M J Bridge
♦
♠
♥
♣
Bidding
Opponents opened at the three-
First of all a reminder that any intervention over the enemy’s weak opening bid suggests a good hand -
With no more than a five-
There is nothing original on this page:-
a new suit at the lowest level is natural and non-
a jump in a new suit is stronger and longer than a simple overcall;
3NT is to play promising 16 or so points, a stopper in the opponents’ suit, and ideally a potential source of tricks;
opponent’s suit is a game-
double is for take-
♠
♥
♦
♣
A 7 5 3
A T 4
K Q 2
A 8 7
RHO opened 3♠ (weak).
3NT is possible, although I can only see four tricks.
Alternatively, pass!
Partner must strive to make a take-
♠
♥
♦
♣
A K J 5 3
T 4
K J 2
A 8 7
RHO opened 3♥ (weak).
Bid 3♠.
Of course it’s not cast-
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♥
♦
♣
5
A K J 4
K Q J 2
A T 9 8
RHO opened 3♠ (weak).
Double, promising four hearts in a good hand, and prepared to stand a response in anything except spades.
♠
♥
♦
♣
J T 5
A K J 4
K Q 9 2
A 8
RHO opened 3♣ (weak).
Double, promising a good hand with no more than two clubs, and prepared to stand a response in any of the other suits.
♠
♥
♦
♣
5
A K J T 4
K Q J 9 2
A 8
RHO opened 3♠ (weak).
Bid 4♠ showing a game-
In the simplest implementation partner will usually bid 5♣, after which 5♦ will put him fully in the picture.
3NT
As noted above a bid of 3NT is to play and represents a realistic shot at making a game.
Note that it is reasonable to hope for at least eight points in partner’s hand following the opponents’ limited opening bid.
As little as Ax represents a realistic stop in the preemptor’s suit. Ducking once will be sufficient to stop the suit if LHO has no more than two cards in the suit -
Double
Double requires just a few more words.
It will be primarily for take-
A helpful rule of thumb is ‘double a three-
Optional double
A few partnerships like to define their double as ‘optional’ at this point in the auction.
An optional double is a variety of take-
It is not a term I like. To my mind all varieties of take-
But if you choose as a partnership to think of your doubles at this point in the proceedings as ‘optional’ then the mind-
♠
♥
♦
♣
5
A K T 4
K Q J 2
A J 9 8
RHO opened 3♠ (weak).
A clear double, whether you regard it as ‘take-
I would still make a take-
Intermediate and above
Two-
The basic idea as given above (that a cue-
However, it does not take much imagination or additional memory work to add considerably greater precision to the concept.
Opponents opened three of a minor
The cue-
If the opponents open three of a minor then four of their minor will promise both majors.
A K J 9 8
A K Q J 2
T 4
5
RHO opened 3♣ (weak).
Bid 4♣ promising both majors.
♠
♥
♦
♣
Beginner and above
This page last revised 17th Sep 2020
Opponents opened three of a major
Method 1
Simplest is for the cue-
A K J 9 8
T 4
A K Q J 2
5
RHO opened 3♣ (weak).
Either bid 4NT promising diamonds and a major,
or just bid 3♠.
My choice is 3♠. (Anyone for 4♠?)
♠
♥
♦
♣
A possible extension of the idea is that a bid of 4NT will promise the other minor and one of the majors.
This is a good idea up to a point, but it inevitably takes a major suit contract to the five-
♠
♥
♦
♣
5
A K J T 4
K Q J 9 2
A 8
We met this example above.
RHO opened 3♠ (weak).
Bid 4♠ showing a game-
Partner will usually bid 5♣, after which 5♦ will put him fully in the picture.
Better -
A K Q J 2
5
T 4
A K J 9 8
RHO opened 3♥ (weak).
Bid 4♥ promising spades and an unspecified minor (but see below).
♠
♥
♦
♣
Method 2
The method above is straightforward and effective as far as it goes, but the unspecified minor suit is a weakness, and over 3♠ a heart contract will be forced to the five-
Much better is to play 4♣ and 4♦ as ‘non-
With this agreement the bid of the minor suit at the four-
Context -
A K Q J 2
5
T 4
A K J 9 8
RHO opened 3♥ (weak).
Bid 4♣ (non-
Partner now has a clear picture of your hand, and you can reach a game contract in either suit at the lowest level.
♠
♥
♦
♣
4NT
A bid of 4NT over three of a major can be used to show 5-
If you have adopted non-
♠
♥
♦
♣
5
T 4
A K Q J 2
A K J 9 8
RHO opened 3♠ (weak).
Bid 4NT or 4♠ (whichever you have agreed) to give partner a choice between the minor suits.
Opener |
Overcaller |
Responder |
Advancer |
Opener's rebid |
Overcaller's rebid and beyond |
Responder's rebid and beyond |
The continuing auction |