What to Respond?

Here is your hand:

♠KQ54
♥A4
♦T872
♣AQ4

Partner opens the bidding with 1♥. Your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) bid 1♠. What is your call?

Show Answer

How about 3NT?

You don't want to tell Partner you have four ♠. You don't have a fit. Even if you have a fit there is a REALLY bad break in the trump suit! Your RHO has FIVE of them!

But you do have stoppers for NT and a balanced hand. So now it is all about point count.

1NT would show 6 to a bad 10 HCP.

2NT would show about 11 or 12 HCP.

3NT shows about 13 to 15 HCP. Which is what you have. You need to force Partner to game with your opening hand!

What to Open?

Here is your hand:

♠JT42
♥KQ
♦KJ4
♣KQJ9

You are Dealer. What is your call?

Show Answer

1NT

You have a balanced hand with 16 HCP. This is the only way to show a balanced hand with this range of values.

The problem with opening 1♣ is what do you do when Partner bids 1NT showing 6 to a bad 10 HCP?

Do you invite with 2NT? That shows 18 or 19 HCP. A hand that was too good to open 1NT to begin with but not good enough to open 2NT. Partner will bid game with 7 HCP.

Do you "Pass" 1NT? Partner might have 9 or 10 HCP and you just missed a game.

Get your point count off your chest with your original bid. That way Partner knows what to do.

Another Rebid Dilema

Here is your hand:

♠83
♥AQJT
♦KQ94
♣AK9

Playing matchpoints you are vulnerable. You are Dealer and open the bidding 1♦. The Opponents "Pass" throughout the auction. Partner responds 1♠.

What is your call?

Show Answer

2NT.

This should show a balanced hand with 18 or 19 HCP. Which you have.

Do NOT bid 2♥ on this hand. Remember Partner could have bid 1♥ but they didn't. They responded 1♠.

Responding with a Weak Hand

Here is your hand:

♠T52
♥K52
♦63
♣JT865

Playing matchpoints you are vulnerable. Partner opens the bidding 2♣. This shows a STRONG hand! The Opponents "Pass" throughout the auction. You bid 2♦. You play this as a "waiting" bid. This basically asks Partner to tell you just exactly WHY they have such a strong hand. Partner now bids 2NT. This shows 22 to 24 HCP (High Card Points) and a balanced hand.

What is your call?

Show Answer

3NT.

Yes you have a terrible hand. But Partner has at least 22 to 24 HCP! You have 4. Together the two hands should have enough for a game.

Your Partner's hand is from the last post:
♠A3
♥A86
♦AK54
♣AKQ2

Your hand again:
♠T52
♥K52
♦63
♣JT865

You can see that together the hands have at least 10 tricks.

Strong Hand

Here is your hand:

♠A3
♥A86
♦AK54
♣AKQ2

Playing matchpoints you are vulnerable. You are Dealer and open the bidding 2♣. This shows a STRONG hand! The Opponents "Pass" throughout the auction. Your Partner responds 2♦. You play this as a "waiting" bid. Partner is basically not showing anything and asking you to describe your hand.

What is your call?

Show Answer

You have 24 HCP and a balanced hand. How do you show this?

How about 2NT? This should show 22 to 24 HCP and a balanced hand.

Bidding 4NT or 5NT over a Natural NT Bid

Please brush up on the responses to a 1NT opener with a balanced hand before reading this post:
Bidding - Responding to 1NT with a Balanced Hand

4NT or 5NT are both unusual bids to make after Partner has bid some level of NT. It is much higher than you need to be in order to get the points for bidding a game. Yet it does NOT commit to a slam. Why would bridge players make this bid?

Say you want to play in some level of NT. You have a balanced hand and Partner has opened the bidding 1NT so they have a balanced hand. If you wanted to be in a game only you would just bid game.

If you wanted to be in a small slam only you would just bid the small slam.

If you wanted to be in a grand slam you would just bid the grand slam.

Bids like 4NT or 5NT show interest in slams but shows that you are not quite sure what level you want to commit to.

Since a bid of 4NT is lower we will keep that as invitational to 6NT but NON-FORCING.

A bid of 5NT is therefore FORCING to at least a small slam but invitational to a grand slam. This bid CANNOT be Passed or the small slam bonus will not be given.

Let's take this hand:

Hand
♠K9
♥Q86
♦KQ64
♣AQ82

Partner opens the bidding 1NT. You play your NT range as 15-17 HCP. You have a balanced hand so you don't mind playing in NT. You also have 16 HCP. What do you bid?

In order to make a game the partnership needs at least 25 HCP. But if the partnership has at least 33 HCP you have enough to take 12 tricks and can get a small slam bonus.

The problem here is that Partner could have 17 HCP. Together with your 16 HCP you have 33 HCP between the two hands. That is enough to bid and make a small slam. So maybe you should just bid 6NT.

But hang on. Partner can open 1NT with only 15 HCP. If Partner has 15 HCP together your partnership holds only 31 HCP. This is NOT enough to make a small slam.

You don't get a slam bonus unless you bid the slam. So you should bid the slam.

If you don't make the slam then you lose points. So you shouldn't bid the slam.

Hmmmmm. There needs to be some way to ask PARTNER if they opened on 15 HCP or 17 HCP. Let them decide.

This is your 4NT bid. A bid of 4NT is INVITATIONAL to a small slam. Partner is expected either to PASS or bid 6NT. No other options. That way if Partner has 17 HCP they will bid 6NT and you will get your slam bonus. But if Partner only has 15 HCP they can pass and play in only 4NT. You will still get your game bonus but you will not get too high in the bidding and go down in your contract.

Let's take another hand:

Hand
♠K9
♥AQ8
♦KQ64
♣AQJ2

Partner opens the bidding 1NT. You play your NT range as 15-17 HCP. You have a balanced hand so you don't mind playing in NT. You also have 21 HCP. What do you bid?

In order to make a small slam the partnership needs at least 33 HCP. But if the partnership has at least 37 HCP you have enough to take 13 tricks and can get a grand slam bonus.

The problem here is that Partner could have 17 HCP. Together with your 21 HCP you have 38 HCP between the two hands. That is enough to bid and make a grand slam. So maybe you should just bid 7NT.

But hang on. Partner can open 1NT with only 15 HCP. If Partner has 15 HCP together your partnership holds only 36 HCP. This is NOT enough to make a grand slam. You could be off an Ace!

You don't get a grand slam bonus unless you bid the grand slam. So you should bid the grand slam.

If you don't make the grand slam then you lose points. So you shouldn't bid the grand slam. Just take the sure thing and bid a small slam.

Hmmmmm. Again, there needs to be some way to ask PARTNER if they opened on 15 HCP or 17 HCP. Let them decide.

This is your 5NT bid. A bid of 5NT is FORCING to a small slam and INVITATIONAL to a grand slam. Partner is expected either bid either 6NT or 7NT. No other options. That way if Partner has 17 HCP they will bid 7NT and you will get your grand slam bonus. But if Partner only has 15 HCP they can bid 6NT. You will still get your small slam bonus but you will not get too high in the bidding and go down in your contract.

This makes sense over a 1NT opening bid. But this works in ALL auctions where one person in the partnership has bid NT showing a balanced hand with some point count range and no fit for a suit.

For example:

Opener	Responder
1♣	3NT
4NT	???

Responder has shown a specific number of HCP with a balanced hand. The number of HCP Responder needs varies according to the partnership. Right now they teach this as showing 13-15 HCP. Back in the olden days Responder would bid this with 16-18 HCP. There is no right or wrong answer here. But you DO need to make sure you know how many HCP Partner has when they make this bid. Plus (just like opening 1NT) Responder needs to have in the range they promise when they make the bid. If Responder has 17 HCP but their 3NT bid promises 13-15 HCP they are not allowed to respond 3NT. They need to make another bid.

So that tells you what 3NT means in the auction -- what does the 4NT bid mean in this auction?

It is INVITATIONAL to a small slam. Opener is asking Responder if they are at their MAXIMUM to bid 6NT. But if Responder is at their MINIMUM to just Pass. The values for a small slam are just not there.

What values would Opener need to make this 4NT bid?

It depends on what the NT range is.

Calculate how much Opener would need if Responder promises exactly 13-15 HCP for their 3NT bid. Remember you need 25 HCP to bid a game, 33 HCP to bid a small slam and 37 HCP to bid a grand slam:



Calculate how much Opener would need if Responder promises exactly 16-18 HCP for their 3NT bid. Remember you need 25 HCP to bid a game, 33 HCP to bid a small slam and 37 HCP to bid a grand slam:





Another example:

Opener	Responder
1♣	3NT
5NT	???

So what does the 5NT bid mean in this auction?

It is FORCING to a small slam and INVITATIONAL to a grand slam. Opener is asking Responder if they are at their MAXIMUM to bid 7NT. But if Responder is at their MINIMUM to just bid 6NT.

What values would one need to make these bids?

It depends on what the NT range is.

Calculate how much Opener would need if the 3NT shows 13-15 HCP. Remember you need 25 HCP to bid a game, 33 HCP to bid a small slam and 37 HCP to bid a grand slam:



Calculate how much Opener would need if the 3NT shows 16-18 HCP:





Yet another example:

Opener	Responder
1♣	1♠
1NT	4NT

So what does the 4NT bid mean in this auction?

It is INVITATIONAL to a small slam. Responder is asking Opener if they are at their MAXIMUM to bid 6NT. But if Opener is at their MINIMUM to just Pass. The values for a small slam are just not there.

What values would Responder need to make this 4NT bid?

To answer that question we first need to think about what Opener has shown. They must have a balanced hand. They rebid 1NT when they had other choices to make. So they should have a balanced hand. But they opened the bidding 1♣ NOT 1NT. If they had a balanced hand with 15, 16 or 17 HCP they would have opened the bidding 1NT. Opener should not have 15 HCP. If they had a hand TOO good to open 1NT (say 18 or 19 HCP) they would NOT have rebid 1NT. They would have rebid 2NT. Therefore Opener should have AT MOST 14 HCP. But they might only have 13 HCP (or even a good 12 HCP). That is their range.

Calculate how much Responder would need to bid 4NT in this auction knowing the 1NT rebid shows 12-14 HCP. Remember you need 25 HCP to bid a game, 33 HCP to bid a small slam and 37 HCP to bid a grand slam:





Not another example!:

Opener	Responder
1♣	1♠
1NT	5NT

So what does the 5NT bid mean in this auction?

It is FORCING to a small slam and INVITATIONAL to a grand slam. Responder is asking Opener if they are at their MAXIMUM to bid 7NT. But if Opener is at their MINIMUM to just bid 6NT.

What values would Responder need to make this bid?

To answer that question we first need to think about what Opener has shown. They must have a balanced hand. They rebid 1NT when they had other choices to make. So they should have a balanced hand. But they opened the bidding 1♣ NOT 1NT. If they had a balanced hand with 15, 16 or 17 HCP they would have opened the bidding 1NT. Opener should not have 15 HCP. If they had a hand TOO good to open 1NT (say 18 or 19 HCP) they would NOT have rebid 1NT. They would have rebid 2NT. Therefore Opener should have AT MOST 14 HCP. But they might only have 13 HCP (or even a good 12 HCP). That is their range.

Calculate how much Responder would need if the 1NT rebid shows 12-14 HCP. Remember you need 25 HCP to bid a game, 33 HCP to bid a small slam and 37 HCP to bid a grand slam:

Rebidding 2NT after the Opponents make a 2 Level Overcall

This post assumes you know how to raise Partner and also how to show a Balanced Hand. If you need a refresher on either please read the following:
Rebidding when you have a fit for Partner's Major and can count Distribution points
How to Show Balanced Hands

Here's an easy hand to bid:
♠K94
♥KJ6
♦A987
♣QJ5

You open the bidding 1♦ and Partner bids 1♠. What is your bid?

1NT. Perfect. You show a balanced hand with 13 or 14 points and no fit for Partner's suit. Easy.

Now let's add in one slight change in the auction. Over Partner's 1♠ response your RHO (Right Hand Opponent) bid 2♥. What is your bid now?

Most people rebid 2NT without thinking. They were originally going to bid 1NT but when RHO stuck in their bid they obviously couldn't bid only 1NT so they bid 2NT.

Ooooops! Even though the opponents stuck in the 2♥ bid and you think you are forced to say 2NT, guess what? You are not. Bidding 2NT here shows exactly the same point count you would have if you opened 1♦, Partner bid 1♠ and you rebid 2NT. That's right -- 18 or 19 HCP. This also shows a stopper in the opponents suit. A guaranteed trick in ♥. Here you have the ♥ stopper BUT you do not have the point count.

When your RHO overcalled 2♥ you may think you are forced to bid 2NT but you are NOT. You can PASS! If you want to show a minimum hand without ♠ support for Partner that's what you do -- PASS. Remember, Partner is allowed to make another bid. Maybe they can do something.

Here is the hand you need in order to rebid 2NT:
♠K94
♥KJ6
♦AJ87
♣AQ5

So on this hand you will open 1♦, Partner will respond 1♠ and if RHO comes in with 2♥ you can bid 2NT showing ♥ stoppers with 18 or 19 HCP and no fit for Partner.

Let's practice:

On these hands you will open 1♦, Partner will respond 1♠ and RHO will come in with 2♥. What will you bid?

Hand 1

♠K94
♥KJ6
♦A987
♣QJ5



Hand 2

♠T982
♥82
♦KQ86
♣AKJ



Hand 3

♠KJ8
♥A95
♦QJT6
♣K85



Hand 4

♠KJ3
♥AQ6
♦AQJ3
♣Q87



Hand 5

♠KT5
♥AJT
♦AT32
♣J63



Hand 6

♠AK8
♥A65
♦KJ72
♣QJ6



Hand 7

♠JT4
♥A84
♦AJ74
♣A32



Hand 8

♠AKQ
♥K92
♦KJ83
♣QJ3



Hand 9

♠J83
♥AK7
♦KQ92
♣874



Hand 10

♠AQT3
♥AQ
♦KJ93
♣K32



Hand 11

♠KJT4
♥Q3
♦AQ74
♣QT2



Hand 12

♠A62
♥763
♦AKT9
♣Q43



Hand 13

♠T96
♥AQT
♦AKQT
♣A86



Hand 14

♠AJ82
♥K8
♦KQT2
♣AQ8



Hand 15

♠KT6
♥KQ6
♦AKJ8
♣Q43



Hand 16

♠Q94
♥KT2
♦AQJ6
♣Q87



Hand 17

♠AJ5
♥A74
♦KJT7
♣AJ2



Hand 18

♠J63
♥KQ5
♦KQJ6
♣KQJ



Hand 19

♠QT4
♥J72
♦AK84
♣K87



Hand 20

♠J85
♥AJ2
♦AT93
♣A98



Hand 21

♠AQJ
♥KQ7
♦QT64
♣A65



Hand 22

♠QJ2
♥AJ9
♦K753
♣AK5



Hand 23

♠K65
♥K97
♦AK82
♣543



Hand 24

♠AQJ8
♥QT
♦KJ76
♣762



Hand 25

♠A84
♥KT3
♦KJ62
♣QJ2



Hand 26

♠Q97
♥A43
♦AJT3
♣Q52



Hand 27

♠AQT6
♥KQ9
♦A9752
♣2



Hand 28

♠K74
♥KT3
♦AT64
♣QJ3



Hand 29

♠A54
♥AK8
♦T432
♣K98



Hand 30

♠K86
♥KQ4
♦KQ82
♣AJT



Hand 31

♠AQJ8
♥5
♦QJ73
♣KJ94



Hand 32

♠AK5
♥J97
♦A862
♣Q84



Hand 33

♠Q95
♥KJ7
♦AKJ9
♣KJ5



Hand 34

♠A64
♥953
♦KT74
♣AQ7

Support Partner, Jump Shift, Bid a new suit or Rebid NT?

This post combines several posts together. Check out:
Balanced Hand Rebids where you might have a fit for Partner's Major
Jump Shifts
More Jump Shifts
How to Show Balanced Hands

Opener	Responder
1♦	1♥
If Opener now bids:	This shows :
2♥	Support for Partners ♥ suit and about 13 to 16 points
3♥	Support for Partners ♥ suit and about 17 to 18 points
4♥	Support for Partners ♥ suit and about 19 to 21 points
1♠	This denies support for Partners ♥ suit, shows four ♠ and a hand that can't force to game opposite a minimum from Partner.
2♠	This denies support for Partners ♥ suit, shows four ♠ and a hand that wants to game force opposite a minimum from Partner.
1NT	This denies support for Partners ♥ suit, denies having four ♠ and shows 13 or 14 HCP
2NT	This denies support for Partners ♥ suit, denies having four ♠ and shows 18 or 19 HCP

On all these hands you opened the bidding 1♦. Partner responded 1♥. What is your rebid?

Tip: You want to support Partner first, bid a four card ♠ suit next and rebid NT last.

Hand 1

♠AK75
♥42
♦AK762
♣AQ



Hand 2

♠KQ96
♥3
♦KQT9
♣KJ52



Hand 3

♠Q94
♥KT2
♦AQJ6
♣Q87



Hand 4

♠AT2
♥AJ9
♦QJ76
♣AQ2



Hand 5

♠AT
♥KJT7
♦KJ86
♣JT9



Hand 6

♠Q97
♥A43
♦AJT3
♣Q52



Hand 7

♠AT82
♥A84
♦KQJ4
♣52



Hand 8

♠QT76
♥5
♦AQ962
♣AQ7



Hand 9

♠QJT
♥AKJ
♦KJT9
♣KT8



Hand 10

♠AK8
♥A65
♦KJ72
♣QJ6



Hand 11

♠AQ9
♥K62
♦AKT3
♣K73



Hand 12

♠AJT
♥J432
♦AJ54
♣Q5



Hand 13

♠K82
♥842
♦KQ86
♣AJ8



Hand 14

♠KJ95
♥Q9
♦A9865
♣KJ



Hand 15

♠AQ95
♥A5
♦K9865
♣93



Hand 16

♠K94
♥KJ6
♦A987
♣QJ5



Hand 17

♠J4
♥AQJ9
♦QJ72
♣QT8



Hand 18

♠Q4
♥AKT3
♦QT86
♣AQJ



Hand 19

♠AJ2
♥QJ9
♦KQT2
♣KQJ



Hand 20

♠K96
♥AQT
♦AQT7
♣A86



Hand 21

♠K82
♥AQ3
♦KT64
♣AQ3



Hand 22

♠K86
♥KQ4
♦KQ82
♣AJT



Hand 23

♠AK5
♥J97
♦A862
♣Q84



Hand 24

♠Q74
♥QT8
♦KJ76
♣AJ2



Hand 25

♠AJ5
♥A74
♦KJT7
♣AJ2



Hand 26

♠Q6
♥K532
♦AT76
♣AKQ



Hand 27

♠AKJ3
♥KJ64
♦AT2
♣Q3



Hand 28

♠Q753
♥AQ
♦AQJ72
♣AJ



Hand 29

♠AJ54
♥Q2
♦AKT42
♣82



Hand 30

♠Q6
♥AQT3
♦AQT2
♣KJ3



Hand 31

♠K65
♥K97
♦AT82
♣K43



Hand 32

♠AJ
♥AQJT
♦QJ97
♣K97



Hand 33

♠KQT
♥A875
♦AT96
♣AJ



Hand 34

♠AQ52
♥AJ6
♦QJ964
♣2



Hand 35

♠A965
♥AQ5
♦J964
♣K8



Hand 36

♠AT3
♥KQ93
♦Q853
♣KT



Hand 37

♠Q4
♥AT63
♦A976
♣A93



Hand 38

♠T4
♥A976
♦AK98
♣QJ7



Hand 39

♠J3
♥AKT8
♦Q875
♣K85



Hand 40

♠AKJ3
♥T4
♦AK643
♣KQ



Hand 41

♠K65
♥AQ4
♦AK92
♣K54



Hand 42

♠KJ3
♥QJ75
♦AKT9
♣KJ



Hand 43

♠KT5
♥AJT
♦AT32
♣J63



Hand 44

♠AK3
♥QJ73
♦K763
♣82



Hand 45

♠KT6
♥KQ6
♦AKJ8
♣Q43



Hand 46

♠AKQ3
♥9
♦AK753
♣KQ2



Hand 47

♠AQJ8
♥KT2
♦AQJ97
♣A



Hand 48

♠J9
♥A872
♦AQ93
♣QJ9



Hand 49

♠KJT8
♥J
♦KQ874
♣A53



Hand 50

♠AKQ
♥K92
♦KJ83
♣QJ3



Hand 51

♠A753
♥AKQ
♦Q8763
♣6



Hand 52

♠A54
♥AK8
♦T432
♣K98



Hand 53

♠A64
♥953
♦KT74
♣AQ7



Hand 54

♠A62
♥AQJ4
♦Q876
♣93



Hand 55

♠K943
♥K82
♦A9752
♣A



Hand 56

♠J832
♥KT
♦AQJT2
♣AK



Hand 57

♠KQ7
♥QJ92
♦AQ96
♣84



Hand 58

♠AQJ5
♥5
♦QJ84
♣AQT6



Hand 59

♠Q83
♥AKJ8
♦A543
♣96



Hand 60

♠KT4
♥KQ3
♦AT74
♣QT2



Hand 61

♠984
♥AKT4
♦AQT8
♣AJ



Hand 62

♠A8
♥Q654
♦KQ94
♣K64



Hand 63

♠QJ3
♥AQJ
♦KQ73
♣QJ9



Hand 64

♠K96
♥QT64
♦AT52
♣A7



Hand 65

♠T6
♥AT84
♦K732
♣AQ9



Hand 66

♠AT4
♥AJ86
♦AKT3
♣Q6



Hand 67

♠AQJ2
♥J8
♦AQJT7
♣KQ



Hand 68

♠K83
♥A87
♦KQ92
♣Q74



Hand 69

♠AK65
♥A83
♦AT987
♣7



Hand 70

♠K8
♥AQ43
♦JT76
♣KT3



Hand 71

♠J64
♥A972
♦AKQ2
♣86



Hand 72

♠K85
♥AJ2
♦QT93
♣A98



Hand 73

♠QT4
♥J72
♦AK84
♣K87



Hand 74

♠QJ3
♥KQ5
♦KJ62
♣KQJ



Hand 75

♠A832
♥A64
♦KQJ86
♣3



Hand 76

♠A84
♥KT3
♦KJ62
♣QJ2



Hand 77

♠AJ72
♥A7
♦A652
♣J97



Hand 78

♠AKT3
♥43
♦AJT85
♣KQ



Hand 79

♠AJ4
♥Q95
♦QJ73
♣K94



Hand 80

♠AKJ8
♥KJ
♦AKJT7
♣72



Hand 81

♠QT96
♥KT2
♦AKJ3
♣72



Hand 82

♠Q95
♥KJ7
♦AKJ9
♣KJ5



Hand 83

♠AQ6
♥KQ9
♦A975
♣A62



Hand 84

♠KQJ4
♥KQ
♦KJT32
♣AJ



Hand 85

♠A432
♥Q86
♦KQJT
♣J5



Hand 86

♠AQT5
♥82
♦AK94
♣T96



Hand 87

♠KQ
♥KJ87
♦KQT8
♣A64



Hand 88

♠KJ
♥AQT7
♦AJ53
♣K95



Hand 89

♠Q73
♥AJ64
♦AKQ8
♣Q3



Hand 90

♠J9
♥KQJT
♦AKJT
♣QJ9



Hand 91

♠K5
♥6542
♦AQT9
♣A64



Hand 92

♠K74
♥KT3
♦AT64
♣QJ3



Hand 93

♠KJ
♥AK93
♦KJ72
♣QJ6



Hand 94

♠J632
♥T3
♦AKQ6
♣AT4



Hand 95

♠QJ2
♥AJ9
♦K753
♣AK5



Hand 96

♠Q654
♥95
♦AK73
♣A72



Hand 97

♠KJ
♥KT73
♦AK74
♣A62



Hand 98

♠AQ3
♥AQ8
♦KJ93
♣K32



Hand 99

♠K82
♥Q987
♦KJ64
♣KJ



Hand 100

♠T8
♥Q962
♦AQ97
♣AQ9

Balanced Hand Rebids -- Hands with Four Hearts

Check out this post first:
How to Show Balanced Hands

Rebidding 1NT or 2NT does not always deny having a four card major. In the previous post it did. In the previous post you opened 1♦ and Partner responded 1♥. Now when you rebid 1NT you deny having support for Partner's ♥ and you also deny having four ♠ simply because if you do have four ♠ you can tell Partner this at the SAME LEVEL. You can now bid 1♠.

This changes when you open 1♦ and Partner responds 1♠.

Now if you were to show a four card ♥ suit you would have to bid 2♥. This changes the level you are bidding at and therefore you MUST have a better hand for this. This bid is called a REVERSE and shows a big, distributional hand. We are not going to talk about reverses right now. However keep in mind that if you have a BALANCED hand with four ♥ and opened the bidding 1 of a minor, if Partner responds 1♠ you are NOT going to tell Partner about any four card ♥ suit you might have.

Why?

Well for one thing Partner could have said 1♥. Partner didn't. Partner went by the ♥ suit in order to bid 1♠. Partner probably doesn't have four ♥.

Does Partner deny having four ♥ when they bid 1♠?

No. Partner easily could have four or even five (or six!) ♥. But what do we know if Partner does? We know that Partner's ♠ are as LONG or LONGER than their ♥ suit.

Think about if. If Partner had this hand:

♠QJ98
♥AQ52
♦J9
♣KT4

They will respond 1♥ to your opening bid of 1♦. Remember you bid four card suits UP THE LINE. That means you bid the one that comes next in the auction. So after an opening bid of 1♦, the next possible suit to bid is ♥.

Once they respond 1♠, IF they have four ♥ in their hand they have LONGER ♠ -- something more like this:

♠QJ982
♥AQ52
♦KJ9
♣4

or this:

♠QJ982
♥AQT52
♦K9
♣4

This hand does not have longer ♠ BUT it is only FOUR card suits you bid up the line. With two FIVE cards suits you bid the HIGHEST RANKING one first. In this case ♠.

So if you respond 1NT do you think Partner wants to let you play in NT? No. They are unbalanced. They are going to rebid their other suit. In this case the ♥ suit. So over your 1NT bid they will rebid 3♥. This does several things:

It put's a game force on the auction. They jumped in a new suit to let you know they have values.

It let's you know they are distributional. If they were balanced they'd be happy playing in NT. They are unbalanced. They have at least one five (or more) card suit and at least one four (or more) card suit. They will bid their longest suit first. So in this case they have five ♠ and four ♥

Let's look at an example. You hold:

♠T2
♥AQT6
♦KJ93
♣KJ4

You open the bidding 1♦ and Partner responds 1♠. What will you bid?

The correct bid here is 1NT. You'd like to mention that ♥ suit I know. But remember PARTNER could have said 1♥. They didn't. They either DON'T have four ♥ in which case you don't have a ♥ fit anyhow OR they have at least FIVE ♠ and FOUR ♥ in which case they will take you out of your NT bid and suggest ♥.

So you bid 1NT here.

Now Partner jumps to 3♥!

Perfect! You can now raise to 4♥. You didn't miss your ♥ fit at all!

You try. On each of these hands you will open 1♦ and Partner will respond 1♠. What will you bid?

Hand 1

♠98
♥AQ52
♦AT93
♣KT4



Hand 2

♠64
♥AKT8
♦K984
♣KJ5



Hand 3

♠Q3
♥AQ32
♦AT83
♣AQ8



Hand 4

♠AQ
♥T943
♦KQ85
♣AK4



Hand 5

♠Q3
♥AJ92
♦AQ73
♣J76



Hand 6

♠63
♥KQ92
♦AQT4
♣AKT



Hand 7

♠72
♥K943
♦AKT7
♣KT5



Hand 8

♠J6
♥AQ83
♦A984
♣K76



Hand 9

♠KJ
♥KJ92
♦AQ52
♣KJ3



Hand 10

♠T82
♥J762
♦AQJ5
♣AQ



Hand 11

♠Q8
♥KQ95
♦AK62
♣A93



Hand 12

♠QT
♥KT93
♦AT86
♣AKQ



Hand 13

♠Q6
♥T975
♦AKQ2
♣Q75



Hand 14

♠A4
♥AK75
♦QJ86
♣AJ7



Hand 15

♠T4
♥J743
♦AQJ2
♣AJ8



Hand 16

♠A4
♥KJ72
♦A743
♣Q96



Hand 17

♠A6
♥AK43
♦AJ87
♣KT8



Hand 18

♠K6
♥AK87
♦AT62
♣KJ2



Hand 19

♠AJ
♥AJ74
♦AK73
♣Q42



Hand 20

♠K4
♥K864
♦K764
♣AJ3