Difference between revisions of "User:Brian/Bridge/Responding to a one-level major opening"

Revision as of 08:11, 10 June 2017

This page is incomplete.

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).

Without interference

Very weak hands

A very weak hand opposite a 1-level suit opening contains 5- HCP. With a very weak hand, pass.

Note that if you have 3-card support for partner's suit, you can upgrade with distribution points for shortness in side suits, at which point your hand might be worth a 2M response.

Minimal hands

A minimal hand opposite a 1-level suit opening contains 6 to 10 HCP without support, or 6 to 10 total points with support.

I have a minimal hand and support → Raise partner's suit to the 2 level.

I have a minimal hand, partner opened hearts, and I have 4+ spades → Bid 1♠.

Otherwise → Bid 1NT.

Invitational hands

An invitational hand opposite a 1-level suit opening contains 11 to 12 HCP without support, or 10 to 12 total points with support.

I have an invitational hand and 4-card support or better → Raise partner's suit to the 3 level.

I have an invitational hand and 3-card support → Respond 1NT, planning to rebid 3M.

I have an invitational hand, partner opened hearts, and I have 4+ spades → Bid 1♠.

Otherwise → Bid 1NT.

Game-forcing hands

A game-forcing hand opposite a 1-level suit opening contains 13+ HCP without support, or 13+ total points with support (thus making a total of 25+ points or so).

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

I have a very weak hand → Pass.

Minimal hands

I have 5+-card support for partner's major → Consider preemptively raising to the 4 level, depending on vulnerability. Partner is expected to pass.

I have 3-card support for partner's major → Raise to the 2 level if you can, otherwise pass.

I have 5+ spades and can bid at the one-level → Respond 1♠.

RHO bid a minor suit at the 2-level or lower and I have 4+ cards in the other major → Make a negative double to show your 4-card major.

RHO bid a suit at the 1-level in which I have a stopper → Respond 1NT.

Otherwise → Pass.

Invitational hands

I have support for partner's major and RHO bid a suit below the 2-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.

RHO bid 1NT → Many partnerships don't have an agreement on how to respond in this case. The only "standard" response is double for penalty. If you actually want a way to have the contract in such cases, develop an agreement with your partner about the meanings of bids.

RHO doubled and I have 5+ spades → Respond 1♠.

RHO doubled and we don't have a fit in partner's major → Redouble.

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 a suit at the 2-level or lower in which I have a stopper → Respond 2NT.

Otherwise → Pass.

Game-forcing hands

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.

RHO bid 1NT → See the note in the previous section.

RHO doubled and I have 5+ spades → Respond 1♠.

RHO doubled and we don't have a fit in partner's major → Redouble.

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 a suit at the 3-level or lower in which I have a stopper → Respond 3NT.