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) .
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.
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
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