This is a common bidding situation. Opener bids 1 of a minor and responder bids 1 of a major. How can we find a possible 5-3 fit in the major without getting stuck in a bad 4-3 fit? There are several tools to help. The first two tools, New Minor Forcing (and it’s sibling Checkback Stayman) and Fourth Suit Forcing require at least invitational values. The third tool, the Support Double, requires the opponents to bid.
Before we get to the tools, though, let’s address this question:
Is It Ever OK to Raise Partner Directly with 3 Card Support?
You open 1 of a minor and your partner responds 1 of a major. When, if ever, should you raise your partner to 2 of the major? In my opinion, the answer is “occasionally, with the right hand”. Here are the considerations:
- Partnership style and agreements. If your partner isn’t comfortable with it then just don’t do it. This overrides all other concerns.
- Is there a better rebid available? Raising on 3 cards is usually a last resort, when all other rebids are worse.
- Do I have a suitable distribution that we can survive in a 4-3 fit? The key here is having a short side suit, ideally a singleton. That way your partner can get some extra tricks by ruffing in your hand.
So, with those considerations, here’s the sort of hand where I might give a 3 card raise to one of my advanced partners after he or she responds 1S to my 1C opener:
S: Axx H: AQxx D: x C: Kxxxx
With this hand I think rebids of 1NT or 2C are more flawed than raising to 2S.
N.B.: Even if you and your partner have decided it’s OK to raise with 3 card support on certain hands, NEVER give a JUMP raise with only 3 card support. With those hands you can usually find another bid and then give your partner a delayed raise.
New Minor Forcing and Checkback Stayman
These conventions are similar and are alternatives to each other. Both require at least game-invitational values. Both are used in the auctions 1m – 1M – 1NT and 1m – 1M – 2NT.
Let’s assume the auction has gone 1C – 1S – 1NT. Responder can ask opener whether she has 3 cards in responder’s major or 4 in the other major as follows:
- New Minor Forcing: Responder bids ________ . Opener responds:
- 2H: “I have ______ ___________ and average values for my bidding.”
- 2S: “I have ______ __________ and average values for my bidding.”
- 2N: “I don’t have a useful major suit holding and I have _______ values for my bidding.”
- 3H: “I have 4 hearts and _________ values for my bidding.”
- 3S: “I have 3 __________ and maximum values for my bidding.”
- 3NT: “I don’t have 4 _______ or 3 _______ but I have maximum values for my bidding.”
- Checkback Stayman: Responder bids ________ . This is not ___________. Opener responds:
- 2H: “I have ______ ___________ and average values for my bidding.”
- 2S: “I have ______ __________ and average values for my bidding.”
- 2D: “I don’t have a useful major suit holding and I have _______ values for my bidding.”
- 3H: “I have 4 hearts and _________ values for my bidding.”
- 3S: “I have 3 __________ and maximum values for my bidding.”
- 3NT: “I don’t have 4 _______ or 3 _______ but I have maximum values for my bidding.”
If opener’s minor suit is diamonds then the two conventions are the same. They differ if opener’s major suit is clubs.
Fourth Suit Forcing
Sometimes the only forcing bid available to responder is the _______ _______, regardless of what they hold in that suit. If responder is a passed hand, the 4th suit is a ____ ______ ________ . If an unpassed hand then most play the 4th suit as a game force, although a sizable minority play it as a one-round force. When you are the opener and you are contemplating your third bid after your partner uses the 4th suit, here are your priorities:
- Raise partner’s major to show _____ card support.
- With a stopper in the 4th suit, bid ________ .
- With extra length in one of your own suits, _______ it.
- Punt back to your partner by raising the ______ _______ and hope that she knows what to do.
Example auction:
1C – 1H – 1S – 2D is the fourth suit and is forcing. Opener should:
- Raise hearts with _______ of them; or
- Bid NT with a stopper in _________ ; or
- Bid 3C with 5 or more ________ ; or
- Bid 3D with no idea what to bid.
Note that most players do not treat the auction 1C – 1D – 1H – 1S as fourth suit forcing. Instead they jump to 2S as the fourth suit forcing bid.
Support Doubles
(Note: These can only be used if the ____________ intervene.)
A support double is a double (or redouble) by the __________ following opponent intervention over responder’s one level bid. It shows exactly _______ card support for responder’s suit. Normally it’s on if responder can bid her suit at the 2 level, otherwise it’s off.
Examples:
- 1C – (P) – 1H – (1S) – ?
- X shows ______ hearts.
- A H raise shows ________ hearts.
- 1C – (P) – 1S – (X) – ?
- XX shows _____ spades
- A S raise shows ________ spades.
- 1D – (P) – 1H – (2S) – ?
- X is no longer a _________ ___________. Depending on partnership style it’s either takeout or _______.
- A H raise shows _______ hearts.