1 in a Suit Openings & NT responses - Facts sheet 4

Bidding Strategy
To win the highest point score possible your bidding priority is to find a trump fit in a major suit (♥s or ♠s) or a contract in No Trump.
Therefore :

  • Raise Partner's major suit (1♥ or 1♠) if you can

  • Do not raise Partner's minor suit (1♣ or 1♦) but bid a new suit or bid NT

NT responses by the Responder are :

  1. 1♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ - 1NT   =   6-10 points (9+ losers)

  2. 1♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ - bid new suit, then 2NT   =   11-12 points (or 10 pts and 8 losers)

  3. 1♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ - 2NT   =   13-15 points

  4. 1♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ - 3NT   =   16-18 points

    (Some Responders use :   2NT = 10-12 points     3NT = 13-15 points)

Replies by Opener to a weak 1NT response are :

  1. 1♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ - 1NT - Pass   =   13-15 points

  2. 1♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ - 1NT - 2NT   =   16-18 points

  3. 1♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ - 1NT - 3NT   =   19-21 points