M J Bridge

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Bidding

Hands

Theory

Conventions

M J Bridge

Home

Bidding

Hands

Theory

Partner made a Cappelletti bid


Double


Partner’s double is strong, as in natural methods.


Other bids are likely to be in the eleven- to fifteen-point range, but this is not a hard and fast requirement with the emphasis being on suit length, quality, and vulnerability.


Partner bid 2


Partner’s bid promises an unspecified suit of at least five cards.

It also denies 5-4 shape in the majors or 5-5 in any other two suits.


The usual response will be a relay of 2, inviting partner to pass if his suit is diamonds or to bid his suit otherwise.


However, with a six-card suit of your own and no further interest you may either pass if your suit is clubs, or bid two of your major to play.

K 8 7 4

9 7 5

8 6 4

Q 5 3

Bid 2.

You will be happy to hear partner bid his suit, whichever it might be.

LHO

Pard

RHO

You

1NT

2

-

?










Partner bid 2


Partner has shown 5-4 or 4-5 in the majors.

With a three-card major you can show a preference by bidding in the major.  Sometimes you will finish in a 4-3 fit when there is a better 5-2 or 5-3 fit available, but that won’t be the end of the world.

K 4

A 8 5

5 4

9 8 7 6 5 3

Pass - of course.

LHO

Pard

RHO

You

1NT

2

-

?









K 4

9 8 5

8 7 4

Q T 6 5 3

Bid 2.

Not invitational in any way, and guaranteed at least a 4-3 fit.

LHO

Pard

RHO

You

1NT

2

-

?









K 4

8 5

Q 9 8 6 5 3

8 7 4

Pass.

You might even do this with three cards in one of the majors.

LHO

Pard

RHO

You

1NT

2

-

?









Intermediate and above


And with no four-card major and six diamonds then you can always pass.

Overcaller’s first bid

K 4

9 8 7 6 5 3

5 4

A 8 5

Bid 2 - to play.

LHO

Pard

RHO

You

1NT

2

-

?










With just a little more and no clear major suit fit you may choose to bid a natural, invitational and non-forcing 2NT on about eleven to thirteen points and a balanced hand.

K 4

A 5

Q 9 6 5 3

K 7 4

Twelve points and more or less balanced.

Bid 2NT - natural and invitational but non-forcing.

LHO

Pard

RHO

You

1NT

2

-

?










But with something like 2-2-5-4 shape and less than ten points you might pass rather than risk a 4-2 major suit fit, and with 2-2-4-5 (say) shape you have nowhere to go.

Just bid 4 and hope that you have hit a 5-2 rather than a 4-2 fit.


I find this to be a significant system weakness, and sufficient to steer me away from this convention, but I cannot deny that it is adopted by many expert partnerships.


Partner bid 2 or 2.


Partner has shown 5-5 in the bid major and an unspecified minor.

It will be rare that you do anything other than pass or show preference for a minor.


Any lowest-level bid in a suit other than partner’s major promises a six-card suit and no fit for partner’s major - it is to play.

A raise of partner’s suit, or a jump in a new suit below game-level is natural and invitational.


With the possibility of a better fit in a minor you can bid 2NT, but note that you must avoid this bid unless you can stand either minor.

K 7 5

8 6 4

Q 9 8 4

7 5 3

Partner has shown 5-5 in hearts and an unspecified minor.

There may be a better fit in a minor, but why raise the bidding a level when you have a perfectly good heart fit?

Pass.

LHO

Pard

RHO

You

1NT

2

-

?









7 5

6 4

K Q 9 8 4

8 7 5 3

Partner has shown 5-5 in hearts and an unspecified minor.

You are assured of a better fit in either clubs or diamonds.

Bid 2NT, asking partner to bid his minor.

LHO

Pard

RHO

You

1NT

2

-

?









7 5

K Q 6 5 4

9

8 7 6 5 3

Partner has shown 5-5 in spades and an unspecified minor.

Certainly clubs would play better than spades if clubs were partner’s second suit.

But he is far more likely to hold diamonds, and you cannot stand the conversion.

Pass.

LHO

Pard

RHO

You

1NT

2

-

?










Stronger holdings


It is just remotely possible that you might hold something like eleven or more points together with sufficient shape to make a game contract your way into a realistic possibility.


Opposite either minor suit overcall it is possible to use a response of 2NT to show such a holding.

Overcaller’s rebid