1♠ and 1 responses

The 1♠ and 1 responses always shows 4+ cards, usually 6~16 points. If the opened suit is void, these responses can be made with insufficient strength.

These responses are a major tool to find a major fit in a 5-card major system. They take care of situations where opener has no more cards than responder in a major. Although opener might still have a 5-card major which is blocked by a longer minor, these patterns are rare and hence temporarily neglected by responder.

Opener's rebids

The 2NT rebid is highly descriptive, so opener shall always consider this rebid first even if a major fit is found.

2NT
18~19 HCP, balanced or 2=2=5-4, possible major fit.

Thereafter, opener shall be eager to show a major fit. Failure to show a major fit denies 4-card support.

Found major fit

These rebids shows 4+ cards in the responded major. The partner will not play in another suit (but a notrump game is still possible).

Simple raise (2-level)
13~16 points.
Jump raise (3-level)
Invitational, 17~19 points.
Double jump to own suit (4-level)
Fit-showing, 20+ points, 6+ cards.
Double jump to new suit
Splinter, 20+ points, 0~1 card.
Double jump raise (4-level)
18~19 HCP, 5-4-2-2.

Major fit not found

By not bidding 2NT nor showing a major fit, opener denies a major fit. Opener has at most 3 cards in the responded major.

Minimum
Never bid over 2 of own suit.
Medium
Simply bid a new suit.
Maximum
Bid over 2 of own suit.

Opened 1♣

Opener always raises with 4-card support even at the last 2 seats to silence balancing overcalls.

Pass
Responder passed, 11~12 HCP, exact 3-card support.
1♠
13~18 points, 4+ cards.
1NT
12~14 HCP, balanced or 5-4-2-2, 2~3 spades.
2♣
13~18 points, 5+ cards, unbalanced.
New suit 2 or 2
Reverse, 18+ points, 4+ cards, unbalanced.
Jump to 2♠
SJS, 19+ points, 4+ cards.
3♣
SJS, 19+ points, 6+ cards.
3NT!
18~19 HCP, 6-3-2-2 where the responded major is doubleton.

Opened 1

Pass
Responder passed, 11~12 HCP, exact 3-card support.
1♠
13~18 points, 4+ cards.
1NT
12~14 HCP, balanced or 5-4-2-2, 2~3 spades.
2♣
13~18 points, 4+ cards, unbalanced.
2
13~18 points, 5+ cards, unbalanced.
New suit 2
Reverse, 18+ points, 4+ cards, unbalanced.
Jump to 2♠ or 3♣
SJS, 19+ points, 4+ cards.
3
SJS, 19+ points, 6+ cards.
3NT!
18~19 HCP, 6-3-2-2 where the responded major is doubleton.

Summary of rebidding strategy

This strategy also applies to 1♣-1, but there are different considerations between over 1 and over a major rebid, so they deserve different pages.

Minimum

There are strict requirements for 1NT to make it balanced and specific, enabling more evasion from 1NT with weak hands.

  1. Try to bid a major.
  2. Bid 1NT if balanced or 5-4-2-2.
  3. Bid a minor.

The tradeoff is that opener sometimes rebids a minor with short opened minor, but this situation shall not cause problems because bidding structure is unaffected.

Rebidding the opened suit usually shows 6+ cards, but only 5 cards with 5-4-3-1 or 5-4-4-0 where the 4-card suits is blocked. Responder may still pass to play the 5-2 fit.

The 1-1♠; 2♣ auction occcasionally contains only 4 diamonds due to 1=4=4=4. Responder still choose diamonds with equal preference because opener's diamonds is no shorter than clubs.

Medium

Bid a suit at the cheapest level. Opener must have an unbalanced hand and thus an eligible suit to bid, or 1NT would have been opened.

Maximum

  1. Bid 2NT if balanced.
  2. Show a major fit if present.
  3. Bid 3NT with 6-3-3-2 but avoid missing a 3-5 major fit.
  4. Bid a minor.

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