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Detail specifications 61MB - Level 2 ★
3rd suit forcing
The 3rd suit is a forcing bid which the Responder uses on the 2nd round of bidding after a rebid by the Opener of his opening minor suit.. at the 2 level.
When Opener rebids his opening suit all suit shifts from Responder (3rd suit) is forcing. Opener's team has the point majority. Generally, Responder's suit shifts on the 2nd bidding round are natural except on a certain bidding sequence :
When Opener rebids his opening suit all suit shifts from Responder (3rd suit) is forcing. Opener's team has the point majority. Generally, Responder's suit shifts on the 2nd bidding round are natural except on a certain bidding sequence :
- opening in a minor suit
- Second response bid in the suit ranked one level higher than that of the Opener (If opening suit is ♣ then that means ♦ or if opening suit is ♦ then it's ♥) .
In this case, the 3rd suit is an artificial bid : doesn't guarantee a long or points
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Problem E20169 : 2♦ (suit ranked one level higher than Opener's suit) is an artificial bid promising nothing in the bid suit.
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Problem E20172 2♥ (suit which is not ranked one level higher than Opener's) is a natural bid. Responder is showing 5♠ and 4♥.
In which situations does the Responder use the 3rd suit forcing convention?
Responder who bids a 3rd suit has 11-12HCP ; he can use this convention is several situations.
Responder who bids a 3rd suit has 11-12HCP ; he can use this convention is several situations.
- no bid to show his strength
- a forcing bid to show a fit
- problem with a suit so can't bid NT
- can't bid NT as needs to protect an honor
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Problem 7994 : As no ♣ stoppers, the team will play Game with 7 trump cards.
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Problem E1188 : If Opener has a ♠ strong holding, then there is a NT Game which is better than playing 5♣.
The bidding sequene :
The rebid of the Opener after a 3rd suit forcing bid.
The priority is now for the Opener to bid a fit if he has 3 cards in Reponder's major.
If not he bids NT, if he has stopper in the 4th suit which hasn't yet been bid.
Without a stopper in the non bid suit and a weak hand normally he rebids his opening suit
With a strong opening, he can bid the 4th suit, so that the Responder can be the Declarer of a NT contract
The rebid of the Opener after a 3rd suit forcing bid.
The priority is now for the Opener to bid a fit if he has 3 cards in Reponder's major.
If not he bids NT, if he has stopper in the 4th suit which hasn't yet been bid.
Without a stopper in the non bid suit and a weak hand normally he rebids his opening suit
With a strong opening, he can bid the 4th suit, so that the Responder can be the Declarer of a NT contract
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Problem E5000 : The Opener support bids with 3 cards in Reponder's major.
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Exercise E6664 : 3 NT - without a 3 card ♠ fit, but stoppers in the 2 non bid suits and honors to protect, the Opener bids NT. His magnificent ♦ allows him to bid Game.
Examples
| 1♣ - 1♠ | 1♣ - 1♥ | 1♦ -1♥ | 1♦ - 1♠ | 1♦ - 1♥ |
| 2♣ - 2♥ | 2♣ - 2♠ | 2♦ - 2♠ | 2♦ - 3♣ | 2♦ - 3♣ |
- The first sequence guarantees 4 cards in ♥ . As for any 3rd suit forcing bid, it is forcing, but not auto-forcing
- The 4 other sequences are forcing to game :
- Either the 2nd suit bid by the responder is higher than the first
- or the 2nd suit is bid (by the responder) at level 3 3
- In these last 4 sequencess,the 3rd suit bid guarantees values, but not necessarily 4 cards
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