User:Brian/Bridge/Responding to a one-level major opening
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).
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.
Contents
Without interference
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
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.
