The Flannery Convention

William Flannery devised his convention for one awkward hand. You open 1♥ with four spades, five hearts and 12 points, partner responds 1NT, and there is no good rebid. 2♠ would be a reverse, promising a much stronger hand. 2♥ promises six hearts, and 2♣ or 2♦ shows a suit you do not have. The Flannery convention takes the hand out of the 1♥ opening altogether and shows it in one bid.

A Flannery 2♦ opening shows exactly four spades and five hearts with 11 to 15 points. The minors are 2-2, 3-1 or 1-3, and some partnerships include 4-0. Responder already knows nine of opener's thirteen cards and usually places the contract at once. Only one bid, 2NT, asks for more.

Many pairs add two more answers to 2NT. 3NT shows a 4-5-2-2 maximum with honors in both minors, and 4♣ or 4♦ shows a four-card minor and a void (4-5-0-4 or 4-5-4-0). Responder who wants to play in diamonds can bid 3♦, natural and not forcing, the same as 3♣.

• Exactly four spades and five hearts. Not 5-5, not 4-6. Those hands open 1♥ and rebid naturally.
• 11 to 15 high-card points. Holding 16 or more, open 1♥ and reverse into 2♠, which now shows the extra strength honestly.
• Any seat. In fourth seat some players open 1♥ instead, because the 2♦ opening tells the defenders a great deal about the hand.

Playing Flannery also changes the 1♥ opening. Partner knows that a minimum 1♥ opening never holds exactly four spades with the five hearts, which makes opener's later rebids easier to read. The price is the weak two bid in diamonds, and it is the main reason many partnerships do not play Flannery.

Responder counts the combined values. Below about 10 points, sign off in the better major at the two level, choosing hearts when the majors are equal because opener has five. An invitational hand with a fit jumps to three of the major, and a hand with game values and a fit bids game directly. 2NT is kept for hands that need to know opener's exact shape or strength, usually for 3NT or a slam.

After the 2NT answer, responder knows opener's exact shape and, for 4-5-2-2 hands, whether opener is minimum or maximum. Usually that settles the choice between 3NT and four of a major. A three-card minor opposite responder's strong minor can bring a minor suit slam into view. A singleton in responder's long suit makes 3NT worse and the major suit game better, as the second example below shows.

A responder with a long minor and no fit for either major bids three of that minor, natural and not forcing. Opener passes, because a misfit is no place to look for game.

• Opening Flannery with 5-5 or 4-6 in the majors. The bid promises exactly 4-5. Partner will play you for that shape.
• Opening Flannery with 16 or more. A strong 4-5 hand opens 1♥ and reverses. Flannery is for the minimum hands only.
• Responding 2♠ with equal length in the majors. Opener has five hearts and only four spades. Three cards in each major means hearts are the eight-card fit and spades only seven.
• Forgetting what 1♥ now shows. In a Flannery partnership, opener's 1♥ followed by 2♠ is a reverse with 16 or more. Do not bid 2♠ on a minimum.

What is the Flannery convention in bridge?

The Flannery convention is a 2♦ opening that shows exactly four spades and five hearts with 11 to 15 high-card points. It is artificial and says nothing about diamonds.

What is the 2NT response to Flannery?

It is an artificial ask with at least invitational values. Opener shows a three-card minor with 3♣ or 3♦, and with 4-5-2-2 bids 3♥ on a minimum or 3♠ on a maximum.

Is Flannery part of SAYC?

No. The Standard American Yellow Card uses 2♦ as a weak two. Flannery is an optional addition that replaces it.

What is the difference between Flannery 2♦ and Flannery 2♥?

Only the opening bid. Flannery 2♥ shows the same hand and keeps 2♦ free for a weak two, at the cost of the weak two in hearts. The responses are almost the same.

Why do some players not play Flannery?

It costs the weak two in diamonds, it comes up rarely, and it tells the defenders opener's shape. Many partnerships prefer to handle the 4-5 hand with a 1NT or 2♥ rebid instead.