1 of a new suit (1C by partner - 1H by you) = At least 4 cards in your suit and at least 6 points.
2 of a new minor (non-jump) (1H - 2D) = A 4+-card suit and at least 10-11 points.
2 of a new major (non-jump: the auction 1S - 2H) = A 5+-card suit and at least 10-11 points.
Single raise of partner's major (1S - 2S) = At least 3 cards in partner's suit and 6-10 playing points To show a stronger hand with support, make a jump-raise -- 1S - 3S or 1S - 4S.
Single raise of partner's minor (1D - 2D) = At least 4-5 cards in partner's suit, 6-10 points and no 4+-card major suit. To show a stronger hand with support, make a jump-raise -- 1D - 3D.
Notrump (1S - 1NT) = Weak (6-10 points) with no support for partner's suit and no suit you can bid at the 1-level. To show a stronger balanced hand, jump in notrump -- 1S - 2NT or 1S - 3NT.
Jump in a new suit (1S- 3C) = Very strong (18-19+ points) and a long, strong suit. This is ajump-shift.
opening | opening meaning | response | response meaning | continuation |
---|---|---|---|---|
1♣ | 3+ cards, 12-21 HCP | 2NT | 10-12 HCP, invitational | |
3NT | 13-15 HCP, sign off | |||
other | see natural responses to 1♥ | |||
1♦ | 4+ cards or 4432, 12-21 HCP | see 1♣ opening | ||
1♥ | 5+ cards, 12-21 HCP | 1♠ | 4+ spades, 6+ pts, usu. no ♥ support | |
1 NT | 6–9 HCP; denies 4 spades or 3 hearts | may be passed | ||
2 ♣/♦ | 10+, 4+ cards | promises another bid unless passed hand or game bid | ||
2♥ | 6-9 HCP, 3+ hearts. | |||
2NT ! | Jacoby: raise, 13+ HCP | 3♣/♦/♠ shortness, 4♥ min, 3NT med, 3♥ max | ||
3♥ | limit raise, 10–12 HCP, 3+ hearts (preempt over X) | |||
3NT | 15–17 HCP, balanced, 2-card support | |||
4♥ | usu. 5+ hearts, shortness, <10 HCP | |||
1♠ | 5+ cards, 12-21 HCP | see 1♥ opening | ||
1NT | 15–17 HCP balanced | |||
2♣ | Stayman, 8+ HCP | 2 ♦/♥/♠ (2♥ with both majors) | ||
2♦ ! | Jacoby transfer to hearts | 2 ♥, or 3 ♥ with max. | ||
2♥ ! | Jacoby transfer to spades | 2 ♠, or 3 ♠ with max. | ||
2♠ ! | transfer to 3♣ | resp. rebid 3 ♦ signoff | ||
3♣/♦ ! | inv. to 3NT with 6+ card suit | |||
3♥/♠ | 6+ card suit, slam interest | |||
4♣ | Gerber, asking for aces | 4♦ = 0 or 4, 4♥ = 1, etc | ||
4NT | natural, invites 6NT | |||
2♣ | strong artificial, 22+ HCP or playing equiv. | 2♦ | artif., may be waiting | opener’s suit rebid forcing to 3 of his major or 4 of his minor; after 2 NT rebid: Stayman, Jacoby, Gerber |
2♥/♠, 3♣/♦ | natural, GF, 5+ cards, 8+ pts | |||
2NT | balanced, 8+ HCP | |||
2♦/♥/♠ | 6+ (or 5) cards, 5–11 HCP; usually no major side suit | 2NT | forcing, game interest | with min. (5–8 p): rebid the suit; with max.: new suit (shows A/K) or 3NT or 4 of minor (shows 4–5 cards with at least Q) |
any raise | to play | |||
2NT | 20–21 HCP balanced, may contain 5-card suit | 3♣ | Stayman | |
3♦/♥ ! | Jacoby transfer | 3♥/♠ | ||
4♣ ! | Gerber | |||
4NT | inviting to slam in NT | |||
3NT | 25–27 HCP balanced | 4♣ ! | Stayman | |
4♦/♥ ! | Jacoby transfer | 4♥/♠ | ||
3/4 of suit | pre-empt, rule of 2/3/4 |