Keyboard shortcuts

Press ← or → to navigate between chapters

Press S or / to search in the book

Press ? to show this help

Press Esc to hide this help

Second responses

This page covers responder’s second call after opener’s 1NT rebid or a new suit at the 1-level. Opener’s rebids are on the pages of the 1♦ response and the 1♥♠ responses.

After a 1NT rebid

Opener’s 1NT shows 12–14 HCP, balanced or 5-4-2-2, and 2–3 cards in a major responded. Responder can sign off in 2 of a 5-card major with a weak hand. Stronger hands with 5+ cards in the responded suit start with Roudy 2♣.

Responded a major

1m - 1M -
1NT -
P6–10 HCP
2♣!Roudy, 10+, 5+M
2♥After 1♠, 7–12, 5+♠, 4+♥
2MS/O, 8–11, 5+M
2NTINV, 11–12 HCP, 4=M
3MINV, 10–12, 6+M
3NT12–16 HCP, 4=M
4M7+M

After 1♦ - 1M - 1NT, a 2♦ preference shows 6–10 HCP and 3+ diamonds. After 1♠, 5-5 majors with 11–13 HCP jump to 3♥.

  • ♠96542 ♥KQJ2 ♦10 ♣J42: Bid 2♥ over 1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT.
  • ♠K8653 ♥AKJ2 ♦10 ♣874: Bid 2♣ over 1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT. This is Roudy.

Probing Wbridge5 5.12 shows 2♣ in 1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT also from 4♠ and 4♣ with 8–10 HCP. What responder does after opener’s answer was not probed.

Responded 1♦

1♣ - 1♦ -
1NT -
P6–10 HCP, 5♦
2♣!Roudy, 12+, 5+♦
2♦S/O, 8–12, 6+♦
3♦INV, 11–14, 6+♦
3NT12–15 HCP
4♦7+♦, 7–9 HCP
  • ♠1062 ♥Q ♦KJ6543 ♣A52: Bid 2♦.
  • ♠9 ♥A62 ♦A98432 ♣K42: Bid 3♦.

Answering Roudy

Opener answers in the short-long-long-short coding of Roudy. The answer is about responder’s suit, so 2♥ shows 3-card support for spades in 1♣ - 1♠ - 1NT - 2♣. A maximum with 3-card support and 5 clubs bids 3♣, so 2♠ has only 4 clubs after a 1♣ opening.

1m - 1X - 1NT -
2♣! -
2♦!11–13 HCP, 2=X
2♥!11–13 HCP, 3=X
2♠!13–14 HCP, 3=X
2NT!13–14 HCP, 2=X
3♣12–14 HCP, 3=X, 5♣
  • ♠1032 ♥J10 ♦AK6 ♣AJ983: Bid 2♦ over 1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - 2♣.
  • ♠63 ♥AK2 ♦954 ♣KQ543: Bid 2♥ over 1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - 2♣.
  • ♠K84 ♥Q104 ♦KQ9 ♣A842: Bid 2♠ over 1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - 2♣.
  • ♠K82 ♥A2 ♦KJ9 ♣K10983: Bid 2NT over 1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - 2♣.
  • ♠82 ♥Q96 ♦K97 ♣AKQ94: Bid 3♣ over 1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - 2♣.

The help file also lists 3♦ for a maximum with 3-card support and 5 diamonds. The probes held no such hand.

Fourth suit

A fourth suit is forcing only when it is 2♣ or 2♦. Others are natural. In particular, 1♠ in 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥ - 1♠ shows 4 spades.

After 1m - 1♥ - 1♠

1♣ - 1♥ -
1♠ -
P6–8 HCP, 3♠
1NT7–10 HCP
2♣6–9 HCP, 4+♣
2♦!FSF, 11+
2♥S/O, 6–9 HCP, 6+♥
2NTINV, 10–12 HCP
3♣INV, 11–14, 4♥, 5+♣
3♥INV, 11–14, 6+♥
3NT13–15 HCP
4♥7+♥

After 1♦ - 1♥ - 1♠, 2♣ is the fourth suit. A 2♦ preference shows 6–10 HCP and 3+ diamonds, and 3♦ invites with 4+ diamonds.

  • ♠J53 ♥AJ532 ♦K94 ♣K10: Bid 2♦ over 1♣ - 1♥ - 1♠.

After 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♥

1♣ - 1♦ -
1♥ -
1♠10–14, 4♠
1NT6–10 HCP
2♣6–7 HCP, 4+♣
2♦S/O, 6–10 HCP, 6+♦
2♠GF, 12+ HCP, 4♠
2NTINV, 10–12 HCP
3♣11+, 4+♣
3♦INV, 12–15, 6+♦
3NT12–16 HCP
4NTQuantitative, 17–18 HCP, BAL
  • ♠KQ64 ♥974 ♦AQ75 ♣85: Bid 1♠.
  • ♠KQ54 ♥K2 ♦KQ876 ♣107: Bid 2♠.

Not probed

  • 1♦ - 1♠ - 1NT: the table after a major rests on 1♣ - 1♥, 1♣ - 1♠ and 1♦ - 1♥.
  • Opener’s answer to Roudy after a 1♦ opening, the 3♦ answer, and responder’s call after any answer.
  • Fourth suits other than the three tabled, e.g. 2♥ in 1♣ - 1♦ - 1♠.