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Detail specifications 21BA - Level 1 ★
Responder's 1st bid on a 1 majors opening
Responding bids on P's major opening at the 1 level:
Pass with less than 5HCP
Support bid with at least 3 cards in the major and a "nice" 7-8HCP (non forcing)
Suit shift 2/1 (forcing to game with 13+HCPs)
Respond with 1 NT (not fitted, 6-12HCP) forcing bid for 1 round.
Jacoby 2NT Showing a 4 card fit, 13 HCP and slam ambitions (See dedicated sheet).(6) Bergen raises (See dedicated technical sheet) Showing a 4 card fit.. and various levels of strength (See dedicated technical sheet) .
Pass with less than 5HCP
Support bid with at least 3 cards in the major and a "nice" 7-8HCP (non forcing)
Suit shift 2/1 (forcing to game with 13+HCPs)
Respond with 1 NT (not fitted, 6-12HCP) forcing bid for 1 round.
Jacoby 2NT Showing a 4 card fit, 13 HCP and slam ambitions (See dedicated sheet).(6) Bergen raises (See dedicated technical sheet) Showing a 4 card fit.. and various levels of strength (See dedicated technical sheet) .
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Pass |
||
Pass |
5
4
3
K
3
J
5
4
3
J
5
3
2
Problem E2204 PASS Having 5HCP and a ♥ doubleton, Pass is often the winning bid.
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Pass |
||
Pass |
6
5
3
7
5
3
10
5
2
A
6
5
3
Problem E2327 PASS so as not to disappoint your P, don't bid with a 4333 distribution which only has an ace and nothing else.
Support bids
Support bids are never forcing - even with a jump! With an irregular distribution, apply the law of trumps : the number of trumps is more important than the HCP.
Support bid at the 2 level with 7-8HCP and a 3 card fit. Don't support bid with a very weak hand, it's better to bid 1NT (even with a 3 card fit), this will make your P slow down his biddiing.
Jump bid with a 4 card fit and a weak handThese are not stops : If Opener has a very strong hand, he may well continue the bidding.
Support bids are never forcing - even with a jump! With an irregular distribution, apply the law of trumps : the number of trumps is more important than the HCP.
Support bid at the 2 level with 7-8HCP and a 3 card fit. Don't support bid with a very weak hand, it's better to bid 1NT (even with a 3 card fit), this will make your P slow down his biddiing.
Jump bid with a 4 card fit and a weak handThese are not stops : If Opener has a very strong hand, he may well continue the bidding.
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Pass |
||
2 |
Pass |
A
J
8
6
4
K
10
9
8
4
4
3
2
Problem E9800 2♥ Support bid with 8HCP, a decent hand and a 3 card fit, 'even with 5 good ♠ cards)
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Pass |
||
2 |
Pass |
Q
8
4
K
Q
9
3
Q
8
6
7
4
3
Problem E9802 2♥ Aim for a quick stop with this terrible 4333 distribution. Your hand has no ruffing values and the lonely queens aren't worth much
Suit shift
- at the 1 level with at least 4 cards and a minimum of 5HCP : forcing bid
- at the 2 level (no jump) with 13HCP or more. 2/1 Forcing bid.
- with a jump previously this bid showed a very strong hand (16HCP or more, a very "nice" 6 carder and a one-suiter. This unusual bid is no longer used (a jump bid now shows a weak hand)
Be careful! On a 1♠ opening a respond bid of 2♥ promises 5 cards. You only need 4 in a minor for a 2 level response. All suit shifts 2/1 are forcing.to game
- at the 1 level with at least 4 cards and a minimum of 5HCP : forcing bid
- at the 2 level (no jump) with 13HCP or more. 2/1 Forcing bid.
- with a jump previously this bid showed a very strong hand (16HCP or more, a very "nice" 6 carder and a one-suiter. This unusual bid is no longer used (a jump bid now shows a weak hand)
Be careful! On a 1♠ opening a respond bid of 2♥ promises 5 cards. You only need 4 in a minor for a 2 level response. All suit shifts 2/1 are forcing.to game
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Pass |
||
2 |
A
10
9
K
Q
J
9
8
7
6
4
5
3
Problem E4820
1 NT forcing for 1 roundThis hand is worth more than 10HCP : honors concentrated in the majors, reinforced by the intermediary cards.... but still not enough for a 2/1... you'll show strength on the next round...
1 NT forcing for 1 roundThis hand is worth more than 10HCP : honors concentrated in the majors, reinforced by the intermediary cards.... but still not enough for a 2/1... you'll show strength on the next round...
NT Response Bids
- A 1NT ('catch all') bid takes care of many hands . Sometimes with 5-12HCP, this is the only bid possible when you don't have the points for a suit shift bid at the 2 level (13HCP)
- Jacobi 2NT. This is a very precise bid; showing exactly 13+HCP, a 4 card fit in opening major and doesn't guarantee anything else in the way of distribution (distribution may be irregular) It is forcing to game... and shows slam ambitions
- 4NT : Blackwood
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Pass |
||
1NT |
4
K
J
5
4
3
Q
4
3
2
K
J
4
Problem E2261 1NT : You can't respond bid 2♥ with this hand. Your 10HCP, but are over-valued! ♠ singleton is a disaster, lonely Q♣ is questionable and you don't hold any aces. 2/1 would be a positive bid with more than 13HCP values.... you are not there
| S | W | N | E |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Pass |
||
4NT |
4
K
Q
10
9
7
A
K
Q
J
10
9
2
Problem E5448 4NT You only need info on the number of aces missing and this bid stops any ♠ overcall.
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