Flannery is a convention designed to handle
minimum opening hands with five hearts and four spades. In the original version (the most
popular) an opening bid of 2D is Flannery. In a
later version, 2H is used for Flannery; the only
difference is that Pass replaces the 2H response - all other bids
remain the same.
The basic structure is played the same way but various experts differ on
the meanings of a few responses.
2D = Shows 5 hearts, 4 spades and 11-15/16 HCP (some
partnerships vary the point range a little ±). There are a few players who use Flannery with 6 hearts
and 4 spades but that is not highly recommended.
Responses:
Pass = Bid when you have a long diamond suit, no major
fit and no interest in game after Flannery.
2H or 2S = To play with no
game interest - responder has shown his best fit. 2H might be bid with
only 2 hearts and 2S, with only 3 spades - if there is no better
bid. These two responses
cover a wide range of HCP – from 0 to up
to as many as 11/12 when you have a poor fit.
2NT = Asks opener to
show his strength and shape. Shows an invitational or better hand. Responses:
3C or 3D = First
option: Shows a three or four-card minor along with your hearts and
spades
Original meaning: Shows a three-card
minor along with your hearts and spades.
3H = Shows 4-5-2-2
distribution with a minimum.
3S = Shows 4-5-2-2
distribution with a maximum.
3NT = Shows 4-5-2 2
distribution with a maximum and queen or better in both minors.
4C or 4D = Show a 4-card
minor if you play a 3C or 3D response to show specifically three.
3C = First option: Shows a weak or non-invitational hand with a long club suit and no
major fit.
3D = First option: Shows
a long good suit with an invitational hand and denies a major fit.
Second option: Some partnerships play that both 3C and 3D over 2NT
are natural and forcing.
3H or 3S = Sets
trumps, is game forcing and shows some slam interest. Opener rebids as follows:
3NT = Maximum with 4-5-2-2 and
some minor honor help.
4C or 4D = Always bid
w/shortness in other minor (5-4-3-1, 5-4-1-3, 5-4-4-0 & 5-4-0-4).
4H over 3S or 3S over
3H = Maximum (or semi-max) with 4-5-2-2 and no minor help.
4H over 3H or 4S over
3S = Shows a minimum and 4-5-2-2 distribution (no stiff/void).
3NT = To play with no major
fits.
4C or 4D = First
option: Transfer to the
corresponding major
(4C =
hearts, 4D = spades).
Over 4C, respond 4H with a minimum and 4D with a maximum.
Over 4D, respond 4S with a minimum
and
4H with a maximum.
Second option: Some partnerships play this
natural &
forcing, usually with slam interest.
Miscellaneous: 1. If you play Flannery, most
partnerships play that a 1S response to 1H normally shows a
5-card suit as partner would have opened
Flannery if he had four
spades and five hearts
(unless he was strong enough to reverse). However opener could be
4-6 in the majors.
2. Third seat, non-vul vs. vul, you might
choose to open Flannery with two points less
than the bottom of your normal range. This
can be a very effective pre-emptive tool.
3. When defending against Flannery, a trump lead
is often the best lead for the defenders.
4. Some partnerships play that after 2D-2NT: 3C or 3D show a stiff or
a void but since
2NT does not establish a known
trump suit, it seems better to play this response after
2NT as a fragment - which might
eventually wind up being the trump suit.