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Short suit


Note that this page is about a specific style of trial bid - the ‘short suit’ variety.


Follow this link for an overview of trial bids and alternative options.

In this style of trial-bid the trial suit highlights shortage in a side-suit - usually ‘void or singleton’.

A K Q 8 7

8

A J 5

Q J 7 5

You have an eight-card fit and seventeen high card points.

The least you can do is bid 3.  Partner will reassess his hand in the light of this information.

Alternatively, with a five-loser hand you are good enough to force to game and so a direct bid of 4 or a splinter bid of 4 would also serve you well.

You

LHO

Pard

RHO

1

-

2

-

?









Responder’s hand will be enhanced if he holds weakness opposite the announced shortage, but if he has a good high-card holding in this suit then the hands will not be fitting well and there will be weaknesses elsewhere.

J T 5 4

7 6 4

K Q 6 3

J 2

You have more than a minimum (just) and partner’s heart shortage works well with your three small cards.

Bid 4.

Facing the hand above you would expect to lose just two clubs and one heart.

You

LHO

Pard

RHO



1

-

2

-

3






J T 5 4

K Q J

7 6 3

6 4 2

You have more than a minimum (just) but your heart honours are wasted opposite partner’s shortage.

Bid 3.  Facing the hand above you would expect to lose one heart, two clubs and at least one diamond.

You

LHO

Pard

RHO



1

-

2

-

3






This section last revised 28th Jan 2021

Context  -  Acol bidding - conventions - trial bids.


You will almost certainly include this style of trial bid as one of the options when partner makes a game-forcing raise such as a Jacoby 2NT.


In other situations, although effective when it is available, it will leave you at a loss when not holding a suitable shortage.


On grounds of frequency of use alone I would recommend a natural trial bid or a long-suit trial-bid in preference to the short-suit trial bid, following partner’s raise to the two- or three-levels.