So Partner opened the bidding 1 of a minor and you bid 1♥. Now Partner decides to bid 1♠. You have a fit. How do you show it?
First of all, what do you know about partner's hand?
You know that partner has at least 13 HCP and at least 4 cards in the ♠ suit. You also know that Partner does NOT have four ♥. They would have supported your ♥ suit first. But Partner could still have a VERY BIG hand. They could have as much as 18 or even a bad 19 HCP.
If you also have four ♠ tell Partner you have a fit.
Supporting Partner automatically limits your hand.
Since Partner could still have a big hand you want to keep the auction alive if you can. But 1♠ is NOT a forcing bid. A new suit by OPENER is not forcing. (A new suit by Responder is.) So you CAN "Pass" 1♠ but "Pass" only if you have a bad hand.
If you have an opening hand yourself you must bid game. Partner opened. You should have a game.
Raise Partner 1 level only if you are weak (6 to 10 points) and jump a level if you have a invitational hand (about 11 or 12 points).
Here are the responses and what they show. Remember YOU will be Dummy so YOU get to also count Dummy points.
Responder
Opener
1♦
1♥
1♠
Pass
This says Partner I have a terrible hand and I want out of this auction. I should have ♠ tolerance though -- at least three. A bad 6 or 7 points is all I have.
Responder
Opener
1♦
1♥
1♠
2♠
This says partner I have a weak hand -- about 10 points at the most.
Responder
Opener
1♦
1♥
1♠
3♠
This says partner I have an invitational hand -- about 11 or 12 points.
Responder
Opener
1♦
1♥
1♠
4♠
This says partner I have an opening hand myself -- at least 13 points.
Check out the following post to remind you about Dummy points:
Distribution Points
Let's practice using some real hands. On the following hands Partner has opened 1♦. You responded 1♥. Partner bid 1♠. It is your turn to bid. What will you say?
Some words of warning. Partner opened the bidding 1♦. Be wary counting shortness in the ♦ suit. Partner might be counting values in that suit.
Also be wary about counting shortness with honours. Check out this post for more information:
Distribution - Counting Shortness with Honors
You are now on your own! Remember, Partner opened 1♦. You responded 1♥. Partner now responds 1♠. It is your turn to bid. How many points do you have? What will you bid and what are you telling Partner with that bid?
Hand 1
First read this post: Introducing Jacoby Transfers.
Then read this post: Jacoby Transfers - Completing the Transfer
This post combines several posts together. To look at the different responses individually, read the following posts:
Pass, 2NT or 3NT after a Jacoby Transfer (Spades)Rebidding Pass, Inviting Game or Bidding Game after a Jacoby Transfer (Spades)
Remember when you went through Jacoby to transfer to your major you showed a FIVE card suit. If you just have a five card suit your next bid should be either Pass (with a weak hand) or some number of NT to show your point count. There is NO NEED to bid the major again. You showed Partner you had five of them when you transferred.
If you have SIX in the major you know you have a fit. Partner must have at least two cards in the suit to open NT. Therefore your next bid should either be Pass (with a weak hand) or some number of the major to show your values.
Here is a table that shows some of your responses with a five and six card ♠ suit. This assumes Partner has opened the bidding 1NT and you bid 2♥ which forced Partner to bid 2♠. Now it is your bid:
If you now bid:
This shows:
Pass
A five or more card ♠ suit with less than 8 HCP
2NT
A five card ♠ suit with 8 or 9 HCP
3♠
A six card ♠ suit with invitational values (about 8 or 9 HCP)
3NT
A five card ♠ suit with 10 to 15 HCP
4♠
A six card ♠ suit with game forcing values (about 10 to 15 HCP)
On each of the following hands your Partner opened the bidding 1NT. You bid 2♥ (transfer to ♠) which forced Partner to bid 2♠. Partner then bid 2♠ like they should. It is your turn to bid. What will you bid?
Hand 1
First read this post: Introducing Jacoby Transfers.
Then read ths post: Jacoby Transfers - Completing the Transfer
So your Partner opened the bidding 1NT and you decided to make a transfer bid. You wanted to show Partner you have a five card major. Partner was good and accepted the transfer. On these hands you have a SIX card major. Bidding Jacoby only shows a five card major. Now what?
In each of the examples below you bid 2♥ which meant you had five ♠. Partner make the appropriate response (2♠) and it is now your turn to bid again. What do you do to tell Partner you have SIX in the major? You have several options.
First of all you can even just Pass Partner's bid! This will show a hand with less than 8 HCP. Something like this hand:
♠QJT532
♥9
♦8642
♣82
With this hand you don't want to play in NT. You are too distributional. You have a ♠ fit (Partner MUST have at least two of them). You also want to stay as low as you can. Even if you have only five in the suit chances are you are better off playing in your major rather than NT.
Another option is to bid 3♠. This will show an invitational hand with a SIX card major.
♠QJT932
♥Q9
♦K84
♣82
Here you want to invite game. Partner could have 17 HCP and together you have the values for a game. But Partner could also have only 15 HCP and you don't. You can only invite game. But you also want to play in your major. Partner MUST have at least two of the major in their hand -- they opened 1NT. This way you can both invite game and show Partner you have a six card ♠ suit.
You can instead bid 4♠. This will show a game forcing hand with a SIX card major.
♠KJT632
♥Q9
♦K84
♣A2
Here you want to be in game. Together you and Partner have the values. You have a ♠ fit. Partner has at least two. Place the contract.
Here is a table that shows some of your responses with a six card ♠ suit. This assumes Partner has opened the bidding 1NT and you bid 2♥ which forced Partner to bid 2♠. Now it is your bid:
If you now bid:
This shows:
Pass
A five or more card ♠ suit with less than 8 HCP
3♠
A six card ♠ suit with invitational values (about 8 or 9 HCP)
4♠
A six card ♠ suit with game forcing values (about 10 to 15 HCP)
On each of the following hands your Partner opened the bidding 1NT. You bid 2♥ (transfer to ♠) which forced Partner to bid 2♠. Partner then bid 2♠ like they should. It is your turn to bid. What will you bid?
Hand 1
First read this post: Introducing Jacoby Transfers.
Then read ths post: Jacoby Transfers - Completing the Transfer
So your Partner opened the bidding 1NT and you decided to make a transfer bid. You wanted to show Partner you have a five card major. Partner was good and accepted the transfer. Now what?
In each of the examples below you bid 2♥ which meant you had five ♠. Partner make the appropriate response (2♠) and it is now your turn to bid again. What do you do? You have several options.
First of all you can even just Pass Partner's bid! This will show a hand with less than 8 HCP. Something like this hand:
♠QJT532
♥9
♦8642
♣82
With this hand you don't want to play in NT. You are too distributional. You have a ♠ fit (Partner MUST have at least two of them). You also want to stay as low as you can.
Another option is to bid 2NT. This will show an invitational hand with a five card major. Something like this hand:
♠QJT32
♥Q92
♦KJ4
♣82
Here you want to invite game. Partner could have 17 HCP and together you have the values for a game. But Partner could also have only 15 HCP and you don't. You can only invite game. But you also want to try to play in your major if you can. Partner is only allowed to have one doubleton in their hand. Maybe you have a ♠ fit. This way you can both invite game and show Partner you have a five card ♠ suit.
You can instead bid 3NT. This will show a game forcing hand with a five card major. Something like this hand:
♠QJT32
♥Q92
♦KJ4
♣A2
Here you want to be in game. Together you and Partner have the values. But you also want to try to play in your major if you can. Partner is only allowed to have one doubleton in their hand. Maybe you have a ♠ fit. This way you can both force to game and show Partner you have a five card ♠ suit.
Here is a table that shows some of your responses with a five card ♠ suit. This assumes Partner has opened the bidding 1NT and you bid 2♥ which forced Partner to bid 2♠. Now it is your bid:
If you now bid:
This shows:
Pass
A five or more card ♠ suit with less than 8 HCP
2NT
A five card ♠ suit with 8 or 9 HCP
3NT
A five card ♠ suit with 10 to 15 HCP
On each of the following hands your Partner opened the bidding 1NT. You bid 2♥ (transfer to ♠) which forced Partner to bid 2♠. Partner then bid 2♠ like they should. It is your turn to bid. What will you bid?
Hand 1
