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− | 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. | + | Inverted minor raises are alertable. A raise of the minor implies that no major suit fit can exist, so the partnership must play in either the minor suit or notrump. With stoppers in all suits, a 3NT game is preferable to a 5m game, since making a 5m contract requires additional strength. |
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− | 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. |
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− | ==Meanings of subsequent bids== | + | ==Opener's rebids== |
− | If you are opener, you must alert your partner's raise.
| + | My partner single-raised my minor, I have a minimum (13- HCP), and partner is a passed hand → Pass. |
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− | After a double raise by responder, you should pass. Remember that a double raise can be made with a very weak hand. If you think 3NT is worth investigating now despite partner's potentially very weak hand, shouldn't you have opened [[User:Brian/Bridge/Opening bids|2♣ or 2NT]] originally instead of 1m?
| + | My partner single-raised my minor, I have a minimum (13- HCP), and partner is an unpassed hand → Respond 3m. Subsequent bids by partner show are stopper-showing (see below) and indicate game-forcing strength (14+ HCP). |
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− | {| class="wikitable"
| + | My partner single-raised my minor, I have 14–15 HCP, and stoppers in the other three suits → Rebid 2NT, invitational to 3NT. |
− | |+Opener's rebids after a single raise
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− | |-
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− | ! If... !! then...
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− | | I have a minimum (12- HCP), and partner is a passed hand
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− | | 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.
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− | |-
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− | | I have a minimum (12- HCP), and partner is an unpassed hand
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− | | Rebid 3 of your minor. (Since 2NT has now been bypassed, any subsequent stopper-showing bid by partner indicates enough strength for 3NT.)
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− | |-
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− | | I have 13–14 HCP with stoppers in all side suits
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− | | Bid 2NT. Partner will sign off in either 3m or 3NT depending on strength.
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− | |-
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− | | I have 15+ HCP with stoppers in all side suits
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− | | Sign off in 3NT.
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− | |-
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− | | 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
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− | | Make a [[User:Brian/Bridge/Splinter|splinter bid]]. Exception: avoid splintering in clubs since bidding 4♣ makes it impossible to sign off in 3NT.
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− | |-
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− | | I have a maximum (19+ total points)
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− | | TODO: how to do minor-suit slam bidding?
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− | | I have a side suit stopper but I don't have all three side suits stopped.
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− | | Initiate stopper-bidding as described below.
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− | |-
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− | | Otherwise (I don't have any side suit stoppers)
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− | | (TODO: Can responder make an inverted minor raise if they have all three side suit stoppers?)
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− | |}
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− | {| class="wikitable"
| + | My partner single-raised my minor, I have 16+ HCP and stoppers in the other three suits → Rebid 3NT, to play. |
− | |+Responder's rebids
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− | |-
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− | ! If... !! then...
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− | | Partner rebid 3NT after my raise
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− | | Pass.
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− | |-
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− | | Partner rebid 2NT after my raise and I have 12+ HCP
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− | | Raise to 3NT, since partner's 2NT rebid shows 13–14 HCP.
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− | |-
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− | | Partner rebid 2NT after my raise and I have 11- HCP
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− | | Sign off in 3m.
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− | |-
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− | | Partner bid a new suit after my double raise
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− | | See below on how to participate in stopper-bidding.
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− | |-
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− | | Partner jump-shifted after my single raise
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− | | This is a [[User:Brian/Bridge/Splinter|splinter bid]]; respond accordingly.
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− | |-
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− | | Partner bid a new suit after my single raise
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− | | See below on how to participate in stopper-bidding.
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− | |-
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− | | Partner rebid 3m and I have 14+ HCP with all the side suits stopped
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− | | Sign off in 3NT.
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− | |-
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− | | Partner rebid 3m and I have 14+ HCP with at least one side suit stopped
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− | | Initiate stopper-bidding (see below).
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− | |-
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− | | Partner rebid 3m and none of the above are true
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− | | Pass. (TODO: What if responder has slam interest?)
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− | |}
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− | ==Stopper-bidding sequences==
| + | My partner single-raised my minor, I have 15- HCP and stoppers in the other three suits → |
− | 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:
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− | {| class="wikitable"
| + | ... |
− | ! If... !! then...
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− | |-
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− | | My partner returned to the agreed minor
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− | | Pass. Partner is telling you that the partnership is missing one or more side-suit stoppers so you do not belong in notrump.
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− | |-
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− | | My partner bid 2NT, but I know that we have enough strength for game.
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− | | Raise to 3NT, since partner's bid of 2NT means they believe all side suits are stopped.
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− | |-
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− | | My partner bid 2NT, but I don't have enough strength to force to game.
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− | | Sign off in 3 of the agreed minor.
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− | |-
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− | | My partner bid a side suit, bypassing a suit in which I also have no stopper. (For example, 1♣ - 2♣ - 2♥ denies a diamond stopper.)
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− | | Sign off in the agreed minor at the cheapest available level, since partner has just denied a stopper in the bypassed suit.
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− | |-
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− | | My partner bid a side suit and I now know that we have all suits stopped.
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− | | Sign off in 3NT if you know the partnership has enough strength; otherwise bid 2NT. Partner's subsequent raise to 3m or 3NT is to play.
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− | |-
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− | | My partner bid a side suit, I have game-forcing strength, and I don't yet know whether all suits are stopped.
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− | | Bid the cheapest available suit in which you have a stopper you haven't shown yet, letting partner you have that suit stopped.
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− | |-
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− | | My partner bid a side suit, I don't yet know whether all suits are stopped, and I also don't know whether we have enough strength for game.
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− | | Bid your cheapest available stopper if you can do so without bypassing 3m. If you cannot do so, then sign off in 3m.
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− | |}
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