By Peter Rhead
Examples of responses to new suit by responder
Last week we reviewed your responses to partner’s bid of a new suit. You open and partner responds with a new suit. You have a minimum hand. Can you PASS? No! A new suit by responder is always forcing for one more round of bidding.
This week we have examples of your hands. You consider which response to use.
Case 1:
Spades xx
Hearts AQxxx
Diamonds AKx
Clubs xxx
Case 1: You open One Heart. Partner responds One Spade. You know little about the value of partner’s hand. Its unlimited value could range from 6-21 points for his bid of One Spade. Therefore you are forced to bid again even with your minimum opening hand. A bid of One No-Trump or Two Hearts would be my choice to bid your minimum hand.
Case 2:
Spades AKxxx
Hearts AQx
Diamonds KJxx
Clubs x
Case 2: You open One Spade. Partner bids 1NT showing 6-9 points and no particular suit. You want to check for a possible game (18+8). A new suit by you is forcing for one round. Bid Two Diamonds (lie in a minor if you must lie). Partner cannot PASS your new suit. Partner now knows to take the contract to game if he is at his maximum range (8-9 points).
Case 3:
Spades K
Hearts Kxx
Diamonds xxxx
Clubs AQxxx
Case 3: You open One Club. Partner responds One Diamond. You have a poor opening hand with only thirteen points including one length point. But you are forced to bid in response to partner’s bid of a new suit. Your bid of 1NT tells partner you have a bare minimum and nothing more to say.
Next Week: More Examples of responses to a forcing bid.
If you wish to promote an activity in your Bridge group or ask a Bridge question, send the information to vrhead23@gmail.com and I will try to include it in this column.
Looking for more bridge tips? You’ll find them here.
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