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D5 RESPONDING TO ONE OF A SUIT

GENERAL

After partner's 1 of a suit, you must bid with 6 high card points or more. Opener may have up to 21 points! There are 4 common options available. Assume partner has opened 1©;

1) Support partner's suit, e.g. 1© P 2© (about 6-9 points with 4 hearts, occasionally 3)

2) A no trump limit bid, e.g. 1© P 2NT (11-12 points balanced)

3) A simple change of suit, e.g. 1© P 2§ (an unlimited bid, forcing for one round)

4) A jump in a new suit, e.g. 1© P 3§ (a strong unlimited bid, forcing to game)

1. SUPPORT OF PARTNER'S SUIT

Count extra points for suit lengths here. If you have 4 card support of © or ª , support partner immediately, with 6-9 points at the 2 level, 10-12 at the 3 level, 13-15 at the 4 level. If you do not support partner with your first response, you are effectively denying such 4 card support. (except 16+ point hands see para. 4. below).With a weak hand of 6-9 points, you may occasionally support at the 2 level with 3 trumps only if no other bid is convenient. If you have 4 card support of ¨ or § you may bid as above, but remember to seek a ©/ª fit or consider no trumps. In the case of minor suits, delayed support may, therefore, show 4 cards.

2. NO TRUMP LIMIT BIDS

See Lesson notes D1, 'The No Trump Ladder' for shape and point count hand requirements.

Do remember to seek a possible 4/4 major fit first using a one level change of suit, e.g. with a balanced hand of 11 points containing 4 hearts, bid 1© over 1¨ rather than 2NT. You may bid the 2NT later if partner does not support your hearts.

Specifically 1§ P 1NT requires 8-10 balanced points in Acol, usually containing 4 clubs.

3. SIMPLE CHANGE OF SUIT Forcing for one round

A change of suit by responder after partner has opened one of a suit is forcing for at least one round in Acol and opener must rebid (unless responder had passed previously limiting the hand to less than an opening bid of 12 points). The basic requirements are;

a) Responding at the one level, e.g. 1§ P 1¨ 6 high card points or more

b) Responding at the two level, e.g. 1© P 2§ 9 high card points or more

Note that 2© over 1ª always shows a 5 card or longer heart suit in Acol.

The strict requirement for 9 high card points for a 2 level response means that some 6 or 7 point hands may seem unbiddable!

i) You could initially bid an 'off centre' 1NT on an unbalanced hand. Bidding your long 6 or 7 card suit subsequently is a 'drop dead' weak sign off.

ii) You could bid a 4 card major at the 1 level in preference to two of a 5 card minor.

iii) You could support partner's suit to the 2 level with only 3 trumps.

4. JUMP IN A NEW SUIT Forcing to game

To jump one level in a new suit, e.g. 1¨ from opener, 2ª from you, promises the values for game and the auction must not die until game is reached (or the opposition are doubled in a contract). The hand must contain at least 13 points, normally 15+.

The modern style is that the bid shows either 15+ points and 4 card trump support, which you will show next round, or the bid shows a powerful 6 card self supporting suit of your own.

5. RESPONDER'S SECOND BID

Limit principles apply, i.e. repeat of own suit, no trumps or support of partner's suit are all non forcing bids.