Facts sheet 4 : First Responses to a 1 in a Suit Opening bid

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.
Your bidding priorities are :

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

  2. Bid a new 4-card suit "up the line".   Skipping a suit denies having 4 cards in that suit.

  3. Bid No Trumps

  4. Raise Partner's minor suit (1♣ or 1♦) as a last resort.
New suit responses by the Responder are :

  1. At the 1-level = 6+ points and a 4+card suit.

  2. At the 2-level = 11+ points and a 4+card suit (or 10 pts and 8 losers)
Suit raises by Opener to Responder's 4-card major suit :
1♣ - 1♥ - 2♥ = Opener shows 13-15 points + 4-card trump support.
1♣ - 1♥ - 3♥ = Opener shows 16-18 points + 4-card trump support.
1♣ - 1♥ - 4♥ = Opener shows 19-21 points + 4-card trump support.

Replies by Opener to a weak 1NT response are :
1♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ - 1NT - Pass   =   13-15 points
1♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ - 1NT - 2NT   =   16-18 points
1♣ ♦ ♥ ♠ - 1NT - 3NT   =   19-21 points

The Skip Over Principle : when bidding 4-card suits "up the line"   (in ascending order)
Whenever a player skips over a suit, he does not have 4 cards in that suit.
Example : (W) 1♣ - (E) 1♥     >   East does not have 4 diamonds.

The Limit Bid : when bidding 4-card suits "up the line"
As long as only new suits are being bid : neither Player is allowed to Pass !
You may only Pass after a bid with a clear upper points limit has been made :
after a NT bid     Ex. : 1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - Pass

after a suit has been bid for the 2nd time (except after 1♥ - 3♥   or 1♠ - 3♠)
Ex. : 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♦ - 2♠ - Pass     or 1♦ - 1♠ - 2♠ - Pass