Best Major
Opener | Responder |
---|---|
? |
- 1!c
- Strong. 15+ NT or 16+ unbal
- 1!d
- Multi. 11–16. 6+!h/!s or 5!h/!s, 4+!c!d or 5+!s-5+!h.
- Pass
- Possible. Doesn’t promise diamonds but usually have them.
- 1!h
- “Forcing NT” relay.
- 1!s
- 5+!s.
- Pass
- Possible, but opener could have max and shape.
- 1NT
- Relay. GF or “take-out”.
- 2!c!d
- Natural. Relay asks to pattern out.
- 2!h
- 7!s, 10–12. 2NT asks shortness.
- 2!s
- 6!s, 11–13. 2NT asks shortness.
- 2NT
- 6+!s and 4m, 15–16.
- 3!c
- Pass/correct.
- 3!d
- Relay.
- 3!h
- Clubs.
- 3!s
- Diamonds.
- 3!s
- To play.
- 3!c!d
- 6-5, nice hand. 3!h sets spades.
- 2!c!d
- Non-forcing.
- 2!h
- INV raise.
- 2!s
- Constructive raise.
- 2NT
- INV without support.
- 1NT
- 5+!h, 4+!d.
- 2!c
- INV+ relay.
- 2!d
- Minimum. 2!s asks to pattern out.
- 2!h
- Max. 2!s asks to pattern out.
- 2!d!h
- Preference.
- Other
- Natural, GF.
- 2!c
- 5+!h, 4+!c.
- 2!d
- INV+ relay.
- 2!h
- Minimum. 2!s asks to pattern out.
- 2!s+
- Maximum, patterns out.
- 2!h
- Preference.
- Other
- Natural, GF.
- 2!d
- At least 5-5 majors.
- 2!h!s
- To play.
- 2NT
- GF, asks shortness.
- 3!h!s
- INV.
- 4!h!s
- To play.
- 2!h
- 6+!h, 14–16. 2NT asks shortness.
- 2!s
- 6+!s, 14–16. 2NT asks shortness.
- 2NT
- 6+!h and 4m, 15–16.
- 3!c
- Pass/correct.
- 3!d
- Relay.
- 3!h
- Clubs.
- 3!s
- Diamonds.
- 3!h
- To play.
- 3!c!d
- 6-5 hearts and minor, nice hand. 3!s sets hearts.
- 3NT
- Solid or semi-solid spade suit (like 3NT opening).
- 1!s
- 5+!h, F1.
- 1NT
- 6+!s. No heart support.
- 2!c
- Constructive or slam try.
- 2!d
- Extras.
- 2!s
- Non-forcing, but constructive.
- Other
- GF.
- 2!h
- Minimum, 2!h.
- 2!s
- Minimum. 0–1!h.
- 2NT
- Max, 6-4 hand type.
- 3!c!d!h
- Max + shortness.
- 2!d
- Spades game INV.
- 2!h
- Weak.
- 2!s
- To play.
- 2!c!d
- 5+!s, 4+m. No heart support.
- 2!h
- 3!h, min.
- 2NT
- 3!h, max.
- 3!c!d
- Usually 6-5. Spades + minor.
- 3!h
- I have 5!h but minimum.
- 3NT
- Solid or semi-solid spades, like 3NT opening.
- Higher
- 5!h + shortness. Note that 3!s shows shortness!
- 1NT
- 5+!s, F1.
- 2!c!d
- 5+!h, 4+m. No spade support.
- 2!h
- 6+!h, 14–16. No spade support.
- 2!s
- 3!s, min.
- 2NT
- 3!s, max.
- 3!c!d
- Usually 6-5. Hearts + minor.
- 3!h
- Max, 7+!h.
- 3!s
- I have 5!s, but minimum.
- Higher
- 5!s + shortness.
- 2!c!d
- Constructive but non-forcing.
- 2!h
- Pass/correct. Usually 2+ cards in both majors.
- 2!s
- GI with 3+ majors. Not forcing.
- 2NT
- GF with 6+!c. Doesn’t want to relay.
- 3!c
- 8+ fit.
- 3!h!s
- Good 6+ suit. Could have support.
- 3NT
- No fit.
- 3!c
- GF with 6+!d. Doesn’t want to relay.
- 3!d
- 8+ fit.
- 3!h!s
- Good 6+ suit. Could have support.
- 3NT
- No fit.
- 3!d
- COG with 2+ both majors.
- 3!h!s
- Five card suit.
- 3NT
- Slam interest with 6+ major.
- 4!c
- 6+!h. Wants responder to declare.
- 4!d
- Last Train.
- 4!d
- 6+!s. Wants responder to declare.
- 4!h
- Last Train.
- 4!h!s
- To play.
- 3!h!s
- Pass/correct.
- 3NT
- To play.
- 4!c
- Transfer to your major.
- 4!d
- Bid your major.
- 1!h
- 11–14 NT with 3–4!h or 4!h unbal, 11–16.
- 1!s
- Natural, F1.
- 1NT
- 11–14 NT. XY checkback.
- 2!c!d
- Canapé.
- 2!h
- Unbalanced raise.
- 2NT
- Relay.
- 3!c!d
- Natural min.
- 3!h
- Max with clubs.
- 3!s
- Max with diamonds.
- 2!s
- Balanced raise.
- 2NT
- 5+ support.
- 3!c!d
- 6+m and 4!h, max.
- 1NT
- Natural, NF.
- Pass
- The balanced hand.
- 2!c!d
- Canapé.
- 2!h
- Spades canapé.
- 2!s
- 6+!s and 4!h, extras.
- 3!c!d
- 6+m and 4!h, max.
- 2!c
- Relay, could be INV vs balanced hand.
- 2!d
- 5+!c or any 5440.
- 2!h
- Relay.
- 2!s
- 5440.
- 2NT
- Relay.
- 3!c
- Void clubs.
- 3!d
- Relay.
- 3!h
- 5!d
- 3!s
- 5!s
- 3!d
- Void diamonds, 5!c.
- 3!h
- Void diamonds, 5!s.
- 3!s
- Void spades, 5!c.
- 3NT
- Void spades, 5!d.
- 2NT+
- 5+!c, patterns out.
- 2!h
- 5+!d. 2!s asks to pattern out.
- 2!s
- Balanced hand.
- 2NT
- INV.
- 3X
- Can you support this suit?
- 3NT
- To play.
- 2NT+
- 5+!s, pattern out.
- 2!d
- 4+ raise, INV+.
- 2!h
- Minimum, usually balanced.
- 2!s
- Canapé.
- 2NT
- Max balanced with 3!h.
- 3!c!d
- Canapé.
- 3!h
- Max balanced with 4!h.
- 2!h
- 4+ raise, simple raise. New suit canapé and max.
- 2!s
- INV.
- 2NT
- GF with 5+!h and some shortness.
- 3!c!d
- INV.
- 3!h
- Limit raise with 5!h.
- 1!s
- 11–14 NT with 3–4!s or 4!s unbal, 11–16.
- 1NT
- Natural NF.
- Pass
- The balanced hand.
- 2!c!d!h
- Canapé.
- 3!c!d!h
- 6+ suit and 4!s, max.
- 2!c
Relay, could be INV vs balanced hand.
Same principles as after 1!h–2!c.
- 2!d
- Weak/GF with 6+!h or INV+ with 5!h.
- 2!h
- The normal bid, may have heart void!
- 2!s
- Waiting, GF.
- 2NT
- INV with 5!h.
- Higher
- Natural GF. 3!s shows four card support.
- 2NT
- Super-accept, usually 5431.
- 3!c!d
- Good 6+m and 4!s, max.
- 2!h
- 4+ raise, INV+.
- 2!s
- Minimum, usually balanced.
- 2NT
- Max balanced with 3!s.
- 3!c!d!h
- Canapé.
- 3!s
- Max balanced with 4!s.
- 2!s
- 4+ raise, simple raise. New suit canapé and max.
- 2NT
- GF with 5+!s and some shortness.
- 3!c!d!h
- INV.
- 3!s
- Limit raise with 5!s.
- 1NT
- 10–14 NT with five card major.
- 2!c
- Asks suit and strength.
- 2!d
- Min !h. New suit natural GF.
- 2!h
- Min !s. New suit natural GF.
- 2!s
- Max !h. New suit natural GF.
- 2NT
- Max !s. New suit natural GF.
- 2!d
- I have a 5+ major.
- 2!h!s
- I guess this is your major.
- Pass
- Correct, and I have a weak hand.
- 2NT
- Correct, and I like to INV game.
- 3!c
- Correct, and I have a five card minor.
- 3!d
- Which is it?
- 3!h
- Clubs.
- 3!s
- Diamonds.
- 3!d
- Wrong! We should at least play game.
- 3!h
- Relay.
- New
- Shortness.
- 3NT
- Cue bid time!
- 4M
- To play.
- 3M
- Correct, and I like to INV game.
- 3OM
- Wrong! I like to play here because I’m broke.
- 3NT
- Correct, and this is a COG.
- 4!c!d
- Correct, this is a splinter.
- 4OM
- Correct, this is a splinter.
- 4M
- Correct, this is to play.
- 2!h
- Pass/correct.
- 2!s
- Transfer to clubs. Bid it if you like it.
- 2NT
- Transfer to diamonds. Bid it if you like it.
- 3!c
- GF 5-5 minors.
- 3!d
- INV with support for both majors.
- 3!h!s
- Splinter, 3OM and 5-4 minors.
- 3NT
- To play.
- 4!c
- Transfer to your suit.
- 4!d
- Bid your suit.
- 4!h!s
- To play.
- 2!c
- 6+!c or 5!c and 4!d, 11–15. No major.
- 2!d
- 6+!d or 5!d and 4!c, 11–15. No major.
- 2!h
- 6(+)!h, 10–13.
- 2!s
- Weak.
- 2NT
- 12–15, 5-5 minors
- 3X
- Preempt, 6+ suit.
- 3NT
- Solid or semi-solid heart suit, 8–9 playing tricks.
- 4!c
- RKC.
- 4!d
- Slam try.
- 4!h
- To play.
- 4X
- Preempt.
- 4NT
- Preempt, both minors. Like 6-6, 7-5 or possibly 6-5. Not 6520.