Help-Suit Game Try

Rev: January 26, 1999

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You open one in a major, partner raises, you now respond with a new suit.

[ 1S  Pass  2S  Pass ] : [3C.....You are telling partner, “I am trying for game, I know you hold 3 or 4 trumps (unless playing Bergen, then only 3 trumps) and have 7 - 10 support points; if you have a close decision, look at your club holding – that’s where I need help”.

Your hand along with partner’s response of two in your major suit shows that the partnership has a marginal chance at game. If partner has more than a dead-minimum and can “help” in the second-bid suit with either shortness or a couple of high honors, he carries on to game. Otherwise he signs off at the three level.

Examples:

[ 1S  Pass  2S  Pass ] : [ 3C.....help-suit game try

Partner responds as follows:

Note: May be used in competition if the help-suit bid allows the responder to rebid opener’s suit at the three-level.