User:Brian/Bridge/Responding to a one-level major opening
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< User:Brian | Bridge
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Partner's bid shows something like 12 to 21 total points and at least 5 of the major. Therefore, "support" for partner's major means you have at least 3 cards in that major (making a total of at least 8).
Evaluate your hand. If you have a fit with partner, add points for distribution. To determine how to respond, categorize your hand as one of the following:
- Weak: 5- points
- Minimal: 6–10 points
- Invitational: 10–12 points
- Game-forcing: 13+ points
Then consult the appropriate chart below depending on whether RHO has bid over partner's opening.
Without interference[edit]
With a very weak hand, pass.
| If... | then... |
|---|---|
| I have support for partner's major | Raise partner's suit to the 2 level. |
| Partner opened hearts, and I have 4+ spades | Bid 1♠. |
| Otherwise | Bid 1NT. |
| If ... | then... |
|---|---|
| I have 4+-card support for partner's major | Raise partner's suit to the 3 level (a limit raise). |
| I have 3-card support for partner's hearts and 4+ spades | Respond 1♠ for now, planning to rebid 3♥. |
| I have 3-card support for partner's major | Respond 1NT for now, planning to rebid 3M. |
| Partner's suit is hearts and I have 4+ spades | Bid 1♠. |
| None of the above apply, and I am an unpassed hand. | Bid 1NT. |
| I am a passed hand, balanced or with shortness only in partner's major. | Bid 2NT. |
| I am a passed hand with a lower 5+-card suit. | Bid your suit at the two level. |
| If ... | then... |
|---|---|
| I have 4-card support or better, and a side suit void or a small side suit singleton | Make a splinter bid, i.e., a jump to your short suit above the 3 level of partner's major. (3♠, 4♣, and 4♦ are splinter responses to 1♥, while 4♣, 4♦, and 4♥ are splinter responses to 1♠.) |
| I have 4-card support or better and a balanced hand | Respond 2NT. |
| I have 3-card support and a balanced hand | Respond 3NT. |
| Partner's suit was hearts, and I have 4+ spades | Respond 1♠. |
| Partner's suit was spades, and I have 5+ hearts | Respond 2♥. |
| Otherwise | Show a 4+ card minor at the 2 level. |
With interference[edit]
| If... | then... |
|---|---|
| I have 5+-card support for partner's major | Make a preemptive raise to the 4 level. |
| I have 4+-card support for partner's major | Make a preemptive raise to the 3 level. |
| Otherwise | Pass |
| If... | then... |
|---|---|
| I have 5+-card support for partner's major | Make a preemptive raise to the 4 level. |
| I have 4+-card support for partner's major | Make a preemptive raise to the 3 level. |
| I have 3-card support for partner's major | Raise partner's major if you can do so at the 3 level or lower; otherwise, pass. (The idea is that if RHO makes a weak jump overcall, you should be more aggressive with raising because you know RHO is weak.) |
| I have 5+ spades and can bid at the one-level | Respond 1♠. |
| RHO bid 1♠ and I have 4+ cards in both minors | Make a negative double. |
| RHO bid 2 of a minor and I have 4+ cards in the other major with 9–10 HCP | Make a negative double. |
| RHO bid 1♠, and I'm on the high end of the range with a stopper in spades | Respond 1NT. |
| Otherwise | Pass |
| If... | then... |
|---|---|
| I have support for partner's major and RHO bid a suit below the 3-level of partner's suit | Cue-bid the enemy suit. |
| I have support for partner's major and RHO doubled | Bid 2NT, which is the conventional Truscott/Jordan limit+ raise. |
| I have support for partner's major and RHO bid 1NT | There doesn't seem to be a standard way to show support in this case; develop an agreement with your partner in order to handle this situation. |
| RHO bid 1NT and I don't have support for partner's major | Double for penalty. |
| I have 5+ spades and can bid at the one-level | Respond 1♠. (Note: if you can't bid 1♠, the standard response is to make a negative double instead of bidding 2♠.) |
| I have 5+ of a minor suit and I can bid at the two-level | Respond 2m. (This is not 2/1 GF because of the interference.) |
| RHO doubled and we don't have a fit in partner's major | Redouble to show your strength. |
| RHO bid a minor suit at the 3-level or lower and I have 4+ cards in the other major | Make a negative double. |
| RHO bid 1♠ and I'm 4–4 or better in the minors | Make a negative double. |
| RHO bid 2♠ and I'm 3–3 or better in the minors | Make a negative double. |
| RHO bid a suit at the 2-level or lower in which I have a stopper | Respond 2NT. |
| Otherwise | Pass. |
| If... | then... |
|---|---|
| I have support for partner's major and RHO bid a suit below the 3-level of partner's suit | Cue-bid the enemy suit. |
| I have support for partner's major and RHO bid above the 3-level of partner's suit | Raise partner's suit to the 4 level. Yes, now you don't really have space to explore slam. That's what happens when you get preempted... |
| I have support for partner's major and RHO doubled | Bid 2NT, which is the conventional Truscott/Jordan limit+ raise. |
| RHO bid 1NT | See the note in the previous section. |
| I have 5+ spades and can bid at the one-level | Respond 1♠. (Note: if you can't bid 1♠, the standard response is to make a negative double instead of bidding 2♠.) |
| I have 5+ of a minor suit and I can bid at the two or three level | Bid your minor suit. |
| RHO doubled and we don't have a fit in partner's major | Redouble to show your strength. |
| RHO bid a minor suit at the 3-level or lower and I have 4+ cards in the other major | Make a negative double. |
| RHO bid 1♠ and I'm 4–4 or better in the minors | Make a negative double. |
| RHO bid 2♠ and I'm 3–3 or better in the minors | Make a negative double. |
| RHO bid a suit at the 3-level or lower in which I have a stopper | Respond 3NT. |
| Otherwise | Pass. |
