Minor Suit Bidding Principals
Rev:
06-30-99
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The
basic approach in SAYC and 2/1 is to investigate for game with the following
priorities:
-
Look for “golden fit” for game in a major suit.
-
If no “golden fit”, look for game in no trumps.
-
If no “golden fit” or apparent no-trump stoppers, look for game in a minor suit.
When a
minor suit fit has been found and enough points for at least a four-level
contract, the goal of the partnership is to explore for a 3NT contract rather
than playing at four or five of a minor. Of course if minor-suit slam
possibilities are evident early-on, exploring for a no-trump contract may be
bypassed.
Using
“Stopper” Bids To Explore For 3NT
When a
minor suit fit has been found, the partnership should explore for a 3NT contract
rather than settling for a game or partial contract in the minor. The way to do
this is to use “stopper” bids.
A
stopper bid is used when the partnership has a minor-suit fit and point count
for at least a:
 |
Four-level
minor suit contract, OR |
|
3NT
contract. |
Making
A Stopper-Showing Bid
[ 1H
Pass 2C
Pass ]
; [ 3C Pass 3S.....With the club fit and enough points for at least a 4C
contract, 3S is a bid showing a stopper in the spade suit. The critical suit
is diamonds. (If responder had both spades and diamonds stopped he would not
make a stopper bid but rather bid 3NT)
Bidding
Principles After A Stopper-Showing Bid
|
If a
partner has a stopper in the missing suit, partner is expected to bid 3NT unless
strong enough to bid for slam.
| ||||||||
|
A
reversion to four of the agreed minor suit says: “I have no stopper in the
critical suit and I have two or more losers in that suit”. | ||||||||
|
A jump
to five of the agreed minor says: “I have no stopper in the critical suit but
I do have a singleton there”. | ||||||||
|
A bid at
the four level in the critical suit shows a void in that suit. This is
essentially a cue-bid.
|
Example:
[ 1H
Pass 2C
Pass ]
; [ 3C Pass 3S
Pass ] ; [??……Clubs is the agreed minor suit, 3S is a “stopper bid”
(spades are stopped) and diamonds is then identified as the “critical suit”.
Opener’s possible rebids have the following meanings:
|
3NT = |
At least one stopper in the “critical
suit”, diamonds. |
|
4C = |
No stopper in diamonds and no
shortage (singleton or void) in diamonds. |
|
5C = |
No stopper but a singleton in
diamonds. |
|
4D = |
Void in diamonds. This is
essentially a cue-bid. Partner’s 5C rebid would be a sign-off. Any other suit
rebid by partner would be a cue-bid. 4NT rebid by partner would be Blackwood.
5NT rebid by partner would be a “trump ask”. |
|
4H = |
No stopper in diamonds but an
excellent 5-card heart suit, prepared to play in 4H opposite a doubleton. |
|
4S = |
A 3-card holding in spades, a
singleton diamond and prepared to play in 4S on a 4-3 fit if responder wishes. |