Franke at Seaside
Responding to Opening Bids
Responding to an opening bid at the 1-level (1 over 1)
Your partner opened with one of a suit (C, D, or H):
If you have less than six points, PASS.
First Preference: If you have trump support (3+ cards for a major suit, 5+ cards for a minor suit), raise your partner's opening bid to the 2-level or higher.
Second Preference: If you have a balanced hand and 11-12 HCP, jump to two no-trumps.
Third Preference: Bid one of a new suit in which you have four or more cards that rank higher than the opening suit. Always bid a 4-card major suit if you have one.
Last Preference: With a balanced hand and 6-10 points, bid one no-trump.
Note: By partnership agreement, an opening bid is forcing for one round if you have at least six total points (unless an opponent makes an intervening bid).
Note: The shape of your hand may inspire you to respond with less than six HCP. Add one point for each card in excess of three when the opening is in a major suit, and of five when in a minor suit.
Note: Your maximum points are eleven if you pass before your partner opens. If you are in the third or fourth seat, however, you cannot have passed, and your one-over-one response is forcing for one round—the opener must rebid. This prevents the opener from making a close-out pass when you both have strong hands.
Top of PageResponding to an opening bid at the 2-level (2 over 1)
Your partner opened with one of a suit:
First Preference: Raise your partner's opening of one in a major suit, hearts, for example:
- If you have 6-10 points and three hearts, raise your partner's bid to two hearts.
- If you have 6-9 points and four hearts, raise your partner's bid to two hearts.
Second Preference: If you have a balanced hand and 11-12 points, jump to two no-trumps.
Third Preference: Raise your partner's opening of one in a minor suit, clubs, for example. Raise to two clubs if you have five or more clubs and six to ten points.
Last Preference: Name a new suit. Five or more cards in the suit and nine or more points are required.
Your partner opened with one no-trump:
- Any 2-level response in a suit invokes a convention. Responding in a suit requires jumping to the 3-level.
- With a balanced hand, no 4 + card major, and with 8 to 9 HCP, respond with two no-trumps, an invitational bid. (8 + 17 = 25)
- If you have four cards in a major suit, bid two clubs to invoke the Stayman Convention.
- If you have five cards in a major suit, bid two diamonds or hearts to invoke the Jacoby Transfers convention.
- A bid of two spades invokes the Minor Stayman convention.
- If none of the above is applicable and you have less than 8 HCP, PASS.
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Responding to an opening bid after an overcall by RHO
| Partner Opening | RHO Overcall | Your Response | Indicating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 club | 1 diamond | 1 heart | 6+ TP, 4+ hearts |
| The intervening bid had no effect on the response. | |||
| Partner Opening | RHO Overcall | Your Response | Indicating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 club | 1 heart | 1 spade | 6+ TP, 5+ spades |
| Cards required upped to 5+. Forcing bid. | |||
| Partner Opening | RHO Overcall | Your Response | Indicating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 club | 1 dia. | 1 NT | 8-11 HCP, no 4-card major, stopper in diamonds |
| Similar to weak 1NT response but higher point spread required | |||
| Partner Opening | RHO Overcall | Your Response | Indicating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 heart | 2 clubs | 2 hearts | 6-10 TP, 3 hearts |
| The overcall had no effect on raising partner's major suit opening. | |||
| Partner Opening | RHO Overcall | Your Response | Indicating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 club | 1 heart | 2 spades | 13+, 6+ spades TP |
| Similar to a jump-shift, but with an intervening bid. Honors needed in spades. | |||
| Partner Opening | RHO Overcall | Your Response | Indicating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 spade | Unusual 2 NT | 3 hearts | 2(-) spades, 7+ hearts, 7-9 TP |
| No fit in spades. Similar to weak-3 opening in hearts. Honors needed. | |||
| Partner Opening | RHO Overcall | Your Response | Indicating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 spade | Unusual 2 NT | 3 spades | 3+ spades, 7-9 TP |
| Fit in spades. Opener can bid game with 18 points. | |||
| Partner Opening | RHO Overcall | Your Response | Indicating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 NT | 2 in a suit | Double | 8+ HCP, 4-card major |
| Responder's double invokes Stayman, normally invoked by response of 2 clubs. | |||
| Partner Opening | RHO Overcall | Your Response | Indicating |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 NT | 2 in a suit | 2 diamonds or hearts | 5-card major |
| Jacoby Transfer, not affected by RHO's overcall. | |||
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