S 03
RESPONSES TO
ONE OF A SUIT
January 2016
Partner has opened with 1 of a suit
Partner shows 12-21 points, any distribution, either balanced or unbalanced.
Your task in the auction is to identify for this deal
◦ the best strain (which suit or notrump)
◦ The right level (part score, game or slam)
Subsequent bids by you and partner will narrow the options
The auction is a dialogue using the vocabulary of the bidding ladder
2
Responses to 1 of a suit
There are three cases with regard to level
1. Sign-off
0-5
pass
2. Invitational
6 - 10
1 level
3. Forcing
11+
1 or higher
Mnemonic: P I F
3
The right strain: priorities
1. The first priority is an 8-card (or better) Major-suit fit
2. The second priority is notrump
3. The third priority is a minor suit.
The means that when you have discovered an 8-card Major-suit fit, the search for
strain is complete.
If no Major is available, then you play in notrump, unless you believe the hand is
unsuitable for NT
4
Partner has opened a Major
Partner has 5 or more in the suit she named, and 12-21 points
My Decision chain:
1. Do I have at least 6 points?
◦ if no, I should pass
2. Do I have at least 3 cards in partner’s Major suit?
◦ if yes, I should make a bid of support, indicating level?
◦ If no, I should not make a bid of support, and I should indicate level.
5
Responses to 1 of a Major
6-10 points & a major-suit fit
If you have 3 or more cards of the major suit your partner
opened, then there is a major suit fit, revalue the hand
using dummy points for distribution.
◦
◦
◦
void
singleton
doubleton
5 points
3 points
1 point
6 - 10 revalued, bid 2 of the major.
6
Responding to 1 of a Major
6-10 HCP; no major suit fit
Bid a new suit at the one level. You must have four (or
more) cards in the suit.
Bid 1NT
7
1 ...? 1
K87
A3
10 9 8 7
J 10 9 8
92
A 10 8
J64
K J 10 8 7
A Q 10 9 8 7
10 4 2
10 7
85
KJ42
7
Q J 10 9
5432
J 10 9 6
K543
7643
10
Q 10 6 4
4
Q 10 8 6 5
74
8
Responses to 1 of a Major
11-12 points
With a fit (3 or more), bid 3 of partner’s suit. (invitational)
Bid a new suit at the 2 level (forcing)
9
Responses to 1 of a Major
with 13+ points
With a balanced hand, bid 2NT
With unbalanced hand, bid a new suit
With 4+ length in partner’s suit, bid game
10
1 ...? 1
KQ87
A3
J97
J 10 9 8
9
A 10 8
J64
K Q J 10 8 7
A Q 10 9 8 7
10 4 2
A7
K5
KJ42
K 10 9 6
KQ43
Q643
10
Q 10 6 4
4
Q 10 8 6 5
AK
Q J 10 9
A5432
11
Responses to 1 of a minor
6 -10 points
Bid a major suit with four or more cards. Up the line.
Bid 1over 1♣. (Only if you have no Major suits)
Bid 1NT
Support you partner’s minor at the 2-level with five or more cards
12
Responses to 1 of a minor
11-12 points
1. Bid a major suit with four or more cards. Bid them up the line.
2. Bid 1over 1♣. (Only if you have no Major suits)
3. Bid 2NT
4. Support you partner’s minor at the 3-level with five or more cards
5. Bid your minor(2 over 1)
13
Responses to 1 of a minor
13+ points
◦ Bid a major suit with four or more cards. Bid them up the line.
◦ Bid 3NT with no 4-card major (13-15)
◦ Bid the other minor with 5 card suit, unbalanced (2 over 1, or 1 over
1.)
◦ Support you partner’s minor at the 3-level with five or more cards
14
1 ...? 1
K87
A3
10 9 8 7
J 10 9 8
92
A 10 8
J64
K J 10 8 7
KJ42
7
Q J 10 9
5432
J 10 9 6
K543
7643
10
A Q 10 9 8 7
J42
10 7
85
Q 10 6 4
4
Q 10 8 6 5
74
15
Responses to 1 of a minor,
11-12 points
1.
Bid a major with at least 4 cards (forcing)
2.
Bid 2NT
3.
Raise minor to three level with five-card support (invitational)
4.
Bid a new suit at the 2 level (2 over 1)
16
Quiz
1...? 1 ...?
K87
A3
AQ87
J 10 9 8
92
A 10 8
J6
A K J 10 8 7
A Q 10 9 8 7
J42
10 7
AK
KJ42
7
Q J 10 9
K J 10 9
J 10
K9543
Q976
10 6
Q
10 6 4 2
Q 10 8 6 5 4
AK
17
Dealer: E
KJ
9875
Q J 10 9
K76
A8732
A64
A8
J53
0402
EZ#4, Deal 2
N
W
E
S
Q 10
Q J 10
5432
A Q 10 8
9654
K32
K76
942
Dealer: N
A7
Q984
A863
K63
K Q 10 3
72
Q 10 7
J952
0403
EZ#4, Deal 3
N
W
E
S
94
AKJ63
9542
A7
J8652
10 5
KJ
Q 10 8 4
Dealer: E
542
8754
Q875
KJ
K73
AQJ
K92
9842
0404
EZ#4, Deal 4
N
W
E
S
J 10 9 6
963
J43
A Q 10
AQ8
K 10 2
A 10 6
7653