This is the auction:
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♥ | 1♠ |
Responder is showing at least four ♠ and at least 6 HCP (High Card Points).
(Remember their PARTNER opened the bidding. OPENER needs FIVE ♥ and 13 HCP to open the bidding but Responder only needs 6 HCP and a FOUR card suit to respond.)
How about another auction?
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♣ | 1♥ |
Responder is showing at least four ♥ and at least 6 HCP (High Card Points). Responder could have more than four ♥ but they do not promise more than four ♥.
What happens if Responder responds at the 2 level? Does that change things?
No.
Take this auction:
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♥ | 2♣ |
Since Responder bid a new suit at the 2 level they show at least 10 HCP BUT they are still only showing four ♣. They could have more. (They might even have less if they are stuck!)
HOWEVER there is ONE auction where Opener opens a suit at the 1 level and Responder bids a new suit without jumping and they promise FIVE in the suit.
Do you know the auction?
| Opener | Responder |
| 1♠ | 2♥ |
This is the ONE auction where Responder promises a FIVE card suit. When Opener opens 1♠ (they MUST open 1♠) and Responder bids 2♥ (again they MUST respond 2♥) this shows that Responder not only has the 10 HCP required to bid at the 2 level but also has a FIVE card ♥ suit.
WHY? Why would the inventors of this bidding system do that to us? Why make us memorize one more thing?
The reason is simple.
It is INCREDIBLY easy to find a FOUR FOUR ♥ fit once Opener opens the bidding 1♠. However if you allow that Responder could have only a four card ♥ when the bid 2♥ then it would be impossible to find a FIVE THREE ♥ fit when Opener opens 1♠.
Don't believe me? I don't blame you. Let's see this in action.
Here is your hand:
♠Q3
♥AK93
♦KJ72
♣874
Partner opens the bidding 1♠. Here you might want to bid 2♥. This violates the four card suits up the line rule but you do it at the 1 level so why not the 2 level right? So you bid 2♥.
Opener has:
♠AK762
♥J852
♦Q3
♣A2
Opener raises your ♥ suit to 3♥ since they have a fit with minimum values.
You bid 4♥ triumphantly! "See, we NEEDED to bid 2♥ in order to find our fit!" you cry.
Hmmmmm. Really?
Let's take your hand. Partner opens 1♠ and you have this hand:
♠Q3
♥AK93
♦KJ72
♣874
Let's say that instead of responding 2♥ you respond 2♦. (Four card suits up the line.) Do you lose that ♥ fit?
NO!
Over 2♦ guess what Opener is going to bid?
Opener has:
♠AK762
♥J852
♦Q3
♣A2
2♥. Now you have found your ♥ fit. You can bid 4♥ and you will have made it to your game in ♥.
Well, what does it really matter?
Here's where it matters.
When Responder has this hand:
♠Q3
♥AK963
♦KJ7
♣874
and Opener has:
♠AK762
♥J85
♦Q63
♣A2
and Opener opens the bidding 1♠.
If Responder promises FIVE ♥ when they respond 2♥ then the partnership will have found their five three ♥ fit and be safe and happy in 4♥. Responder will bid 2♥. Opener will know they have a FIVE card suit and can raise with three. Opener will bid 3♥ and Responder will bid 4♥ to get the partnership to game.
But what happens if Responder only promises a FOUR card suit. Now over 2♥ Opener cannot show a fit. They will probably bid 2NT to show a minimum, balanced hand.
What does Responder do now?
If Responder bids the ♥ again they show a SIX card suit. (On most auctions when Responder rebids their suit they show six cards in that suit.) But Responder does not have a six card suit.
Responder would probably just bid 3NT and hope for the best.
With an eight card fit, playing in four of a major tends to be better for playing in 3NT. Especially when you are a newer player.
Imagine what will happen if the Opponents lead a ♣? Would you rather bid in 3NT or 4♥?
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