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BR 7.1 - New Suit Bids by the Responder
After a One in a Suit-Opening each following bid in a new suit by the Responder as well as by the Opener promises at least 4 cards in that suit.
When holding more than one 4 card suit, bid them up the line (lowest ranking suit first). This applies both to the opener and to the responder.
New suit bids by the Responder (in bold below) show the following point ranges :
- At the 1 level : 6+ points and at least 4 Hearts
- At the 2 level : 1♥ - 2♦ = 11+ points and at least 4 Diamonds
- Jump-shift : 1♣ - 2♦ = a Weak 2 bid : 6-10 HCPs and a 6+card suit.
(A jump-shift is a bid of a new suit and skipping one level.)
As explained previously bidding a new suit by Responder after a major suit Opening has a low priority.
Bidding a new suit by Responder after a minor suit Opening on the other hand, has a very high priority.
If you have two or three long suits the following rules (Bidding Guide p.10) apply :
- Bid your longest suit first.
- With two 5 card suits bid the higher ranking one first.
- With two or three 4 card suits bid them up the line.
Here are some typical examples of New Suit Responses after a One in a Suit Opening.
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Hand 1
Your Partner opened the bidding.
You are the Responder with 9 points and a balanced hand.
- Opening bid = 1♣ Your Response = 1♥
With two or more 4 card suits bid them up the line.
- Opening bid = 1♦ Your Response = 1♥
With two or more 4 card suits bid them up the line.
- Opening bid = 1♥ Your Response = 2♥
With 3+ card trump support in a major suit and 10 points or less, single raise Partner's suit.
- Opening bid = 1♠ Your Response = 2♠
With 3+ card trump support in a major suit and 10 points or less, single raise Partner's suit.
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Hand 2
Your Partner opened the bidding.
You are the Responder with 8 points and a balanced hand.
- Opening bid = 1♣ Your Response = 1♦
With two or more 4 card suits bid them up the line.
- Opening bid = 1♦ Your Response = 1♥
Prefer to bid a new 4 card suit over raising Partner's minor suit.
- Opening bid = 1♥ Your Response = 2♥
With 3+ card trump support in a major suit and 10 points or less, single raise Partner's suit.
- Opening bid = 1♠ Your Response = 1NT
You have no 3 card trump support for Partner's major suit, and with 10 points or less you can not bid a new suit at the 2 level.
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Hand 3
Your Partner opened the bidding.
You are the Responder with 8½ points and a balanced hand.
- Opening bid = 1♣ Your Response = 1♦
With two or more 4 card suits bid them up the line.
- Opening bid = 1♦ Your Response = 1♠
Prefer to bid a new 4 card suit over raising Partner's minor suit.
By skipping the 1♥ bid you also deny having 4 Hearts.
- Opening bid = 1♥ Your Response = 1♠
You have no 3 card trump support for Partner's major suit, but with less than 10 points bid a new 4 card (or longer) suit at the 1 level.
- Opening bid = 1♠ Your Response = 2♠
With 3+ card trump support in a major suit and 10 points or less, single raise Partner's suit.
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Hand 4
Your Partner opened the bidding.
You are the Responder with 11 points and a balanced hand.
- Opening bid = 1♣ Your Response = 1♦
With two or more 4 card suits bid them up the line.
- Opening bid = 1♦ Your Response = 1♥
Prefer to bid a new 4 card suit over raising Partner's minor suit.
(Also with 11-12 points you can not raise Partner's suit, but must bid a new suit first.)
- Opening bid = 1♥ Your Response = 2♦
You have 4 card trump support in a Partner's major suit, but with 11-12 points you can not raise Partner's suit immediately, but must bid a new suit first. Plan to support Hearts (by bidding 3♥) when it is your next turn to bid.
- Opening bid = 1♠ Your Response = 2♦
With 11-12 points you can not bid NT, but you can bid a new suit (up the line) at the 2 level.
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Hand 5
Your Partner opened the bidding.
You are the Responder with 14 points and an unbalanced hand.
- Opening bid = 1♣ Your Response = 1♠
With two long suits of unequal length always bid your longest suit first.
- Opening bid = 1♦ Your Response = 1♠
With two long suits of unequal length always bid your longest suit first.
- Opening bid = 1♥ Your Response = 3♥
With trump support prefer to raise Partner's major suit over bidding a long suit of your own. With 13 points or more (you now have 16 points, including 3 shortage points) jump raise Partner's major suit.
- Opening bid = 1♠ Your Response = 3♠
With ample trump support and 13 points or more (you now have 16 points, including 3 shortage points) jump raise Partner's major suit.
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Hand 6
Your Partner opened the bidding.
You are the Responder with 20 points and an unbalanced hand.
- Opening bid = 1♣ Your Response = 1♠
With two long suits of unequal length always bid your longest suit first. A bid of a new suit is forcing forcing for one round, so Opener is may not pass. You need to find a trump fit before showing your real strength.
- Opening bid = 1♦ Your Response = 1♠
With two long suits of unequal length always bid your longest suit first. A bid of a new suit is forcing forcing for one round, so Opener is may not pass. You need to find a trump fit before showing your real strength.
- Opening bid = 1♥ Your Response = 3♥ or 6♥
With trump support prefer to raise Partner's major suit over bidding a long suit of your own. With 13 points or more (you now have 22 points, including 3 shortage points) jump raise Partner's major suit. Partner must bid at least Game with a minimum opening (after which you raise to 6♥). Alternatively bid directly to 6♥.
- Opening bid = 1♠ Your Response = 3♠ or 6♠
With ample trump support and 13 point or more (you now have 22 points, including 3 shortage points) jump raise Partner's major suit. Partner must bid at least Game with a minimum opening (after which you raise to 6♠). Alternatively bid directly to 6♠.
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BR 7.2 - Replies by the Opener
After a new suit Response to a One in a Suit Opening the Opener has four options for his next bid.
- Bid No Trumps - with a balanced hand and no trump support for Partner's major suit.
- Bid NT at the lowest level (usually 1NT) with 13-15 pts.
- Bid 3NT with 19-21 pts.
- Raise Partner's major suit - with trump support.
- with 13-15 pts = Single raise (1♣ - 1♥ - 2♥)
- with 16-18 pts = Jump raise (1♣ - 1♥ - 3♥)
- with 19-21 pts = Raise to Game (1♣ - 1♥ - 4♥)
- Rebid your own long suit - showing one card more in that suit than promised previously.
- with 13-15 pts = Single rebid
(1♥ - 1♠ - 2♥ : now showing 6 Hearts)
- with 16-18 pts = Jump rebid
(1♥- 1♠ - 3♥ : now showing 6 Hearts)
- with 19-21 pts = Rebid to Game
(1♥ - 1♠ - 4♥ : now showing at least 6-7 Hearts)
- Bid a new suit - with no trump support for Partner's major.
- with 13-18 pts = new suit at lowest level (1♥ - 1 S - 2♦)
- with 19-21 pts = Jump-shift (1♥ - 1♠ - 3♦)
The following Diagram shows all above options in their appropriate bidding order.
Here follow some typical examples.
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Hand 7
You have 14 points, a balanced hand and opened the bidding with 1♣.
Your Opening bid and Reply after Partner's Response are shown in bold :
- 1♣ - 2♣ - Pass
Partner has no 4 card major, is unbalanced with at least 5 Clubs and only 6-10 pts.
- 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥
Bid a new 4 card suit up the line.
- 1♣ - 1♥ - 2♥
Single raise Partner's major suit, showing trump support and a minimum opening hand.
- 1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT
Showing a balanced minimum opening hand with no trump support for Partner's major suit.
Partner has bid Spades, skipping over the Heart suit, which indicates he has no 4 cards in Hearts
(In case Partner holds 5 Spades and 4 or 5 Hearts he will bid Hearts next.)
- 1♣ - 1NT - Pass
Partner has no 4 card major suit and 6-10 pts.
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Hand 8
You have 20½ points, a balanced hand and open with 1♣.
Your Opening bid and Reply after Partner's Response are shown in bold :
- 1♣ - 2♣ - 3NT
Partner has no 4 card major, is unbalanced with at least 5 Clubs and 6-10 pts. You have strength in all suits and a Game in NT should be a good contract.
- 1♣ - 1♦ - 3NT
Partner has 6-18 pts. With 13 pts or more he should bid on to Slam (6NT or 6♦).
or :
1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥
Test a 4-4 Heart fit first before jumping to Game
Partner must respond in Hearts with support, or bid NT or a new suit.
- 1♣ - 1♥ - 4♥
Game raise Partner's major suit showing trump support and a maximum opening hand.
Partner has 6-18 pts., and will bid Slam (6♥) with 13 pts or more.
- 1♣ - 1♠ - 3NT
Showing a balanced maximum opening hand with no trump support for Partner's major suit.
Partner has 6-18 pts., and will bid Slam (6NT or 6♠) with 13 pts or more.
- 1♣ - 1NT - 3NT
Showing a balanced maximum opening hand with no trump support for Partner's major suit.
Partner has no 4 card major suit and 6-10 pts.
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Hand 9
You have 16½ points, a semibalanced hand and open with 1♠.
Your Opening bid and Reply after Partner's Response are shown in bold :
- 1♠ - 2♠ - 3♠
Partner has trump support and 6-10 pts. You have now 17 pts and invite him to bid Game (4♠) if he has a maximum within his range (8-10).
- 1♠ - 1NT - 2♥
Partner has 6-10 pts and no Spade support, but perhaps he has 4 Hearts (which he could not bid at the 2 level).
- 1♠ - 2♣ - 2♥
Explore the possibility for a Heart or NT contract.
Partner has 11-18 pts and may not pass after your bid of a new suit. A Game contract should be there.
- 1♠ - 2♦ - 2♥
Explore the possibility for a Heart or NT contract.
Partner has 11-18 pts and may not pass after your bid of a new suit. A Game contract should be there.
- 1♠ - 2♥ - 4♥
You have trump support and enough pts to go to Game. Partner should try for Slam with 16 pts or more.
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Hand 10
You have 17½ points (including 3 length points), an unbalanced hand and open with 1♥.
Your Opening bid and Reply after Partner's Response are shown in bold :
- 1♥ - 2♥ - 4♥
Partner has trump support and 6-10 pts. You have now 20 pts (including 6 shortage pts) and, with at least 26 pts in the combined hands bid Game (4♥) immediately.
- 1♥ - 1♠ - 4♠
Partner has at least 4 Spades and 6 or more pts. You have great trump support and now 20 pts (including 6 shortage pts). With at least 26 pts in the combined hands bid Game (4♠) immediately.
- 1♥ - 1NT - 2♠ 2♦
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