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

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(Game-forcing hands)
 
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This page is incomplete.
 
This page is incomplete.
  
Partner's bid shows something like 12 to 21 total points and denies a 5-card major. If partner bid diamonds, they almost always have 4+ diamonds, but rarely only 3. If partner bid clubs, they usually have 4+ clubs but sometimes only 3. Therefore, you should only raise partner's minor with at least 4 cards in that minor. But wait! Before raising partner's minor, you should first explore the possibility of a 4-4 major fit. Partner doesn't have 5 of a major, but might have 4 of a major, so if you yourself have a 4+ card major, you should try to find a fit. If you can find a fit in a major suit, it is better to play in the major suit than in a minor suit.
+
Partner's bid shows something like 12 to 21 total points and denies a 5-card major. However, partner might have a 4-card major, so if you have a 4-card major, you should bid it so you and partner can find a 4-4 major fit.
  
==Without interference==
+
Lacking a 4-card major, you might consider raising partner's minor suit. If partner bid diamonds, they almost always have 4+ diamonds, but rarely only 3. If partner bid clubs, they usually have 4+ clubs but sometimes only 3. Therefore, you should only raise partner's minor with at least 4 cards in that minor.
===Very weak hands===
+
A very weak hand contains 5- HCP.
+
  
I have a very weak hand but 5+ card support for partner's suit → Consider making a preemptive raise to the 3 level. (The more unfavourable the vulnerability, the better your suit needs to be.)
+
Evaluate your hand, and 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.
  
Otherwise → Pass.
+
Note that "game-forcing" does not necessarily mean forcing to game. It sometimes stops in 4 of a minor, even though that's not game.
  
===Minimal hands===
+
==Without interference==
A minimal hand contains 6 to 10 HCP.
+
{| class="wikitable"
 
+
|+Responding with a weak hand
I have a minimal hand and a 4+-card major → Bid 1 of the major. (With both majors, bid hearts first.)
+
|-
 
+
! If... !! then...
I have a minimal balanced hand → Bid 1NT.
+
|-
 
+
| I have 5+-card support for partner's major
I have a minimal unbalanced hand, I am on the low end of the range, and I have 5+ card support for partner's suit → Make a preemptive [[User:Brian/Bridge/Subsequent bidding after an inverted minor raise|raise]] to the 3 level.
+
| Consider making a preemptive [[User:Brian/Bridge/Subsequent bidding after an inverted minor raise|raise]] to the 3 level. (Factors to consider are suit quality, overall strength, and vulnerability.)
 
+
|-
I have a minimal unbalanced hand, I am on the high end of the range, and I have 4+ card support for partner's suit → [[User:Brian/Bridge/Subsequent bidding after an inverted minor raise|Raise]] partner's suit to the 2 level. (That is, a single raise is stronger than a double raise. This is the '''inverted minors''' convention.)
+
| Otherwise
 
+
| Pass.
I have a minimal unbalanced hand, partner's suit is clubs, and I have 4+ diamonds → Bid 1♦.
+
|}
 
+
None of the above apply → Usually bid 1NT. This can sometimes be a lie, showing an unbalanced hand, for example if partner opened 1♦ and you have some unusual distribution like 2-1-3-7, or (more likely) you're too strong for a preemptive double raise or too weak for a single raise. In the latter cases it's a judgement call whether to bid 1NT, upgrade, or downgrade your hand.
+
 
+
===Invitational hands===
+
An invitational hand opposite a 1-level minor suit opening contains 10/11 to 12 HCP. Typically, even with a 8-card fit in the minor, you will try to play in notrump if possible, so avoid counting extra points for shortness.
+
 
+
I have an invitational hand and a 4+-card major → Bid 1 of the major. (With both majors, bid hearts first.)
+
 
+
I have an invitational hand with stoppers in the other 3 suits → Bid 2NT.
+
 
+
I have an invitational hand with 4+-card support for partner's minor → [[User:Brian/Bridge/Subsequent bidding after an inverted minor raise|Raise]] partner's suit.
+
 
+
I have an invitational unbalanced hand, partner's suit is clubs, and I have 4+ diamonds → Bid 1♦.
+
 
+
I have an invitational balanced hand, or my only shortness is in partner's suit → Bid 2NT. Partner will think you're likely to have stoppers in the other 3 suits, which might not be the case, but hey, sometimes that can't be avoided (like when a 1NT opening is raised to 3NT). And you probably have at least a partial stop, since you have a decent amount of HCP, right?
+
 
+
Otherwise (I have an invitational unbalanced hand and none of the other cases apply) &rarr; This case is annoying and luckily doesn't come up too often. It means partner opened 1&diams; and you have length in clubs, <i>e.g.</i>, a 1336 distribution (and the singleton spade isn't an ace). If you are a passed hand, respond 2&clubs;. If you're an unpassed hand, you can't respond 2&clubs; because that would be game forcing. So instead you have to use your judgement. You can take a risk and respond 2NT anyway, or you can downgrade your hand and bid 1NT, which is (obviously) more likely to make than 2NT or 3NT.
+
 
+
===Game-forcing hands===
+
A game-forcing hand contains 13+ HCP. Note that even with an 8-card fit, you will want to try to play in 3NT, since some additional strength is usually needed in order to make a 5m contract. In rare cases you'll have to stop in 4m because you have neither the stoppers for 3NT nor the strength for 5m, so "game-forcing" doesn't really mean forcing to game, but rather "forcing to 3NT or 4 of a suit".
+
 
+
I have a 5+-card major &rarr; Bid 1 of the major. With two five-card majors, bid 1&spades; (you will have an opportunity to show hearts later).
+
 
+
I have a 4+-card major &rarr; Bid 1 of the major. With two four-card majors, bid 1&hearts; (so partner still has the chance to show spades).
+
 
+
I have 5+-card support for partner's minor and a void or small singleton in a side suit other than clubs &rarr; Make a [[User:Brian/Bridge/Splinter|splinter bid]].
+
 
+
I have 4+-card support for partner's minor &rarr; [[User:Brian/Bridge/Subsequent bidding after an inverted minor raise|Raise]] the minor. (Don't worry&mdash;this is forcing.)
+
  
I have stoppers in the other 3 suits &rarr; Bid 3NT.
+
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+Responding with a minimal hand
 +
|-
 +
! If... !! then...
 +
|-
 +
| I have a 4+-card major
 +
| Bid [[User:Brian/Bridge/Responders's rebids after one-over-one|1 of the major]]. (With both majors, bid hearts first.)
 +
|-
 +
| I have a balanced hand
 +
| Bid [[User:Brian/Bridge/Responder's rebids after a balanced notrump response|1NT]].
 +
|-
 +
| I have 5+ card support for partner's suit and I am on the low end of the range
 +
| Make a preemptive [[User:Brian/Bridge/Subsequent bidding after an inverted minor raise|raise]] to the 3 level.
 +
|-
 +
| I have an unbalanced hand, partner's suit is clubs, and I have 4+ diamonds
 +
| Bid [[User:Brian/Bridge/Responder's rebids after one-over-one|1&diams;]].
 +
|-
 +
| None of the above apply. I have support for partner's minor but I'm too strong for a double raise.
 +
| Use your judgement. Your options are to downgrade your hand and make a double raise anyway, upgrade your hand and make a [[User:Brian/Bridge/Subsequent bidding after an inverted minor raise|single raise]], or lie about your hand being balanced and bid 1NT.
 +
|-
 +
| None of the above apply because partner opened 1&diams; and I have an unbalanced hand long in clubs.
 +
| If your partnership plays weak to intermediate jump shifts, bid 3&clubs;. Otherwise respond 1NT&mdash;it is a lie but you have no other choice.
 +
|}
  
I have 4+ cards in the other minor &rarr; Bid the other minor at the cheapest level (1&diams; or 2&clubs;).
+
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+Responding with an invitational hand
 +
|-
 +
! If... !! then...
 +
|-
 +
| I have a 4+-card major
 +
| Bid [[User:Brian/Bridge/Responders's rebids after one-over-one|1 of the major]]. (With both majors, bid hearts first.)
 +
|-
 +
| I have stoppers in the other 3 suits
 +
| Bid [[User:Brian/Bridge/Responder's rebids after a balanced notrump response|2NT]].
 +
|-
 +
| I have a 4+-card support for partner's minor
 +
| [[User:Brian/Bridge/Subsequent bidding after an inverted minor raise|Raise]] partner's suit.
 +
|-
 +
| I have an unbalanced hand, partner's suit is clubs, and I have 4+ diamonds
 +
| Bid [[User:Brian/Bridge/Responder's rebids after one-over-one|1&diams;]].
 +
|-
 +
| I have a balanced hand or my only shortness is in partner's suit
 +
| Bid [[User:Brian/Bridge/Responder's rebids after a balanced notrump response|2NT]]. There's a small chance that notrump is doomed, but that's a risk you have to take to avoid missing game.
 +
|-
 +
| Otherwise (I have an unbalanced hand and none of the other cases apply because partner opened 1&diams; and I have length in clubs, for example with a 1336 distribution)
 +
| If you are a passed hand, respond [[User:Brian/Bridge/Responder's rebids after non-game-forcing two-over-one|2&clubs;]]. If you're an unpassed hand, and your partnership plays invitational jump shifts, bid 3&clubs; since you can't bid 2&clubs;. If neither of those two options are available, you'll have to respond 1NT or 2NT.
 +
|}
  
Otherwise &rarr; (I don't think there is an "otherwise". If you have at most 3 of each major and at most 3 of partner's suit, then you must have 4 of the other minor suit.)
+
{| class="wikitable"
 +
|+Responding with a game-forcing hand
 +
|-
 +
! If... !! then...
 +
|-
 +
| I have a 5+-card major
 +
| Bid [[User:Brian/Bridge/Responders's rebids after one-over-one|1 of the major]]. With two five-card majors, bid 1&spades; (you will have an opportunity to show hearts later).
 +
|-
 +
| I have a 4+-card major
 +
| Bid [[User:Brian/Bridge/Responders's rebids after one-over-one|1 of the major]]. With two four-card majors, bid 1&hearts; (so partner still has the chance to show spades).
 +
|-
 +
| I have 5+-card support for partner's minor and a void or small singleton in a side suit other than clubs
 +
| Make a [[User:Brian/Bridge/Splinter|splinter bid]].
 +
|-
 +
| I have 4+-card support for partner's minor
 +
| [[User:Brian/Bridge/Subsequent bidding after an inverted minor raise|Raise]] the minor. (Don't worry&mdash;this is forcing.)
 +
|-
 +
| I have stoppers in the other 3 suits
 +
| Bid 3NT. TODO: What about with 16+ points? What if partner responds?
 +
|-
 +
| I have 4+ cards in the other minor
 +
| Bid the other minor at the cheapest level ([[User:Brian/Bridge/Responders's rebids after one-over-one|1&diams;]] or [[User:Brian/Bridge/Responder's rebids after two-over-one|2&clubs;]]).
 +
|-
 +
| Otherwise
 +
| Go back and look more closely... one of the options above must apply.
 +
|}

Latest revision as of 06:00, 21 June 2017

This page is incomplete.

Partner's bid shows something like 12 to 21 total points and denies a 5-card major. However, partner might have a 4-card major, so if you have a 4-card major, you should bid it so you and partner can find a 4-4 major fit.

Lacking a 4-card major, you might consider raising partner's minor suit. If partner bid diamonds, they almost always have 4+ diamonds, but rarely only 3. If partner bid clubs, they usually have 4+ clubs but sometimes only 3. Therefore, you should only raise partner's minor with at least 4 cards in that minor.

Evaluate your hand, and 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.

Note that "game-forcing" does not necessarily mean forcing to game. It sometimes stops in 4 of a minor, even though that's not game.

Without interference[edit]

Responding with a weak hand
If... then...
I have 5+-card support for partner's major Consider making a preemptive raise to the 3 level. (Factors to consider are suit quality, overall strength, and vulnerability.)
Otherwise Pass.
Responding with a minimal hand
If... then...
I have a 4+-card major Bid 1 of the major. (With both majors, bid hearts first.)
I have a balanced hand Bid 1NT.
I have 5+ card support for partner's suit and I am on the low end of the range Make a preemptive raise to the 3 level.
I have an unbalanced hand, partner's suit is clubs, and I have 4+ diamonds Bid 1♦.
None of the above apply. I have support for partner's minor but I'm too strong for a double raise. Use your judgement. Your options are to downgrade your hand and make a double raise anyway, upgrade your hand and make a single raise, or lie about your hand being balanced and bid 1NT.
None of the above apply because partner opened 1♦ and I have an unbalanced hand long in clubs. If your partnership plays weak to intermediate jump shifts, bid 3♣. Otherwise respond 1NT—it is a lie but you have no other choice.
Responding with an invitational hand
If... then...
I have a 4+-card major Bid 1 of the major. (With both majors, bid hearts first.)
I have stoppers in the other 3 suits Bid 2NT.
I have a 4+-card support for partner's minor Raise partner's suit.
I have an unbalanced hand, partner's suit is clubs, and I have 4+ diamonds Bid 1♦.
I have a balanced hand or my only shortness is in partner's suit Bid 2NT. There's a small chance that notrump is doomed, but that's a risk you have to take to avoid missing game.
Otherwise (I have an unbalanced hand and none of the other cases apply because partner opened 1♦ and I have length in clubs, for example with a 1336 distribution) If you are a passed hand, respond 2♣. If you're an unpassed hand, and your partnership plays invitational jump shifts, bid 3♣ since you can't bid 2♣. If neither of those two options are available, you'll have to respond 1NT or 2NT.
Responding with a game-forcing hand
If... then...
I have a 5+-card major Bid 1 of the major. With two five-card majors, bid 1♠ (you will have an opportunity to show hearts later).
I have a 4+-card major Bid 1 of the major. With two four-card majors, bid 1♥ (so partner still has the chance to show spades).
I have 5+-card support for partner's minor and a void or small singleton in a side suit other than clubs Make a splinter bid.
I have 4+-card support for partner's minor Raise the minor. (Don't worry—this is forcing.)
I have stoppers in the other 3 suits Bid 3NT. TODO: What about with 16+ points? What if partner responds?
I have 4+ cards in the other minor Bid the other minor at the cheapest level (1♦ or 2♣).
Otherwise Go back and look more closely... one of the options above must apply.