Responding to a Minor-Suit Opening

 

For the following hands, assume that your partner has opened 1.

T8
J43
QT932
763
  Pass. You need 6 points to respond to your partner's opening bid..

Q743
Q4
T73
AT76
  Bid 1 to show your 4-card major.

AQ7
862
Q8
KQJ65
  Bid 2.

853
A98
J53
K753
  Bid 1NT, showing 6-10 HCP.

43
43
QJ876
A864
  Raise to 2, showing diamond support and 6-10 points.

J43
9
AK986
T864
  Bid 3, a limit raise in diamonds.

 

 

Bidding a Major Suit

For the following hands, assume that your partner has opened 1.

QT7
KQ84
QT8
943
  Bid 1 to show your 4-card major.

9843
KQ4
98
AQJ4
  Bid 1. Always bid a 4-card major if you have one.

984
QJT82
AK7
94
  Bid 1. Sometimes a major suit bid shows more than 4 cards.

72
KJT9
QJ754
86
  Bid 1. If partner responds 1, 1NT, or 2, you will correct to 2.
Do not raise a minor-suit opening when you have a 4-card major.

QJ97
42
AKJT72
6
  Bid 1. If partner responds 1NT, rebid 5.

K985
8762
3
AT64
  Bid 1. Respond with the lower of two 4-card majors.

A762
J532
QT94
2
  Bid 1, the lower of two 4-card majors. If your partner responds 1NT, you will correct to 2.

AJ743
Q943
J6
K2
  Bid 1. With 5-4 in the majors, bid the 5-card major first. When you bid 2 next, your partner will know that you have 5 spades.

AT542
JT32
5
J93
  Bid 1, your 5-card major. If partner responds 1NT, you will get to mention your hearts. If partner says 2 or 2, you will have to pass.

Q743
Q7654
AK5
5
  Bid 1, your 5-card major. If partner responds 1NT, you will bid 2 next to show your 5-4 shape.
(The 2 bid is a reverse by responder, showing 13+ points and extreme distribution.)

AJT82
AQ542
6
43
  Bid 1, and then bid hearts twice. Always bid the higher of two 5-card majors.

JT964
KJ972

932
  Bid 1, the higher of two 5-card majors. If partner says 1NT, you can bid 2. If partner bids 2 or 2, you will have to pass.

 

 

1NT and the Single Raise

For the following hands, assume that your partner has opened 1.

974
K98
652
KQT4
  Bid 1NT, showing 6-10 HCP.

A76
T65
92
KJ872
  1NT. You are not strong enough to bid 2.

8
987
JT7
AQ9754
  1NT again. You are still not strong enough to bid 2.

J54
J7
KQ975
863
  Bid 2, showing diamond support and 6-10 points.

76
65
A7543
9752
  Bid 2, counting 1 point for each doubleton.

JT52
53
QT432
K2
  1 of course. Do not raise a minor-suit opening when you have a 4-card major.

KT9
Q94
AT62
862
  Bid 1NT. What would be the purpose of playing in diamonds?

973
T4
A864
A972
  1NT again. You have a balanced hand and only four diamonds.

2
972
Q532
A7652
  Bid 2. The spade singleton is a liability in notrump, but should prove useful in a diamond contract.

T6
64
Q932
KJ975
  Bid 2. Raising a minor with 4-card support is better than bidding 1NT with an unbalanced hand.

 

 

Clubs and Majors

For the following hands, assume that your partner has opened 1.

A84
65
73
KQT865
  An easy 2 bid.

762
T3
K6
AT8743
  Bid 1NT. You are not strong enough to bid 2.

K5
JT3
76
A76543
  1NT again. I like to have at least 9 HCP to bid 2 over 1.


765
T73
AKT9762
  Bid 2.

AK85
98
T8
AKQ87
  Bid 2. If partner responds 2 or 2, your next bid will be 2 (a reverse).


AJ962
T9
KJT986
  Bid 2, and then bid hearts twice. With a strong hand, always bid your longest suit first.

2
KQT8
J62
K9542
  Bid 1. You are not strong enough to bid your suits in the proper order.

JT92
T8
K6
KQ875
  Bid 1. When you don't have a strong hand, it is sometimes necessary to bid your suits in the wrong order.

 

 

Strong Balanced Hands

For the following hands, assume that your partner has opened 1.

AT8
732
AK3
K762
  Jump to 2NT, showing 13-15 HCP and a balanced hand.

Q93
AK
KT95
AJ32
  Jump to 3NT, showing 16-18 HCP and a balanced hand.

K74
AT3
QJ8
J985
  Bid 2, and then rebid 2NT to invite game. You are not strong enough to jump to 2NT directly.

Q62
K98
QJT7
A95
  Bid 3. It would be better to have a 5-card diamond suit, but you have no other reasonable bid available.

A4
A76
Q43
KJ762
  Jump to 2NT. There is no reason to mention your club suit.

K4
KT43
K92
KQ72
  Bid 1. Always bid a 4-card major if you have one. If parnter does not raise, your next bid will be 3NT.