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.
Without interference[edit]
With a very weak hand, pass.
Responding with a minimal hand
| 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.
|
Responding with an invitational hand
| 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.
|
Responding with a game-forcing hand
| 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]
Responding with a very weak hand
| 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
|
Responding with a minimal hand
| 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
|
Responding with an invitational hand
| 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.
|
Responding with a game-forcing hand
| 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.
|
