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Bidding Conventions LESSON 34 Inverted Minor Suit raises Inverted Minor Suit raises Opener's reply after a weak response Opener's reply after a strong response Key card ask by raising to 4♣ or 4♦ When the Opponents interfere Deals 169 - 180 Facts sheet - Facts review Bidding Guide : advBG- 19

There is an ever increasing trend in main stream Duplicate Bridge towards pre-emptive type suit raises, most commonly to the 3 level. The theoretic basis and impetus for this is provided by Jean-Rene Vernes' Law of Total Tricks, which (as stated earlier in Lesson 25a.5) says :

Provided the top Honours are not altogether unfavourably placed, this means that :

• with a 5-3 or 4-4 trump fit your side is likely to make 8 tricks,

• while with a 5-4 trump fit your side is more likely to make 9 tricks.

Competing at the 3-level with a 5-3 trump fit and half the available points has therefore a good chance of going down one. But such result would be better (even when vulnerable : - 100) than the opponents making a part-score contract at the 3-level (even in a minor suit : 110) against you.

Therefore with a Minimum opening opposite a Minimum response hand (and no hope for a Game contract) a pre-emptive raise to the 3-level is a good strategy in the battle for a part-score contract.

This is what the Inverted Minor suit raises (also know as 'Forcing Minor suit raises') is all about.

With no 4-card major and a hand unsuitable for a NT response, responses are :

• 1♣ - 3♣ or 1♦ - 3♦ = 6-9 points with trump support

• 1♣ - 2♣ or 1♦ - 2♦ = 10+ points with trump support, forcing for one round

For example :

The weak jump raise to 3 is highly competitive for a part-score contract, while the single raise with the stronger hand leaves miles of space to check on side suit stoppers for a possible 3NT contract.

When opening with a short Club (promising only 2+ Clubs), Responder may raise ♦s with 4+ card support and ♣s with 5+ cards (hoping to find Partner with at least one extra Club in his hand).

When opening with the better minor (promising 3+ cards in the suit), Responder may raise both ♣s and ♦s with 5+ card support.

After a weak jump raise by the Responder (1♣ - 3♣ or 1♦ - 3♦, showing 6-9 pts) Opener will Pass with 15 points or less.

With 16+ points Opener's bid are forcing to Game. His options are :

1. 1♦ - 3♦ - Pass : with 11-15 points

2. 1♦ - 3♦ - 3NT : with 19+ points and stoppers in all 3 side suites

3. 1♦ - 3♦ - 3♥ : 16+ points, showing a ♥ stopper (with no stopper in ♠s or ♣s , Responder rebids 4♦)

4. 1♦ - 3♦ - 4♦ : strong = Roman Key Card ask (see below)

Here follow two examples.

A strong single raise by Responder (1♣ - 2♣ or 1♦ - 2♦, showing 10+ pts) is forcing for one round. Opener must therefore bid again.
Opener's reply options are :

1. 1♦ - 2♦ - 3♦    :   with 12-13 points

2. 1♦ - 2♦ - 2NT :   with 14-15 points and stoppers in all 3 side suites

3. 1♦ - 2♦ - 3NT :   with 16+ points and stoppers in all 3 side suites

4. 1♦ - 2♦ - 2♠    :  bid new suit = 14+ points, showing a ♠ stopper (while denying a ♥ stopper)

5. 1♦ - 2♦ - 3♥    :   jump shift (splinter) = 14+ points, singleton or void in suit bid

The use of 4NT for RKC Blackwood, may not always be convenient as the answer may advance the bidding beyond the minor suit Game level. Using 3NT for this purpose (as for major suit contracts) is not possible either, as after a minor suit raise 3NT is to play!   Therefore instead of, or in addition to, 4NT use the following method.

A raise to the 4 level of a minor suit (4♣ or 4♦) by either Partner is a key card ask (this is not Gerber!!). For example :

• 1♣ - 2♣ - 3♥ - 4♣ = RKC ask

• 1♦ - 2♦ - 4♦ = RKC ask

Partner can either show his key cards or ask for key cards himself by bidding the next suit up.
Replies after a 4♣ key ask are :

1. 4♦ = "Tell me your key cards."

2. 4♥ = 0 or 3 key cards (by either Partner)

3. 4♠ = 1 or 4 key cards

4. 4NT = 2 key cards without the Queen

5. 5♣ = 2 key cards with the Queen

Replies to a 4♦ key card ask are similar, just one step higher.
This approach has the great advantage that all key card answers can be made without going over the minor suit's Game level.

When the Opponents interfere with an Overcall or a Take-out Double the Opening side's chances of a Slam or even Game contract have diminished and a contest for a part score is most likely. The immediate strategy has now become to shut out the Opponents quickly.
Consequently a Responder who would normally have made a jump raise (6-9 pts) of Opener's minor suit now bids instead :

• 1♦ - (DBL) - 3♦ = 2-5 pts (4-5 when vulnerable), plus trump support

• 1♦ - (DBL) - 2♦ = 6-9 pts, plus trump support

• 1♦ - (1♠) - 3♦ = 2-5 pts (4-5 when vulnerable), plus trump support

• 1♦ - (1♠) - 2♦ = 6-9 pts, plus trump support

A Responder who would normally have made a forcing single raise (10+ pts) of Opener's minor suit now bids instead :

• 1♦ - (DBL) - 2NT = 10+ pts, plus trump support and forcing

• 1♦ - (1♠) - 2♠ (cue bid enemy suit) = 10+ pts, plus trump support and forcing

Without a trump fit, no other suit to bid, but point strength (10+) Responder's bids are :

• 1♦ - (DBL) - RDBL = 10+ pts, penalty double

• 1♦ - (1♠) - DBL = 10+ pts, penalty double

Deals 161 - 168 are examples of bidding as outlined in this lesson.

• Print out : Deals 169 - 172 - Deals 173 - 176 - Deals 177 - 180
  
  
• Solo Bidding : 169 | 170 | 171 | 172 | 173 | 174 | 175 | 176 | 177 | 178 | 179 | 180 |
  
  
• Individual Hands for all Deals