User:Brian/Bridge/Subsequent bidding after an inverted minor raise
Inverted minors is a system in which a single raise of opener's minor is strong while a jump raise is weak. That is, 1♦ - 3♦ shows a weaker hand (on responder's part) than 1♦ - 2♦. This is the opposite of major suit raises, where a jump raise is stronger than a single raise.
The reason why many partnerships play minor raises inverted is that minor suit contracts are not actually the most desirable. Even with a minor suit fit, notrump is often preferable. By making the strong raise only a single raise, bidding space is conserved so the partnership can figure out whether or not to play in notrump. Specifically, a raise of the minor implies that no major suit fit can exist, so the minor suit and notrump are the only two options. With stoppers in all suits, a 3NT game is preferable to a 5m game, since making a 5m contract requires additional strength. Therefore, following an inverted minor raise, one partner or the other usually initiates stopper-bidding to determine whether notrump is viable.
Stopper-bidding sequences
In order to determine whether a notrump game is advisable, partners bid stoppers up the line. Once stopper-bidding has commenced, rebids by either partner are as follows:
- With game-going strength and all remaining suits stopped, one signs off in 3NT.
- With all remaining suits stopped but not knowing whether one has enough strength for 3NT, one bids 2NT. Partner then signs off in 3NT with enough strength, or 3m otherwise.
- Otherwise, one either bids a stopper they have in a remaining suit (allowing partner to continue bidding stoppers up the line) or signs off in the agreed minor, whichever is cheaper.
Meanings of subsequent bids
If you are opener, you must alert your partner's raise.
| If... | then... |
|---|---|
| My partner single-raised my minor, I have a minimum (13- HCP), and partner is a passed hand | Pass. Some partnerships have an agreement that the single raise is one-round forcing, but in this particular circumstance it really makes no sense to continue bidding—with a minimum hand opposite an invitational hand, 3NT is out of the picture, and rebidding 3m has no potential upside, not even preemptive value given that both opponents have passed. |
| My partner single-raised my minor, I have a minimum (13- HCP), and partner is an unpassed hand | Rebid 3 of your minor. (Since 2NT has now been bypassed, any subsequent stopper-showing bid by partner indicates enough strength for 3NT.) |
| My partner single-raised my minor and I have extra strength (15–18 total points) with a void or small singleton in a side suit and stoppers in the other two side suits | Make a splinter bid. Exception: avoid splintering in clubs since bidding 4♣ makes it impossible to sign off in 3NT. |
| My partner single-raised my minor and I have a maximum (19+ total points) | TODO: how to do minor-suit slam bidding? |
| My partner single-raised my minor, and none of the above apply | Initiate stopper-bidding. |
| My partner double-raised my minor and I have a maximum, so I think 3NT is viable with stoppers in all unbid suits | Initiate stopper-bidding. (You may be wondering: what if I don't have any stoppers to show and partner has all of them? How will we find 3NT then? But I think this situation is impossible. If partner had stoppers in all three side suits, shouldn't they have been strong enough for a single raise?) |
| Otherwise | Pass |
| If... | then... |
|---|---|
| Partner rebid 3NT after my raise | Pass. |
| Partner rebid 2NT after my raise and I have 13+ HCP | Raise to 3NT. |
| Partner rebid 2NT after my raise and I have 12- HCP | Correct to 3m. |
| Partner bid a new suit after my double raise | Participate in stopper-bidding (see above). |
| Partner jump-shifted after my single raise | This is a splinter bid; respond accordingly. |
| Partner bid a new suit after my single raise | Participate in stopper-bidding (see above). |
| Partner rebid 3m and I have 14+ HCP with all the side suits stopped | Sign off in 3NT. |
| Partner rebid 3m and I have 14+ HCP | Initiate stopper-bidding (see above). |
| Partner rebid 3m and I have 13- HCP | Pass. |
