Glasnevin Bridge Club

1 Level Major Openings
Promise 5+ cards in the bid Major and 7 or fewer losers.

Responses Available (assuming opener’s LHO passes)
  • Pass - 0-5 points i.e. 11+ losers. Does not deny support. With support and 10 losers, upgrade and make a single raise.

Bids Denying Secondary (i.e. 3 Card) Support
  • 1NT - Denies 3 card support, denies 4+ spades over 1H, promises 6-9 points, does not necessarily promise a balanced hand nor does it promise a stopper if they have bid. It is not therefore a true NT bid but rather a dustbin bid showing 6-9 points with nothing better to say. It is a limit bid and therefore non-forcing.
  • Change Suit at the 1 level i.e. 1S over 1H. Promises 4+ spades and 6+ points. Unlimited so forcing.
  • Change Suit at the 2 level i.e. 2 over 1 response. Promises 4+ of the bid suit and 10+ points. Unlimited so forcing. Note that uniquely, a bid of 2H over 1S promises 5+ hearts as well as 10+ points because it uses up so much bidding space.
  • Single Jump Shift is weak.
  • 3NT is natural, promising; 13-15 points, balanced shape, denying 3 card support except possibly with a 4333 shape. Limited so non-forcing.

Bids Showing Secondary Support (Hearts used in examples, Spades analogous)
  • Single Raise (1H-2H) – 3+ hearts and 9-10 losers
  • Jump Raise (1H-3H) – 3+ hearts and 8 losers
  • Delayed Game Raise (1H-2x-2/3y-4H) – 3 hearts exactly and game values. Slam possible.

Bids Showing Primary Support (i.e. 4+ card support)
  • Pre-emptive Raise (1H-4H) – 4+ hearts but weak. Denies slam interest. Non-forcing and opener is expected to pass.
  • Jacoby 2NT (1H-2NT) – 4+ hearts, game values and possible slam. Game-forcing.
  • Splinters (double jump shift i.e. 1H-3S or 1H-4C/D) – Usually 4+ hearts (but could be 3 with 2 top honours) and a feature (i.e. singleton or void) in the bid suit. Game-forcing.

If opener’s LHO intervenes
  • Single raise is unaffected.
  • Jacoby 2NT is off and a 2NT bid now reverts to its natural meaning, showing 10-12 points and a balanced shape. Limited so non forcing.
  • A cue bid e.g. 1H-(2C)-3C, which is of course forcing, now becomes available and is used to describe all hands with secondary or better support and 8 or fewer losers, therefore;
  • A jump raise i.e. 1H-(2C)-3H now becomes pre-emptive showing a weak hand with support. Opener will usually pass.
  • A double jump raise i.e. 1H-(2C)-4H remains pre-emptive but is more shapely. Again, opener will usually pass.

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