M J Bridge
♦
♠
♥
♣
Bidding
M J Bridge
♦
♠
♥
♣
Bidding
Responder raised opener’s suit
Responder is frequently quite weak in this auction, and there is still every possibility of a contract your way.
Furthermore, you have a free bid -
It follows that any bid by you at this point is constructive -
Your actions will revolve around your decision relating to a further double on your part.
At one time such a double would have been played for penalties -
It is now all but universal to play it as a
Responsive double
Such a double might be made on as few as six points following a raise to the two-
Thus if your opponents open and raise a major, with four cards in the other major you would normally bid that suit, but with less than four cards in the other major and at least four cards in each minor then a double would show the hand perfectly.
Post-
♠
♥
♦
♣
8 4 3 2
8 4
Q T 6
K 9 7 5
Only five points, but with a probable 4-
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1♥ |
x |
2♥ |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
K J 3 2
8 4
J T 6
K 9 7 5
Bid 2♠, with a clear conscience.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1♥ |
x |
2♥ |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
K J 3 2
8 4
A T 6
K 9 7 5
Eleven points and four spades.
Bid 3♠
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1♥ |
x |
2♥ |
? |
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Bidding a suit
As suggested by the examples above you would normally pass on 0 to 5 points, although some might stretch this a little if the other major can be shown at the two-
A bid of a new suit at the two-
♠
♥
♦
♣
K T 8 6
8 7
8 5 3
K 8 4 2
Six points, and four cards in the other major.
Partner has not guaranteed four spades, but you should bid on the assumption that he has.
Bid 2♠.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1♥ |
x |
2♥ |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
K T 6
8 7
8 5 8 3
K 8 4 2
Six points and four cards in each minor.
Double
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1♥ |
x |
2♥ |
? |
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And if your opponents open and raise a minor then your first thought when holding both majors should be to make a responsive double.
♠
♥
♦
♣
K T 8 6
8 7 5 4
8 3
K 8 2
Six points and four cards in each major.
Double, and let partner choose his major.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1♦ |
x |
2♦ |
? |
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♠
♥
♦
♣
K T 8 6
8 7 5
8 3
K 8 4 2
Six points and four cards in a major.
Bid 2♠.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1♦ |
x |
2♦ |
? |
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Of course, you might prefer to hold a little more than the minimum suggested above for a lowest level change of suit at the three-
♠
♥
♦
♣
K J 3
8 4
Q T 6
K 9 7 5 2
Bid 3♣ when not vulnerable, but I consider this to be minimum for the bid.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1♥ |
x |
2♥ |
? |
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When RHO raises to the three-
Double is still responsive, but will tend towards ten points.
A new suit at the three-
♠
♥
♦
♣
K J 3
8 4
J T 6
K 9 7 5 2
Some might bid 4♣ at favourable vulnerability but in general it will pay to pass and hope that you have sufficient defence to score a plus.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1♥ |
x |
3♥ |
? |
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And if RHO is so uncouth as to raise to the four-
The double, though is now better played as cooperative. That is, showing ten or so points, but not promising any particular holding in the trump suit.
More often than not partner will pass such a bid for penalties.
♠
♥
♦
♣
K J 7 3
8 4
A T 6
K 9 5 2
Over a raise to 3♥ you would have competed with 3♠ on this eight-
Now that they have reached the four-
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1♥ |
x |
4♥ |
? |
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Bidding in no trumps
Over a raise to the two-
Over a raise to the three-
Over a raise to the four-
A bid of 4NT can then be played as a two-
Responder bid 2NT
For the sake of this page I shall assume that your opponents bid of 2NT showed good support.
Your opponents are likely to hold the balance of points, but with the possibility that many of their points all lie in one suit there is still every possibility that you are at least worth some sort of competitive effort.
In line with the guidance above, a suit bid at the three-
♠
♥
♦
♣
8 4 3
8 4
J T 6 2
K 9 7 5
Only four points -
Just pass.
LHO |
Pard |
RHO |
You |
1♥ |
x |
2♥ |
? |
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This page last revised 11th Jun 2020
Opener |
Overcaller |
Responder |
Advancer |
Opener's rebid |
Overcaller's rebid and beyond |
Responder's rebid and beyond |
The continuing auction |
Opener |
Overcaller |
Responder |
Advancer |
Opener's rebid |
Overcaller's rebid and beyond |
Responder's rebid and beyond |
The continuing auction |