1♦ and 1♣ openings

The minor openings are the most frequent openings. Particularly, 1♣ is the most frequent, 1♦ the second. Therefore, it is important to learn the continuation of these openings.

The minor openings can be made from three kinds of hands:

• Open the longer minor in a balanced hand with 12~14 or 18~19 H without a 5-card major.
• Open the longest suit in an unbalanced hand with normal openings strength.
• Open the longest suit in a 3-suiter or 5-4-3-1 with 2♣ strength where the 5-card suit is a minor. See also the dedicated section.

Opener probably has a 4-card major. Therefore, responder should always think about bidding the major first. A notrump or a support in minor always denies a biddable major.

Responses to 1♣

The 1NT response is always constructive because there is no suit below clubs. When 1NT acts as a dustbin, responder bids 1NT to show a suit below the opening. This is obviously not the case for 1♣.

1♦, 1♥, 1♠

6~16 points or void clubs, 4+ cards.

1NT

Constructive 1NT, 7⁺~10 HCP, balanced.

2♣

6~10 points, 4+ support.

2♦, 2♥, 2♠

Strong jump shift, 17+ points, 4+ cards.

2NT

Invitation to 3NT, 10~11 HCP, balanced.

3♣

Limit raise, invite to 3NT or 5♣, 11~16 points, 5+ support.

3♦!, 3♥!, 3♠!

Splinter, 12~16 points, 0~1 card, 5+ support.

3NT

To play, 12~15 HCP, balanced.

Choice of new suit

1. Choose the longest suit.
2. To break a tie, bid the cheapest call for 4-4, the highest suit for 5-5 or above.
3. Nevertheless, if responder cannot virtually 2/1 (< 12 points) but has normal responding strength (5+ HCP) and a biddable major, skip diamonds unless 6+ cards or at least AJxxx or KQJxx.

We can usually make 2 of a suit and sometimes 1NT with normal responding strength. Bypassing diamonds slightly preempts in a partscore dog fight. However, when responding with void clubs and insufficient strength, bid 1♦ to seek 1♠/♥.

♠K965 ♥65 ♦KJ863 ♣98

Bid 1♠. Skip diamonds because you cannot force to game.

♠10983 ♥9 ♦KQJ103 ♣J72

Bid 1♦. These diamonds are eligible.

♠KQ93 ♥72 ♦AK73 ♣J63

Bid 1♦ because you can force to game.

♠KQ105 ♥7643 ♦J642 ♣10

Bid 1♥. Skip diamonds, and then 1♥ is the cheaper call.

♠Q974 ♥A1062 ♦AQ108 ♣7

Bid 1♦. No skipping for a game-forcing hand.

Simple raise

The 2♣ simple raise is not so simple.

For preemption, responder raises to 2♣ with 4+ clubs and no 4-card major in a non-constructive hand. This is the only case that 2♣ responder should has only 4 clubs.

For a constructive hand, responder always raises with 5+ clubs and an unbalanced distribution because constructive 1NT is preferred.

♠976 ♥965 ♦A109 ♣J1085

Bid 2♣. This hand is too weak for constructive 1NT.

♠QJ6 ♥J5 ♦J932 ♣J987

Bid 1♦. This hand is too weak for constructive 1NT.

♠964 ♥104 ♦AJ65 ♣A1094

Bid 1NT. The constructive 1NT is preferred over a minor suit.

♠53 ♥K84 ♦432 ♣KQ765

Bid 1NT. The constructive 1NT is preferred over a minor suit.

♠8 ♥J43 ♦Q762 ♣A6432

Bid 2♣. Make a constructive raise with unbalanced distribution.

Adjusted responses by a passed responder

Since responder has made a limit pass, which denies stength of opening, new-suit responses are no longer forcing.

Jump shifts from 2♥ on are fit-showing because responder gave up preemptive opening.

2♦

Weak jump shift, 8+ points, 6+ cards.

2♥!, 2♠!, 3♦!

Fit-showing, 11+ points, 5+ cards, 5+ support.

Responses to 1♦

1♥, 1♠

6~16 points or void diamonds, 4+ cards.

1NT

Dustbin 1NT, 6~10 HCP, without another suitable call.

2♣

2/1, 12+ points, 4+ cards.

2♦

6~10 points, 4+ support.

2♥, 2♠

Strong jump shift, 17+ points, 4+ cards.

2NT

Invitation to 3NT, 10~11 HCP, balanced.

3♣

Strong jump shift, 18+ points, 4+ cards.

3♦

Limit raise, invite to 3NT or 5♦, 11~16 points, 4+ support.

3♥!, 3♠!, 4♣!

Splinter, 12~16 points, 0~1 card, 5+ support.

3NT

To play, 12~15 HCP, balanced.

Choice of new suit

1. Choose the longest suit.
2. To break a tie, bid the cheapest call for 4-4, the highest suit for 5-5 or above.

Adjusted responses by a passed responder

2♣

Invitational, 11+ points, 5+ cards.

2♥!, 2♠!, 3♣!

Fit-showing, 11+ points, 5+ cards, 4+ support.