a major suit with game-going values (make a "reverse" rebid of a 4 card major if necessary, 2S here should opener rebid 1N)
1C - 1D; 1H - 1S;	After responder bids 1D, opener rebid of a major signifies an unbalanced hand (say 2=4=2=5).  Should responder rebid 1S, the bid shows an opening hand with 4 Spades and 4+ Diamonds (responder's 1 Spade bid is natural and game forcing).
1C - 1D; 1S - 2S	Opener's hand is unbalanced, rebidding 1S. Responder's rebid agreements vary depending on partnership understandings: 1. Responder's 2S bid is a signoff bid with minimum values, and unbalanced hand and only 3 card Spade support (perhaps 3=3=6=1 shape).  With a minimum hand and 4 Spades, responder would have initially bid 1S. 2. Responder 2S bid is invitational, show 11 points and 3 card support

In summary, after opener begins 1C and responder bids 1D, with a balanced hand opener rebids 1N - bypassing a 4 card major suit.  If responder has a good 12+ point hand, responder will rebid a 4 card major (check-back bid).

Note: on the ACBL Convention Card, the players check "Frequently bypasses 4+ Diamonds."

Some play after responder begins with a 4 card major and jump rebids 3D, the bid shows a weaker unbalanced hand with a 4 card major and 6+ card minor:

Bid	Meaning
1C - 1H; 1N - 3D	Holding a 1=4=6=2 minimum hand, responder still bypasses 1D, rebidding 3D as a signoff bid.  Unlike other methods, responder's jump rebid is a conventional signoff bid.  Responder's 2D rebid would also be conventional (New Minor Forcing, Checkback Stayman, X-Y-Z, etc).
1C - 1H; 1N - 2D	In lieu of the above methods, some others prefer to rebid only 2D  to handle the above situation (4 card major, 5+ Diamonds and a weak hand).  However, this approach negates conventions like New Minor Forcing, 2C Checkback Stayman, etc.