1 of a Major opening

Review and intro to competitive bidding

What does 1 of a Major mean

1 Major (1♥ or 1♠) opening shows 12 to 21 high card points 5 cards in the bid suit E.g.: S AQTxx, H Q9x, D KQx, C xx : open 1♠

With 5 cards in both majors, open 1♠, irrespective of relative suit quality

With 6 ♥ and 5 ♠ also, prefer to open 1♠ and rebid 2♥, unless you have 17+ hcp

Responses

Pass = <6 hcp, but with 5 hcp and 4 card support, prefer to raise

Raises = show 3 card support, limited and non-forcing 2M = 6-9, 3M = 10-12, 4M = 13-15

NT bids = limited, non-forcing, deny support 1N = 6-9, 2N = 10-12, 3N = 13-15

New suit = unlimited and forcing 1 level = 6+ hcp, 2 level = 10+ hcp

Rebids by opener

After a raise Invite game by re-raising or by bidding NT Bid a new suit to ask for help and invite game Bid game

After a NT bid Invite or bid game Rebid suit with extra length (jump with extra hcp) Bid a new suit (jump with 17+ hcp)

After a new suit bid Rebid suit with extra length (jump with extra hcp) Bid a new suit, showing 4+ cards (jump with 17+ hcp) Bid NT (jump bids show higher range) Raise partner’s suit with support (jump with extra hcp)

Examples S xx H KQ8xx D AQx C Kx : You open 1H

Pd bids 1S : You rebid 1N Pd bids 2C : You rebid 2N Pd bids 2H : You pass Pd bids 3H : Bid 4H Pd bids 1N : You pass Pd bids 2N : Raise to 3N

S Ax H KQ8xx D AQx C Kx : You open 1H Pd bids 1S : You rebid 2N Pd bids 2C : You rebid 3N Pd bids 2H : You bid 4H Pd bids 3H : Bid 4H Pd bids 1N : You bid 2N, inviting game and showing 18-19 Pd bids 2N : Raise to 3N Pd bids 3N : Raise to 4N, inviting slam

Examples S K9xxx H KJ8x D AQx C x : You open 1S

Pd bids 1N : You rebid 2H Pd bids 2C/2D : You rebid 2H Pd bids 2H : You raise to 4H Pd bids 3H : Bid 4H Pd bids 2S : You pass Pd bids 3S : Raise to 4

S KQx H AQxxx D x C Kxxx : You open 1H Pd bids 1S : You rebid 2C Pd bids 2C : You bid 3C Pd bids 2H : You bid 3C, asking for help in clubs Pd bids 3H : Bid 4H Pd bids 1N : You bid 2C Pd bids 2N : Raise to 3N, pd will usually stop diamonds Pd bids 3N : Be happy to play there

Rebids by responder

At her 2nd turn, responder will have a better idea of opener’s strength and shape

Responder will do one of the following Bid or invite game in major suit Bid or invite game in NT Correct to a better part-score

1H – 1N – 2C – 2H (preference with 2 cards) *Force to game with 4th suit

S AKxx H xx D xxx C AQJx 1H – 1S – 2C - ?

Competitive bidding by responder

Partner opens 1H, RHO bids 2C. Now what? Raises = As before, except perhaps with fewer

hcp NT bids = As before, promise stopper New suit = 5+ cards, 10+ hcp

What do you do with S AKxx H xx D AQxx C xxx Make a negative double: promises strength but no

suit to bid. Usually 4 cards in unbid major suit Opener should only pass with length and strength

in opponent’s suit 1 lvl dbl = 6+ hcp, 2 lvl dbl = 10+ hcp, 3 lvl = 12+

Competitive bidding by responder

Double of 1N overcall is for penalty After a take-out double

Raises = As before XX = 10+ hcp, denies support NT bids = As before, but should stop the

other major at-least New suit bids = 5+ cards, but with not too

many hcp (start with XX with strong hands)