Forcing Major Suit Raises

Partner opens the bidding 1♥ and you have this hand. What will you bid?

♠AJ87
♥QJ86
♦KQ2
♣A9

Hmm this is a tough one. You have a fit for Partner's major and you would like to tell Partner you have a fit. Let's review our responses.

Over a 1 of a Major opening bid, bidding:	Shows
2 of the Major	6 to 10 points and at least three trump
3 of the Major	11 or 12 points and four trump
4 of the Major	6 to 10 points, a singleton or void and at least five trump

For more details on those responses check out the following posts:
Rebidding when you have a fit for Partner's Major and can count Distribution points
1 of a Major - 4 of a Major

So back to the hand in question:

♠AJ87
♥QJ86
♦KQ2
♣A9

Partner opens 1♥. What can you say? First count your points. You have 17 HCP and 1 more point for your doubleton. That's 18 points. You have a fit for Partner's major. But what do you bid? How can you tell Partner you have a major suit fit?

You can't say 2♥. You have too many points. You can't say 3♥. You have too many points. You can't say 4♥. You have too many points. Some people have a forcing raise in their Partner's major. You don't. What can you possibly say?

Here you are stuck. You CAN'T tell Partner you have a fit right away. This is okay. Eventually you will bid to at least 4♥. You just can't say that right away. Make another bid. This bid needs to be FORCING. You MUST make Partner bid again.

So on this hand you bid 1♠. This is a new suit by Responder and is 100% FORCING. You could have 6 points, you could have 13 points, you could have 20 points. Partner MUST bid again.

Say after your 1♠ bid Partner rebids 1NT. This should show a minimum balanced hand and no fit for your ♠.

(For more details on showing a balanced hand check out this post:
How to Show Balanced Hands)

Now you know you probably don't have enough for a small slam (Partner might only have 13 HCP) and you also know you have a ♥ fit. Now you can rebid 4♥. This should end the auction.

See, I told you you would eventually get to game in ♥. You just can't bid game right away. That shows a different hand.

Now let's say over your 1♠ bid Partner rebids 3♥. Hmmm. Partner is showing 16-18 HCP and a six card ♥ suit.

(For more details on rebidding your Major check out this post:
Rebidding your original suit - Hearts)

You have 18 points. That is enough for a small slam. Now you will bid 6♥. Yes, just like that. You have enough for a small slam, you don't have enough for a grand slam, just bid 6♥.

Now let's say over your 1♠ bid Partner rebids 3♦. Hmmm. Partner is making a JUMP SHIFT showing about 20 points.

(For more details on Jump Shifts check out these posts:
Jump Shifts
More Jump Shifts )
You have 18 points. That is enough for a grand slam. Now you will bid 7♥. Yes, just like that. You have enough for a grand slam, just bid it!


How about another hand:

Partner opens the bidding 1♥. What will you bid?

♠AJ8
♥QJ86
♦KQT2
♣92

Here you have a fit for Partner but again can't tell Partner about it. You need to make a forcing bid. What about 3NT?

NO! 3NT is NOT a forcing bid. 3NT should show 13-15 HCP (which you have) but should DENY having a fit for Partner's major. Partner can PASS 3NT. On this hand you need to bid 2♦. This is a new suit by Responder and is 100% forcing.

Let's practice some forcing major suit raises.

On all the following hands Partner will open the bidding 1♥. How many points do you have? What will you bid?

Hand 1
♠KJT4
♥AJ82
♦2
♣AQ64



What will you now bid if Partner responds:


________________________________________________________

Hand 2
♠QJ75
♥962
♦AKQ5
♣63



What will you now bid if Partner responds:


________________________________________________________

Hand 3
♠AKT75
♥965
♦J5
♣AQ6



What will you now bid if Partner responds:


________________________________________________________

Hand 4
♠KJ873
♥Q95
♦KQT3
♣J



What will you now bid if Partner responds:


________________________________________________________

Hand 5
♠AQ83
♥AJ95
♦KQT3
♣A



What will you now bid if Partner responds: