1♠ and 1♥ openings
Modern bidding systems often require 5+ cards to open in a major. This is somewhat conventional because usually a 4-card suit is biddable in bridge, but this greatly improves search of 5-3 and 6-2 major fits.
Although minor openings are lower and more frequent, major openings are explained first because
- Major openings are more symmetric where both require 5+ cards.
- There are fewer mediocre exceptional bids which are difficult for beginners.
- Some conventions designed for majors can also apply to minors.
Light openings
Opening a major at the last 2 seats requires only 11+ HCP and 5+ cards.
Nevertheless, a weak 2 can be made with only 5 cards at a non-unfavorable 3rd seat. This phenomenon excludes Drury from the Wbridge5 bidding system because major openings at the 3rd seat are seldom light.
Responses to 1♥
- 1♠
- 6~16 points, 4+ cards.
- 1NT
- Semiforcing dustbin 1NT, 6~11 HCP without another suitable call.
- 2♣, 2♦
- 2/1, 12+ points, 4+ cards.
- 2♥
- Simple raise, 6~10 points, 3+ support.
- 2♠
- Strong jump shift, 17+ points, 4+ cards.
- 2NT!
- Special 2NT, 11~16 points, 3+ support, 2+ cards in each suit.
- 3♣!
- Bergen raise, mixed raise, 9~10 points, 4+ support.
- 3♦!
- Bergen raise, limit raise, 11~12 points, 4+ support.
- 3♥!
- Bergen raise, preemptive raise, 6~8 points, 4+ support.
- 3NT!
- Serious 3NT, 16~19 points, 4+ support, 2+ cards in each suit.
- 3♠!, 4♣!, 4♦!
- Splinter, 12~16 points, 0~1 card, 4+ support.
- 4♥!
- Preemptive raise, at most 8− HCP, 4+ support. Strength depends on vulnerability.
Adjusted responses by a passed responder
Responses from a passed responder are no longer forcing because the previous pass has limited the strength. Some conventions are cancelled to make these bids passable.
- 2♣, 2♦
- 11~12 points, 5+ cards.
- 2♠!, 3♣!, 3♦!
- Fit-showing, 11~12 points, 5+ cards, 3+ support.
- 3♥
- Limit raise, 11~12 points, 3+ support, some singleton or void.
Responses to 1♠
- 1NT
- Semiforcing dustbin 1NT, 6~11 HCP without another suitable call.
- 2♣, 2♦
- 2/1, 12+ points, 4+ cards.
- 2♥
- 2/1, 12+ points, 5+ cards.
- 2♠
- Simple raise, 6~10 points, 3+ support.
- 2NT!
- Special 2NT, 11~16 points, 3+ support, 2+ cards in each suit.
- 3♣!
- Bergen raise, mixed raise, 9~10 points, 4+ support.
- 3♦!
- Bergen raise, limit raise, 11~12 points, 4+ support.
- 3♥
- Strong jump shift, 17+ points, 4+ cards.
- 3♠!
- Bergen raise, preemptive raise, 6~8 points, 4+ support.
- 3NT!
- Serious 3NT, 16~19 points, 4+ support, 2+ cards in each suit.
- 4♣!, 4♦!, 4♥!
- Splinter, 12~16 points, 0~1 card, 4+ support.
- 4♠!
- Preemptive raise, at most 8− HCP, 4+ support. Strength depends on vulnerability.
Adjusted responses by a passed responder
Responses from a passed responder are no longer forcing because the previous pass has limited the strength. Some conventions are cancelled to make these bids passable.
- 2♣, 2♦, 2♥
- 11~12 points, 5+ cards.
- 3♣!, 3♦!, 3♥!
- Fit-showing, 11~12 points, 5+ cards, 3+ support.
- 3♠
- Limit raise, 11~12 points, 3+ support, some singleton or void.
Preemptive raise to the 4-level
Such raise directly jumps to game, showing at most 8− HCP and 4+ support. Its minimum strength is determined by vulnerability.
- Unfavorable
- 10+ points
- Both vulnerable
- 9+ points
- None vulnerable
- 8+ points
- Favorable
- 7+ points
Major raise structure
The 12 points are intentionally duplicated in this table. It is difficult to find clear-cut game-forcing hands with only points.
With a flat hand, 3-card support, and 6 or 11 HCP, bid 1NT for better continuations.
| 3-card support | 4+-card support | |
|---|---|---|
| 6~8 points | 2M, 1NT | 4M, 3M, 2M |
| 9~10 points | 2M | 4M, 3♣ |
| 11~12 points | 2NT, 1NT, 2M | 4M, 3♦ |
| 12~16 points | 2NT, 2/1 | 2NT, Splinter |
| 16~19 points | SJS, 2/1 | 3NT, SJS, 2/1 |
| 20+ points | SJS, 2/1 |
Choice of new suit
- Choose the longest suit.
- To break a tie, bid the cheapest call for 4-4, the highest suit for 5-5 or above.
In the following examples, your partner opened 1♥ and you have not passed.
- ♠9872 ♥A ♦65 ♣A76532
- Bid 1♠. This hand is too weak to bid 2♣.
- ♠J52 ♥AK ♦K983 ♣K874
- Bid 2♣. Bid the cheapest call for 4-4.
- ♠KJ10 ♥- ♦K10876 ♣K8764
- Bid 2♦. Bid the highest suit for 5-5.
- ♠K10543 ♥2 ♦J6 ♣AKQ62
- Bid 1♠. Bid the highest suit for 5-5.
- ♠AK8 ♥AJ86 ♦A83 ♣A86
- Bid 2♣. This hand is too strong for 3NT. Feel free to lie about a minor with a blockbuster.
Special 2NT
The special 2NT shows
- Limit raise or better without slam interest (11~16 points, 3+ support).
- Somewhat balanced (2+ cards in every suit).
If responder has passed, this 2NT bid has given enough information for opener to sign off.
Puppet special 2NT
If responder has not passed yet, this 2NT bid is a puppet forcing opener to bid an artificial relay 3♣. Responder shows support and strength in the second round.
The 3♥ response is also forcing to game because Bergen 3♦ already takes care of invitational hands.
- 3♦!
- Minimum short, invitational+, 11~14 points, 3-card support
- 3♥!
- Minimum long, forcing to game, 12~14 points, 4+-card support
- 3♠!
- Maximum long, forcing to game, 14~16 points, 4+-card support
- 3NT!
- Maximum short, forcing to game, 14~16 points, 3-card support
This convention seems to be invented by Wbridge5. I guess that this is an improvement from Jacoby 2NT. This convention greatly improves 2/1 structure of Wbridge5.
- Special 2NT handles 3-card limit raise, freeing dustbin 1NT from forcing.
- Jacoby 2NT fits into special 2NT and serious 3NT, leaving no burden for other bids.
- Responder shows. Opener relays, hiding information from opponents.