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Detail specifications 61MB - Level 1 ★
3rd suit forcing
The 3rd suit forcing
It's a bid the responder uses for his 2nd response after the opener has repeated his opening minor suit at level 2.
During the auction sequence, all shifts are forcing. Most of the time, the responder's 2nd shift bid is natural. It is not when the sequence is :
It's a bid the responder uses for his 2nd response after the opener has repeated his opening minor suit at level 2.
During the auction sequence, all shifts are forcing. Most of the time, the responder's 2nd shift bid is natural. It is not when the sequence is :
- minor suit opening
- 2nd response in the suit which his right above the opener's minor (♦ when the opener has bid ♣ and ♥ when he has bid ♦). In this situation, naming this 3rd suit is not natural :
- it doesn't guarantee any strength
- nor length in the suit.
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Problem E20169 2♦ (the suit above the opener's minor) is an artificial bid, and doesn't guarantee any strength nor length in ♦.
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Problem E20172 2♥ (♥ is not the suit right above the opener's minor) is a natural bid. The responder indicates he's got 5 ♠ and 4 ♥.
When does the responder use the 3rd suit forcing convention ?
He needs to hold 11-12 HCP and may use this convention in the following cases :
He needs to hold 11-12 HCP and may use this convention in the following cases :
- no other bid to show his strength
- to continue bidding and show a support later
- he can't bid NT because he misses stoppers in a suit
- he doesn't want to bid NT because he's got no honor to protect
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Problem 7994 A ♣ stopper is missing... the line will play with 7 trump cards only
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Problem E1188 3NT would be better than 5♣, wouldn't it ? The opener might have a strength in ♠ ! Let's investigate...
Development
The opener's 3rd bid in response to a 3rd suit forcing.
The opener must give priority to A support when he holds 3 cards in the partner's first major bid suit.
When it is not the case, he bids NT if he has a stopper In the unnamed suit.
With a weak hand and no stopper in the named suit he repeats his opening minor again.
With a quite decent opening hand, he can bid the 4th suit, in order to let his partner play NT.
The opener's 3rd bid in response to a 3rd suit forcing.
The opener must give priority to A support when he holds 3 cards in the partner's first major bid suit.
When it is not the case, he bids NT if he has a stopper In the unnamed suit.
With a weak hand and no stopper in the named suit he repeats his opening minor again.
With a quite decent opening hand, he can bid the 4th suit, in order to let his partner play NT.
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Problem E5000 The opener gives a support in the responder's major suit with 3 cards.
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Problem E6664 3NT. Less than 3 cards in the partner's major suit, stoppers in the unnamed suits, honors to protect .... and a terrific ♦ suit ! Good reasons for the opener to bid a NT game.
FR version