Sometimes you do not find a fit as soon as partner opens, so you have to work a little. In response to the opening bid, bid a new suit to try to find a fit.
There is no upper limit and no requirement for suit quality. Do not worry, your partner must not pass and knows it.
Learn more: must not pass
These bids are called “forcing”: they require partner to bid, unlike “non-forcing” bids, which partner may pass.
Let us look at a few examples!
For example, imagine that you hold this hand opposite an opening bid of 1♦ :
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♦ | Pass | 1♥ |
Yes, bid 1♥ even though the Hearts are poor
Partner opens 1♣. With this hand, which response do you choose?
Section quizYou opened 1♦. Partner responds 1♥ and the opponents pass. You have only three Hearts but four Spades. Which rebid continues to look for a major-suit fit?
Section quiz| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♦ | Pass | 1♥ | Pass |
Learn more: 13 to 16, 17 to 19, and 20 to 22 total points
, “17 to 19 total points,” “20 to 22 total points”]
- 13 to 16 total points is roughly 12 to 14 HCP
- 17 to 19 total points is roughly 15 to 17 HCP
- 20 to 22 total points is roughly 18 to 19 HCP
Another example, where this time you are responding to a 1♠ opening bid:
North’s hand
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♠ | Pass | 2♣ |
You have the required strength (at least 11 HCP).
What about other cases?
Look what happens if I weaken the last hand I gave you a little:
North’s hand
| South | West | North | East |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1♠ | Pass | 1NT |
When you have enough to respond (at least 5 HCP) but not enough to bid your long suit (at least 11 HCP are needed to bid 2♣), you respond 1NT. You can see why it is called the “dustbin 1NT”: you can hold almost anything!
Partner opens 1♠. You hold this hand. Which response do you choose in the system taught here?
Section quizPartner opened 1♥. You hold three small Hearts. What is the minimum number of Hearts you know your partnership has?
ReviewNow play as much as possible—that is how you will become an expert: