1♥♠ responses
The 1♠ and 1♥ responses always show 4+ cards, usually 6–16 points. If the opened suit is void, these responses can be made with insufficient strength.
These responses are a major tool to find a major fit in a 5-card major system. They take care of situations where opener has no more cards than responder in a major. Although opener might still have a 5-card major which is blocked by a longer minor, these patterns are rare and hence temporarily neglected by responder.
Opener’s rebids
The 2NT rebid is highly descriptive, so opener shall always consider this rebid first even if a major fit is found.
| 1m - 1M - | |
|---|---|
| 2NT | 18–19 HCP, (BAL or 2=2=5-4), possible M fit |
Thereafter, opener shall be eager to show a major fit. Failure to show a major fit denies 4-card support.
Found major fit
These rebids show 4+ cards in the responded major. The partner will not play in another suit (but a notrump game is still possible).
| 1m - 1M - | |
|---|---|
| 2M | 13–16 |
| 3M | INV, 17–19 |
| 4m | fit-showing, 20+, 6+m |
| Double jump in new suit | SPL, 20+, 0–1# |
| 4M | 18–19 HCP, 5-4-2-2 |
Major fit not found
By not bidding 2NT nor showing a major fit, opener denies a major fit. Opener has at most 3 cards in the responded major.
- Minimum: Never bid over 2 of own suit.
- Medium: Simply bid a new suit.
- Maximum: Bid over 2 of own suit.
Opened 1♣
Opener always raises with 4-card support even at the last 2 seats to silence balancing overcalls.
| 1♣ - 1M - | |
|---|---|
| P | PH, 11–12 HCP, 3=M |
| 1♠ | 13–18, 4+♠ |
| 1NT | 12–14 HCP, (BAL or 5-4-2-2), 2–3♠ |
| 2♣ | 13–18, 5+♣, UNBAL |
| 2♦♥ | REV, 18+, 4+#, UNBAL |
| 2♠ | SJS, 19+, 4+♠ |
| 3♣ | SJS, 19+, 6+♣ |
| 3NT! | 18–19 HCP, 6-3-2-2, 2=M |
Opened 1♦
| 1♦ - 1M - | |
|---|---|
| P | PH, 11–12 HCP, 3=M |
| 1♠ | 13–18, 4+♠ |
| 1NT | 12–14 HCP, (BAL or 5-4-2-2), 2–3♠ |
| 2♣ | 13–18, 4+♣, UNBAL |
| 2♦ | 13–18, 5+♦, UNBAL |
| 2♥ | REV, 18+, 4+♥, UNBAL |
| 2♠ | SJS, 19+, 4+♠ |
| 3♣ | SJS, 19+, 4+♣ |
| 3♦ | SJS, 19+, 6+♦ |
| 3NT! | 18–19 HCP, 6-3-2-2, 2=M |
Summary of rebidding strategy
This strategy also applies to 1♣ - 1♦, but there are different considerations between over 1♦ and over a major rebid, so they deserve different pages.
Minimum
There are strict requirements for 1NT to make it balanced and specific, enabling more evasion from 1NT with weak hands.
- Try to bid a major.
- Bid 1NT if balanced or 5-4-2-2.
- Bid a minor.
The tradeoff is that opener sometimes rebids a minor with short opened minor, but this situation shall not cause problems because bidding structure is unaffected.
Rebidding the opened suit usually shows 6+ cards, but only 5 cards with 5-4-3-1 or 5-4-4-0 where the 4-card suits is blocked. Responder may still pass to play the 5-2 fit.
The 1♦ - 1♠ - 2♣ auction occasionally contains only 4 diamonds due to 1=4=4=4. Responder still chooses diamonds with equal preference because opener’s diamonds are no shorter than clubs.
Medium
Bid a suit at the cheapest level. Opener must have an unbalanced hand and thus an eligible suit to bid, or 1NT would have been opened.
Maximum
- Bid 2NT if balanced.
- Show a major fit if present.
- Bid 3NT with 6-3-3-2 but avoid missing a 3-5 major fit.
- Bid a minor.
Not probed
- Rebids in 3rd and 4th seat other than 1♣ - 1♥ with 3 hearts in 3rd seat: the other P rows, and the raise with 4-card support at the last 2 seats.
- The 4M row other than after 1♣ - 1♥.
- The 4m row after a 1♥ response and the double-jump splinter after a 1♠ response: no board (1 board each after the other major).
- 1♦ - 1♥ - 3NT: no board.