1 Major Suit Opener

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Hand Description:  1st/2nd seat

  • 5+ card suit
  • 11+ HCPs
    • 13+ HCPs - always open
    • 11-12 HCPs - Use Rule of 22
  • 2+ quick tricks

See Hand Evaluation.

Hand Description: 3rd/4th seat

  • 5+ card suit
  • 11+ HCPs (1 HCP less)
  • 1 1/2+ quick tricks (1/2 QT less)

General Response Guidelines:

Specific Responses:

1st/2nd Seat Opener 3rd/4th Seat Opener
R:1S - 1 Round Force R:1S - 1 Round Force
R:1NT - Non-forcing R:1NT - Non-forcing
R:2C/D/H - 1 Round Force R:2C/D/H - 1 Round Force
R:2H/S - Minimum Raise R:2H/S - Minimum Raise
R:2S - Jump Shift Not Defined
R:2NT - Forcing raise R:2NT - Invitational
R:2NT - Jacoby raise (option) R:2NT - Invitational
R:3C/D/H - Jump Shift Not Defined
R:3H/S - Limit Raise R:3H/S - Limit Raise
R:3NT Not defined
R:4H/S - Game Raise R:4H/S - Game Raise

Responder Bids:  Summary

  1. Raise Sequences:

    • Minimum:  Fair hand, 6-10 pts
      • 3+ card support
        • O:1H/S - R:2H/S
    • Intermediate:  Average hand, 10-12 pts
      • 3 card support
        • O:1H/S - R:Bid - O:Bid - R:3H/S
      • 4+ card support (sometime 3 card support)
        • O:1H/S - R:3H/S
    • Game:  Good/Excellent hand, 12-18 pts
      • 3 card support
        • O:1H/S - R:Bid - O:Bid - R:4H/S
      • 4+ card support
        • O:1H/S - R:2NT (Conventional Raise)
      • 5+ cards support, 7-10 pts, singleton or void
        • O:1H/S - R:4H/S
    • Slam:  Strong hand, 17+ pts
      • 3 card support
        • O:1H/S - R:Jump_Shift - O:Bid - R:3H/S
      • 4+ card support
        • O:1H/S - R:2NT (Conventional Raise)

  2. New Suit Responses:
    • 1 Spade:
      • Only 1-level suit response:  6+ pts, 4+ card suit
    • 2-level suit:
      • Positive response:  11+ pts, 4+ card suit
        • Forcing for 1 round
        • May have support (3+ cards) for opening bid suit

  3. Jump in New Suit Response:
    • Forcing to game, slam interest
    • 17+ pts
    • 4+ card suit

  4. NoTrump Responses:
    • 1NT - 6-10 HCPs, any distribution (catch-all bid)
    • 2NT - conventional raise (see above)
    • 3NT - 16-18 HCPs, 2-card support

  5. Subsequent Bids:
    • Bid and raise (1st opportunity) of suit shows 4+ cards
    • Delayed raise may show 3 cards
    • New suits by responder are forcing for 1 round
    • New suits by opener are not forcing.
    • Jump in new suits by opener is forcing to game. (19+ pts)