I. What Is Your Objective?
One of the primary objectives of bidding is to find an eight card major suit fit to play in. The other main objective is to determine how many points the partnership has. These are the two questions you should ask yourself every time it is your turn to bid:
- Do we have an 8 card or longer major suit fit ?
- Do we have the 26 points needed for a game ?
Once either partner knows that there cannot be 26 points, it is that player’s job to stop in a makable contract. This usually means passing, or making the cheapest bid in a previously bid suit. Conversely, if you know your side has enough points for a game, do not make a bid that your partner can pass!
II. Opening the Bidding at the One Level
To open the bidding at the one level you must hold 13-21 points. With fewer points you pass, and with more you open at the 2 level. Here is the basic set of questions to ask yourself when deciding what to open:
1) Do I have 15-17 points in a balanced hand?
- Open One Notrump..
2) Do I have a five card or longer suit?
- Open your longest suit, with equal length suits open the higher ranking
3) Do I have a four card minor?
- Open your highest ranking four card minor.
4) Do I have three clubs?
- Open One Club. This is a convenient lie that partner knows you can use.
5) Then I must have a 4432 pattern (4? 4? 3? and 2? )
- Open One Diamond, note that this is the only time that you bid One Diamond with fewer than four cards in the suit.
A four card holding is the normal minimum suit length for a biddable suit at Bridge.
III. Responding to One of a Suit
Remember our objective? The first question to ask yourself, if partner opens one of a major is “Do we have an eight card or longer major suit fit?” If so, you will be raising your partner right away and you need to recount your points using short suit distributional values (dummy points) rather than long suit points.
Otherwise the next question is “Do I have at least 6 points?” If the answer is yes, then you must respond to partner’s opening bid, because game is possible if partner is maximum. As responder, you need to categorize your hand by points, in order to determine what you can bid. Here is a chart that shows these point range categories:
|
Point Range |
Category |
Game Prospects |
|
6-10 |
Minimum |
poor |
|
11-12 |
Medium |
invite |
|
13-16 |
Maximum |
game |
When you have an eight card fit, raise your partner immediately and show your point range at the same time:
|
Point Range |
Category |
Raise to the |
|
6-10 |
Minimum |
2 level |
|
11-12 |
Medium |
3 level |
|
13-16 |
Maximum |
game |
What if you cannot raise partner’s major? Here are responder’s choices, in order:
1) Bid a new (major) suit at the 1 level. This says nothing about points yet:
- Bid your longest suit first, unless you are minimum in points. Remember, minimums are too weak to bid new suits at the 2 level. If your longest suit requires a 2 level bid see section 3 below.
- With two 5 card or longer suits, bid the higher ranking.
- With only 4 card suits, bid up the line (nearest). Since partner can also bid 4 card suits, it will be easy to find your fit at a low level.
2) Raise partner’s minor with 5 card support
- Minimum raises to 2,
- Medium to 3,
- Maximum has to get to game. So you respond 2NT, if balanced, otherwise you bid a new suit.
3) Otherwise:
- A minimum hand that cannot bid a new suit at the one level or raise, bids the catch all 1NT bid (6-10 points any distribution therefore not necessarily balanced)
- Jump to 2NT with 13-15 balanced
- Jump to 3NT with 16-18 balanced
- With 11+ bid a new suit at the 2 level, minors can be as few as 4 cards but majors must be 5 or more cards.
IV. OPENER’S REBIDS after the response to a one of a suit opening
Remember the objectives when deciding what to do over your partner’s response. What do you know about your possible major suit fits and your partnership points? If you know that the partnership cannot have 26 points, you want to pass or make a sign off bid. If you have found an eight card major fit, that’s the suit you want to have for a trump suit. Here is a chart showing the three categories to divide your opening hand into:
|
Point Range |
Category |
opposite a minimum raise |
When raising responder |
|
13-15 |
Minimum |
pass |
2 level |
|
16-18 |
Medium |
invite |
3 level |
|
19-21 |
Maximum |
game |
game |
REBID QUESTION LIST
1) Is there an 8 card major suit fit? The priorities in order are: raise partner’s major, bid a new major at the one level, or raise yourself . With four card support for partner’s suit or a six card suit of your own:
- Raise to 2 with a minimum
- Raise to 3 with a medium strength hand
- Raise to game with a maximum. When raising a minor this can mean bidding 3NT.
2) Is your hand balanced? If so then:
- With a minimum (13-14), rebid the cheapest number of NT or pass partner’s NT response.
- With 18-19, jump in NT or raise partner’s NT bid 1 level.
3) Your hand must be unbalanced, therefore bid a new suit if possible
- A minimum hand can only bid a new suit when it can be bid below 2 of the suit that was opened. Therefore sometimes a minimum hand has to rebid a 5 card suit, usually this will be a minor.
- A medium hand makes its natural rebid of its second suit. Note that a reverse, (bidding a new suit higher than 2 of the suit opened, for example 1? 1? 2?) promises at least medium strength values.
- A maximum hand needs to force to game. Therefore a maximum must either jump in a new suit (strong jump shift) or reverse and then follow with another strong bid or game.
VII. RESPONDER’S REBIDS in an auction that started with one of a suit
By the fourth bid of the auction, it is usually possible to place the contract or make a bid that lets partner place it. Responder first figures out what point range Opener has shown.
|
Opener’s rebid |
Point Range |
Hand Category |
|
1NT |
13-14 |
Minimum |
|
A new suit |
13-18 |
Minimum or Medium |
|
2NT |
18-19 |
Medium+ |
|
Reverse |
17-21 |
Medium or Maximum |
|
Jump in an old suit |
17-18 |
Medium |
|
Jump in a new suit |
19-21 |
Maximum |
Responder then adds the minimum and maximum points for Opener to their own point count. This determines whether game is possible, and therefore what to do next.
Note that when opener has rebid 1NT, responder’s bids are similar to the bids after a 1NT opener. That is to say, suits at the 2 level are to play and jumps to the 3 level in new suits are forcing, while 2NT and jumps in old suits are invitational.
When Opener bids a third suit or rebids her first suit, then responder asks the following questions before making a rebid:
- Not enough points for game?Then look for a safe place to play:
- Pass partner’s last bid
- Make the minimum bid in an old suit
- Do not bid 1NT with less than 8 points. It won’t be a good spot to play.
- Maybe there is a game?
- If minimum(8-10) keep the auction open with a descriptive bid:
- Raise partner’s last bid with a fit
- Bid the minimum number of an old suit
- Bid 1NT with the unbid suit(s) stopped
- With a medium hand make an invitational bid:
- Jump raise partner’s major with a fit.
- Bid a new major at the one level ( 1? – 1? – 1? – 1?)
- Jump in a previously bid suit
- Otherwise bid 2NT, If partner did not bid NT this promises stoppers in the unbid suit(s). This is invitational even when it is not a jump.
- If minimum(8-10) keep the auction open with a descriptive bid:
- Game is certain? Then either bid a game or make a forcing bid:
- Bid game in a known eight card major suit fit.
- Bid a four card major that has not yet been bid.
- Bid game in NT with the unbid suit(s) well stopped.
- Otherwise, the only forcing bid is a new suit. Bid a new suit even with only three cards in it, when you don’t know what game to play in. Responders new suits are always forcing unless Opener’s last bid was 1NT.
Since this article was written more up-to-date versions with loser count included have been published in the district 17 newsletter. See the Bidding Basics articles there.
I have a question. If dealer has 13 points, can she pass, if she has a really bad hand? Thank you.
No. Your partner may have a really good hand and needs to be aware of your point strength.
As Eric said …
Also do not look for excuses NOT to open! More hands get promoted to 13 than demoted to less 🙂 That being said, I did pass a 13 point hand once that re-evaluated to about 10 points. Once in the last 40 years!
When do you support responders bid of one of a major after one of a minor with three and an unbalanced hand ? Do you use 2nt as an asking bid ? If you do what are the responses ? Thank you
Personally I almost always support partner’s major with three card support and a side singleton but I generally do not teach this to beginners.
Responder in my system does use 2NT to ask after their major is raised. Various methods, including mine, are listed in this article:
http://bridgewinners.com/article/view/spiral-raises/
As south I open one diamond with 14points and 3 3 4 3 distribution. West bids one heart. North and east pass. Can I bid notation with a heart stopper?
No you cannot. Bidding 1NT in pass-out seat shows a 2NT rebid,18-19. So your choices are making a take-out double or passing it out. Since partner passed, either they have a poorish hand or a penalty double of 1
so look at your hand and judge whether to reopen or let West play there.
and East had bid 1
then you could bid 1NT with 14 or a good 13 and a spade stopper.
If partner had responded 1
Opener has 8-9 points and five cards,and bids three of his suit. Is that correct?
Gail
I am not understanding your question. Opening bidder needs more like 13 points to open. Do you mean a preempt? Then he needs more than 5 cards. I cannot think of what auction you are asking about so try again.
Hi Kitty
Can responder mention a major suit at the 1 level with only 4 cards in the major?
Or does “playing 5 card majors” mean that to mention a major suit you always need 5 cards in the suit, whether responder or opener? (apart from calling stayman or a take out double where you might only have 4 cards – or 3 in the case of a take out double).
Thanks so much
Sally
Sally –
Of course responder will mention a 4 card major at the one level. How else would you find your 4-4 fits?
To quote what it says above about responder’s first bid – at the one level “With only 4 card suits, bid up the line (nearest). Since partner can also bid 4 card suits, it will be easy to find your fit at a low level.”
opener has 12 points and 6 Spades – what is her bid? Thanks, Pat
Like the Acol lessons
Pat – it depends. probably one spade. You do not say if the 12 points are 10 high card points plus 2 for the long spades or twelve points in just high cards. If the latter, definitely one spade. If the former, it depends on he hand structure as to whether to open one spade or a weak two bid.
Use losing trick count to decide. 7 losers is a one bid.
Your opponent opens one of a suit and our partner doubles. third person doubles, are is it a demand for you to bid even if you have a bust hand?
Louise,
Yes it is a demand.
Think of it this way, if you pass they will be playing their contract doubled which is not a good thing.
The only time you would pass is with a long and strong holdiing in their suit like KQJ109z
On a separate topic, there is not much comment on the internet regarding opener’s rebid following an overcall by RHO. For example, opener bids 1D, P, 1S by partner, 2H by RHO. If opener now rebids 3C, what does that show?
Extra distribution or shape? A big hand? A standard rebid if there had been no overcall? Is the 3C rebid forcing for one round or to game, etc. I’m assuming Double is 3-card support for spades. Also assuming Pass is either nothing to show or hearts hoping for a reopening double by responder.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Guy –
Bidding at the three level always shows extras, shape or high cards. Not forcing just highly invitational to game.
More advanced players use a convention called good bad 2NT here to distinguish between a hand that just wants to compete in something (bids 2NT) as opposed to a real three level bid but that is above the level of this site which is for beginners and teachers.
Check out bridgewinners.com for more advanced thoughts on bidding or bridgeguys.com for convention listings
Opener bids 1 diamond.
Responder bids 1 heart
Opener bids 2 diamonds.
What does responder say with 12 points, 5 hearts, and no diamond fit?
Nancy,
If Responder has a second suit at least 4 cards long, he would bid it otherwise either 2nt to invite game or more likely 3nt if the hand wants to be in game. 12 points plus a five card suit makes 13 points.
However if responder is missing a black suit stopper, he can bid the other black suit to let partner bid 3NT. Notice that since opener rebid diamonds he has denied 4 spades so responder can bid spades with just a stopper and less than 4 of them.
I open 1 NT , P, partner bids 2C (Stayman), but I have no 4 card major, do I bid a 4 card minor?
No, you bid 2
to say, “sorry partner, no major”
Opener bids l club with three clubs, 3 diamonds (KQx) 4 spades, 4 hearts with just 13 points. Opponent doubles, partner bids 1 diamond. What does Opener bid now? Should Opener bid one of a major suit with only 4? Should Opener pass? Should Opener support diamonds, not knowing how many points partner has as partner was forced to bid?
If Opener bids one spade and partner has 7 hearts with QJ and only 3 points, should partner bid the hearts with only 3 high card points?
Please answer the two questions
No, with less than 6 points responder passes. With a touch more, responder can bid 1NT which says nothing about being balanced, it just denies the values to bid at the two level. Later (if there is a later), responder bids her suit.
That’s 14 cards … so only two diamonds or only one four card major?
This is clearly covered above by “The priorities in order are: raise partner’s major, bid a new major at the one level, …” Perhaps the issue was not realizing that bidding a new major only guarantees four cards ?
if I open 1d overcaller bids 2c to bid 2h does responder need 5 cards or 4
Responder always needs 5 cards the first time he mentions a suit at the 2 level.
bid, double is usually used for takeout with that 4 card 
suit and either spades as well or some support for 
s
Over that 2
Soo glad I found this site…ver helpful…thank you
Bidding, East Pass, South opens 1 heart, responder bids 1 spade, opener then bids 1NT – back to responder who now bids 2c – Is 2 clubs forcing after the 1NT by opener or is it a preference bid meaning two suits no interest in game?
In basic beginning bridge 2
is not forcing because the notrump bidder has limited their hand, so responder has to jump in a new suit to create a force.
More advanced players use new minor forcing after 1NT to ask for three card support in which case 2
is artificial and forcing one round. If opner had opened 1
then responder would use 2
instead to ask for 4
or 3
(opener responds up the line). For more about this convention try https://www.larryco.com/bridge-learning-center/detail/108
Partner bids1 spade. I have 7
Heats with ten point and 2. Spade? Do I bid. .my Heats?
Yes bid your hearts
Partner bids 1 diamond. I have 4 spades A J 9 4 , 5 Hearts k 10 7 5 4 2 and total 10 points, which should be my response
Bid 1
, your five card suit. If partner has 4 spades he will bid 1
next and you will have. Found your fit
I opened 1 diamond with 19 points and a pretty balanced hand. My partner responded 1 heart. I had 4 card heart support so jumped to 4 hearts, figuring that 19+6 points would make game. My partner passed with 14 points, saying that mybid was a shutout. Is that true? Should I have bid 2 NT first? Thank you!
Your partner was confusing this auction with the 1
-4
auction which IS a weak shut out.
Your bid was correct.
with 10 points, 5C and 4 S what is my bid after partner has opened 1D
Sorry should say 6C, 4S and a void in D with 10pts. apologies
With 10 points (actually 12 if you count 2 for the six card suit) you have enough to bid on the 2 level, so you would usually show your longest suit first by bidding 2
instead
However if you already gave yourself 2 points for your long suit, then you can choose to consider it too weak for that action and bid 1
bridge is not a game of absolutes so look at the hand, and either upgrade or downgrade. A void in partner’s suit is a definite downgrade while high catprds I your long suits are an upgrade.
Opening 1diamond with 5d 3c 2h and 3 s partner responds 1h. What should my next bid be. Total points 13
I assume 1nt would be incorrect as I would be showing 15-16 points.
Maureen –
A 1NT rebid Is correct. This rebid shows a minimum opening hand not the 15-17 that an opening 1NT bid shows. Do not confuse an opening NT bid with the rebid in NT.
Played bridge today – I opened 1 D, other player bid 2 S, my partner bid 3 Clubs, my hand was not great so I passed, then find out that her response of 3 C was meant to indicate a preemptive bid, but she would have to bid 3 of any suit because the bid of 2 spades precluded anything else. How should she have indicated to me that the club bid was preemptive?
when your opponent bid 2
they were preempting which serves the purpose of taking away your room. Your partner would have had to jump to 4
to show a preemptive hand.e
As you know when she bid a new suit, it was forcing. In other words, you were not supposed to pass it.
If partner opens with a high 2 bid must I bid or can I pass with a bust hand?
If you are playing strong two bids, then yes you must bid. Some systems have a special bid in response to show a bust.
My husband tells me I MUST re-bid if he bids a new suit.
If I have 6 points … I responded to his opening with my best suit. If he re-bids and we have no match, am I bound to respond …. perhaps with NT?
You never have to do anything your husband says 🙂 I don’t!
In all seriousness, unless he jumps in a new suit, his bid is not forcing on you and Pass is fine with 6-7 points and a preference for his new suit. Else you can go back to his first suit or rebid your own 5+ card suit.
Please show him the section on Responder’s rebids above which starts with “Not enough points for game?Then look for a safe place to play:
Pass partner’s last bid
Make the minimum bid in an old suit
Do not bid 1NT with less than 8 points. It won’t be a good spot to play.”
With singleton A spade and a controll in other suit would youbid 3 NT
That is not enough information Desai. It depends on the auction. If I thought 3NT was the right game for us to play, I would not be deterred by having a singleton.
i BELIEVE BRIDGE IS A PARTNERSHIP SO THEREFORE RESPONSE FROM PARTNER IS IN REPLY TO MY BID. MY PARTNER BELIEVES HE HAS TO ACCOUNT FOR A BID IN BETWEEN AND ANSWERS AS AN OVERCALL.
PLEASE ADVISE THE CORRECT UNDERSTANDING OR IS IT BY PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT?
THANKS
Your partner’s bid is in response to your bid BUT the requirements change when there is an intervening bid. He is no longer required to respond with 6+ points because you will get another bid. Therefore his 1NT shows a stopper and about 8-10 points. His suit bids are unchanged but he does not have to strain to bid one.
Partner opens 1 C, Pass, I respond 1 H.
Partner has 4 hearts and 15 points. Should he bid 2 hearts or 3 hearts?
Probably only 2H … It depends on the hand. If there are any “upgrades” bid 3H but if a balanced nothing special 15 then just 2H
If yours is not the opening bid but you wish to bid what is the minimum hand you need ? I understand you need at least 5 cards in the same suite and 6 points. Is that correct ?
If opener bids 1 spade and responder bids 2 hearts, is that promising 4 or 5 hearts? (assuming no intervening bid) Thanks!
That promises 5 hearts
Hi Kitty. I open 1♣️. Opposition over calls 1♦️. My partner calls 2♠️. My partner has 17 points!!
Should she jump shift or go slower??
( I left her in 2♠️ as I thought she was calling a weak jump overcall.)
What’s your view please
Hi Keith –
It is standard to play this jump as weak in competition. Many prefer to always play it weak but that would have to be the partnership agreement
Hi. If I iopen in 4th position one club and partner has four diamonds and four hearts and ten points, does he respond one diamond or one heart, knowing I could pass?
He can respond either one, probably 1
is best depending on your style
Hi KItty:
I was told that if partner opens one club and that if I have 5 points or less that I should bid one diamond which shows a ‘bust’ hand.
Have you every heard of this convention??
Thanks,
Don H
Don
with a poor hand 6-7 points and no major to bid and at least 3 diamonds. The idea being that the hand is too weak to bid 1NT and you plan to pass partner’s next bid unless they force to game.
No that is not a normal convention.
However, many players bid 1
Kitty
Thanks for your response on the one diamond response to partner’s opening one bid.
So this diamond bid does indicate 6-7 points and not 5 points or less as someone explained to me. Your answer makes sense to me.
Don
Should that bid be alerted? 1c, p 1d indicating a bust hand? Less than 6 pts
Kitty
I was discussing a l NT opener with a bridge player and he will bid l NT with 15-17 with only three suits stopped. (I prefer 16-18, but that is another issue)
That 1 NT bid without all suits stopped has got me in trouble. Responder may bid 2 NT or 3 NT (game) or other bidding may arrive at 3 NT (game) and then I go down because opponents lead and re-lead the non-stopped suit to take bunch of tricks off the top.
What is you thinking on bidding 1 NT as opener without all suits stopped ? ( I play stopper in a given suit is A or Kx or Qxx or Jxxx.)
Don
Hi Donald,
Sorry for the delayed response. I do not worry about stoppers so much. It is important to get across the balanced nature of your hand with better than minimum high card strenght.
However I do subsribe to the double flaw theory, so never two unstopped suits or a small doubleton with a 5 card major or 6 card minor or a 54 pattern.
I open the bidding with one of a suit, say 1D, the left hand opposition bids one of a suit, say 1S and my partner responds 1NT. We are playing weak nt (12-14). What can I assume his point count to be please.
Barrie –
Traditionally a response of 1NT in competition is 8-11 points with a stopper in the opponents suit. Modern players tend to cap that at 10 points and jump to 2NT with 11-12.
Partner opens with one club,RHO bids one diamond, I have 10 points,square hand, no diamond stopper, can I bid one no trump, or does that imply a diamond stopper.
yes 1NT implies a diamond stopper.
If an opening bid is 1NT, what are the partner’s proper responces at different strength levels?
Thank you for your anticipated reply.
See my article on the D17 website
http://www.d17acbl.org/index.php?page=responding-to-1nt-stayman-and-transfers
Kitty
I have a bridge partner that likes to preemptive bid regardless of who opens or the score. He rather preempt a bid than make slam bids.
I can buy into a preemptive bid when opponents have a game or have a game and a leg on, especially if we don’t have a game on (that is we are not vulnerable) .
I realize there are exceptions to above depending on what opponents bid.
But what I don’t like is when my partner does a preempt given I have not bid yet and have any opening hand. And, I will add, when the opponents are not vulnerable. That is my partner is opening with first bid with a preemptive bid. Also in this situation the opponent to the right of my partner has passed his or her opening bidding.
If I have an opening hand in this situation then I am forced to bid on the 3 or 4 level — assuming opponent to right of me has passed. Hence, trying to communicate at the 3 or 4 level gets tricky!
What is your thinking on this situation that I often find myself in?
Don H.
Your partner has the right idea, don’t look for reasons not to preempt is my regular advice …
So get used to it. An opening hand is not a reason to bid on.
See my lecture handout in downloads called the art of preempting
http://bridgeteaching.com/downloads/
Hi Kitty
Is
1 club – pass – 1 spade – pass –
2 spades – pass – 3 clubs -pass
forcing?
I will appreciate very much if you could find time to answer this question.
Thank you for all the above!
Dragoslav
Yes, a forcing game try
Thank you very much Kitty.
What if the bidding was
Pass – pass- 1 club- pass;
1spade – pass – 2 spades – pass;
3 clubs -pass. Is it still forcing?
Dragoslav
Still a game try, responder thinks that if opener has real clubs there is a double fit so a possible game
In your own partnership you can always agree to play differently but without discussion it is forcing
Thank you!
both me and my partner appreciate it.
Hi Kitty
I have read through some web sites on bridge bidding — in particular opening with two in a suit.
I know some people play week opening in 2 clubs bid. But my question is how many Goren points should one have (including distribution) to open with ether 2D, 2H or 2S?
I have read 25+ points needed and I have read 21+ points. I would think 25+ points would be not correct because chances of obtaining 25+ points would have a very, very low probability of happening, whereas 21+ points does happen.
Don H
Don
Most people use weak 2 bids and open all the strong hands with 2
It is not a question of points but of whether you want to be in game opposite a hand that would pass if you opened one of a suit.
More balanced hands usually have around 21+ points
Here is an article I wrote on opening 2
http://www.d17acbl.org/index.php?page=opening-and-responding-to-two-clubs-strong
Beginner question. I open I heart. My partner responds 2 diamonds. I have 4 Spades and 14 points. Can I bid 2 spades?
Bidding 2
creates a game force so with 14 HCP, maybe, if you like your hand enough. If you have only one diamond that would be a reason to be a pessimist, so as Donald suggested, rebid 2
even though you have only five of them, which partner can pass
Vicki
I would say you ccould bid two spades — 2 diamond bid by partner shows some strength (10 or more points).
If you bid 2 spades that is new suit force – maybe your partner might bid 2 NT or 3 diamonds
Maybe best bid is to rebid your hearts with 14 pts and let partner continue bidding if she/he wants too.
Don H
Question:
My partner opens 1-H I have 5-H with J high and No Spades and 8 pts so I bid 3 H and the oponents call the director and tells him we screw up their bid and they wanted to bid S so the director looks at heir hand and says they have 4 S and gives them game even if they never ever bid. I admit they asked my partner what my heart bid meant and she said limited raise she thought and then I just said kinda low one and that is when direction said they get 4 S and we are out or the auction even tho we can make 6H or 6D
Jane, Naples FL
Jane
The director should not be interfering with any on going bidding unless there is ‘table talk’
Maybe you should pay director some money next time you show up! Smile!
Don
Hi Kitty. I am a learner and have a question. I am south aand bid 1NT west bids 2C can my partner bid a transfer at the 2 level or should it be at tne 3 level
Regards Steven
Steven,
Normally when the opponents bid over your NT, systems are off. No transfers, etc
However if all they bid us 2! C you can still play transfers and double 2;C for Stayman. But make sure your partner knows that before you try it
Kitty
I have played bridge for many, many years and not sure if I am correct on my thinking.
I bid one club open, opponent to left of me bid one no trump. My partner passed, but opponent to right of me bid three no trump. Bidding passed out here. But the player to the right of me had four aces . Question raised, does the opponents receive the 150 honors points? I said ‘no’ because to receive honor points the bidder must hold the honors.
Hi Kitty
Wondering if you still respond to web posting???
Don
Not as often as I used to!
I have not played rubber bridge in years, I only play imps or duplicate.
However as I recall either hand can have the honors, declarer or dummy. The laws say that as well on p 50 here under the heading “Premium Points”
http://cdn.acbl.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Laws-of-Rubber-Bridge.pdf
Kitty
Thanks —
Don
I open one of the major. With no interference my partner bids three clubs. Not having discussed the situation, I take it as a jump shift. My partner was bidding bidding a preamp. Which of us is correct? Would interference change anything?
Neither of you is correct as this is a matter of partnership agreement.
Old fashioned players and new players will play this as strong jump shift
Some modern players use it as a preempt and more modernists play it as an invitational one suiter. In both cases when combined with the forcing notrump.
1D x 1S x
1H x 2C x
What point count range required for this responder in each case?
Your auction makes no sense as written since spades outrank hearts. Did you mean
Pass 1
Pass
Pass 2
??
is a bid of the fourth suit and is forcing. In the modern duplicate style it is game forcing so a hand worth at least 13 reavaluated points. In old fashioned basic bridge it promises 11+, so at least game invitational values over which opener would need to jump to accept the game try
1
1
In which case 2
(by the way a ! in front ot the suit letter will get you the suit symbol)
If responder has minimum points (8) and an unbalanced distribution (say 5 clubs & 4 hearts) with a singleton in diamonds, would a 1 NT response still be correct or would it be better to bid the clubs?
To clarify, is 1 NT always the answer with no major suit support, minimum points, and uneven distribution?
Think of responder’s 1NT as a catch-all bid saying no 4+ suit that can be bid at the one level and not enough points for the 2 level but too many points to pass you… Therefore it can be balanced or unbalanced
What is the rule for preempt bid.
Sorry Maryellen, I did not see your question back when. Please read my article about prempting:
https://bridgeteaching.com/2006/09/preempting/
and perhaps also my lesson in downloads called “The Art of Preempting”
I open 1 c 19p p has 2 5cmj bids 1h what should I bid with 3 h and 3 s to
It sounds like you may have a balanced hand. If so your 2NT rebid will show 18 or 19 HCP . If your hand is not balanced ( with a 6 card club suit) you need to jump shift to show your point count. This is forcing to game. You will get a chance to rebid your clubs. By the way, with two 5-cd majors your partner should have responded with the higher one first, 1 spade.
Hard to read the original question but with 2 five card majors she needed to bid 1
not 1
and Janet gave a good answer
Opponent bids 1 spade partner doubles next player pass I hold spades king,queen,five h 9 8 3 d jack 7 4 c ace queen 7 4.my bid?
With such good spades, you can respond in Notrump. You can expect partner to stop the red suits because of the double. With 11 points bid 2NT to invite game in NT
1M – – 3M has what meaning please? As compared to 1M – – 3M.
Thanks
W A –
You have posted two identical auctions? You and your partner have to agree on what those bids mean. In basic bidding these are limit raises, whether a minor or a major. Limit is defined as about 10+-12 points, just under a game force.
Partner opens 1c. LHO bids 1d. I have six points and five hearts.
How can I let her know I have five hearts?
Thanks
John you cannot let het know you have 5
. You can only tell her that you have four or more of them on this first round of bidding. With such a weak hand you may not be taking a second bid however! Nothing is perfect.
I open 1D with a minimum hand (i.e. 13 HCP). My partner bids 1S. I have a singleton spade. Do I bid 1NT to show partner I have a limited hand? Or do I bid a second 4-card suit at the 2 level to show partner that I have a distributional hand? If that second 4-card suit is hearts (a reverse! I have 5 diamonds, 4 hearts, 1 spade, 3 clubs), should I rebid the 5-card diamond suit?
Joanne –
, if you really have serious rebid problems then perhaps pass when very minimum.
It is best to think about this before you open 1
So you opened, then either the diamonds are good enough to rebid ( a good quality suit) or bid your three card club suit since obviously you cannot reverse. Prefer to not bid 1NT with a singleton please.
After an opening bid of 1 club, can the opponents then open 1 diamond if they have 13 points but 4 diamonds. We know you have to have 5 hearts or spades. The question came up as you can normally open 1 Diamond with only four diamonds. Why does it change for the overcaller if they have full 13 points
Overcalling is not the same as opening. The situation is different since RHO has an opening bid and your partner may have nothing so if LHO has the right sort of hand they may be able to penalize you. Therefore YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO BID just because you have 13+ POINTS in the overcall position. To overcall you want a good 5+ card suit or a good hand with a 5 card suit. If you have 13+ points and no suit then make a take out double IF you can support the other 3 suits.
Mike Lawrence wrote a whole book about overcalls but try this article from Robert Todd
https://www.advinbridge.com/this-week-in-bridge/28?rq=overcall
Opener bids 1D, pass. Responder bids 2S (weak). Opener has 16 points,
,2S, 3H, 5D 3C. What should be opener’s next bid?
Correction to last post. opener has 1S, 2H, 6D, and 4C in the example. Opener bids 1D, opponent passes, reponder bids 2S (weak). Opener has 16 points.
Thanks!
Sorry for the delayed response, all these comments must have gone to spam in my email …
I really dislike weak jump responses and refuse to play them because whatever you do on a hand like that will be wrong!
Without knowing your exact hand or the form of scoring it is hard to advise you but Pass is probably the best action
Dealer N; EW – Vuln; NS – Not Vuln; Bidding starts
North East South West
Pass, Pass, 1C, 1D,
Dbl, ??.
Sitting in East position I hold Spade KT92, Hearts A83, Diamonds KJ4, Clubs T53. Should I bid 1 Spade after the Double to show my 4 card major or bid 2 diamonds to show support for Partner’s 1D overcall?
Since you have enough in points to bid twice, go ahead and show the spades first planning to raise diamonds next. If you were weaker, for example no
A, you would just raise diamonds.
Sorry I did not see this comment before
good site,, we are learning ,,if i have 8 pts , and my partner has not opened
can i open the bidding in the 2nd round of bidding
Leslie I am not understanding your question … can you over call the opponents bid with a good 8? Yes. Can you open an 8 point hand opposite a passed partner? Not a good idea. A preempt maybe
I had 14 points and 6 hearts I opened 1 heart, my partner responded 4 clubs. I had no idea that she meant Gerber since no suit had been established so I passed. Not a happy partnership. What should each have done in this situation?
Well responder’s new suits are always forcing for one round so pass was not an option. However Gerber does not apply over suit bids, only over NT. So you were both in the wrong … In the modern style her bid would be a splinter.
Bridge is not an easy game and we learn the most by making mistakes! Keep playing and reading 🙂
I OPENED 1 DIAMOND, NEXT PASS, MY PARTNER RESPONDS 3 HEARTS, I THOUGHT THIS STRONG AND SAID 4 HEARTS. SHE LATER TOLD ME HER BID WAS A WEAK BID AND I SHOULD HAVE LEFT HER IN 3 HEARTS. MY QUESTION, CAN PARTNER BID A WEAK BID AFTER I OPENED.
Peggy,
Many people play that bid as weak, others as a splinter this is a matter of partnership agreement.
Bids that take away so much bidding room need to have very specific meanings