Lesson 5(c) - Responses when the opening bid is one of a suit

Responding to opener's one of a suit opening with no fit

With 6 or more HCP responder must reply to an opening one of a suit bid by partner. Why? Because opener may have up to 21HCP and thus game is still a possibility.

Without a fit, responder is now limited to one of the two following options: 
to shift (= introduce a new 4-card or longer suit)  OR   to bid notrumps

Strength requirements for shifts are:

A simple shift at the one level promises 6‑15 TP  
e.g. 1♥ - 1♠

A simple shift at the two level promises a little more, 10‑15 TP
e.g. 1♠ - 2♣

A jump shift promises 16+ TP
e.g. 1♥ - 2♠   or   1♠ - 3♣

A simple shift is (1RF) forcing for one round & opener must bid again.

A jump shift is forcing to game (GF) and so neither partner can stop bidding until game is reached.

Strength shown by a notrump response:

1NT          6‑10 HCP any shape
2NT        12-15 balanced
3NT        16-17 HCP balanced

A 1NT response is non-forcing and thus may be passed by opener.

A 2NT response is game-forcing since it promises 12-15 HCP,& leaves room below game for further exploration. (Some people learn that it is only invitational – 11-12.  Neither is right or wrong, a matter of partnership agreement.)

Which suit do you shift to?

When shifting, responder generally bids

• the longest suit
• or the higher ranked of two five- or six-card suits,
• or the cheapest suit with two or three four-card suits.

However, the rule that responder is not permitted to shift at the two-level with fewer than 10 points takes priority and may restrict responder's choice of bid.

With 6‑9 HCP responder will thus not be permitted to bid the longest suit if it is lower in rank than opener's.   To do so would require bidding at the two level.   Responder will have to either:

1. bid at the one level in a shorter suit of at least four cards
   e.g. After 1♥ bid 1♠ and definitely NOT 2♣ with ♠Kxxx  ♥xx  ♦x  ♣KJxxxx
2. bid 1 NT if no higher-ranked four-card or longer suit can be bid at the one level. Thus the 1NT response need not be a balanced hand.  It is often a way of saying that you have a hand too good to pass, but only just.
   e.g. After 1♥/♠ bid 1NT, much as you hate it, with   ♠x  ♥Jx  ♦KJxxxx  ♣Qxxx

With 12-15 HCP responder bids 2NT only with a balanced hand that does not contain a 4+-card major biddable at the one level (or 5 hearts biddable over 1♠).

The same restriction applies to a 3NT response with 16-17 HCP.
e.g. After 1♦ bid 2NT with
♠Kx  ♥QJx  ♦KJxx  ♣Axxx

and bid 3NT with
♠AQx  ♥KQx  ♦ATxx  ♣Qxx

but bid 1♥ with
♠Kx ♥KJxx  ♦Kxx  ♣Axxx

Responding to one of a major with no fit

Do you shift or bid notrumps?  Study the options below, set out in order of preference.

With 0‑5 HCP   Pass - your hand is too weak.

With 6‑9 HCP  You must reply but your hand is too weak to bid a new suit at the two level.

• Bid 1♠  over 1♥ with 4+ spades
  e.g. with ♠Kxxx  ♥xx  ♦Axxxxx  ♣x

• Bid 1NT otherwise
  e.g. with ♠xx ♥Jx ♦Kxxxxx ♣Axx

With 10+ HCP  You are now strong enough to bid your longest suit at the two level if need be, although the one level is fine.

• With a balanced 13-15 bid 2NT and with a balanced 16-17 bid 3NT unless you can bid 1♠ over 1♥ with 4+ spades.
  e.g. Over 1♥
  bid 2NT with
  ♠KQx ♥Kx  ♦Axxxx ♣Qxx  but
  
  bid 1♠ with
  ♠KQxx  ♥Kx  ♦Axxx  ♣Qxx

• Bid your longest suit, your higher-ranked of two five-card or six-card suits, or your cheapest bid with the other three four-card suits.
  e.g. Over 1♠
  bid 2♦ with
  ♠Jx  ♥x  ♦Axxxx  ♣KQJxx
  
  and 2♣ with
  ♠x  ♥AQxx  ♦Qxxx  ♣KJxx
  
  and 2♦ with
  ♠xx  ♥KQJx  ♦AKJxx  ♣xx

With 16 or more TP

Jump shift to show partner that you have at least 16 TP unless you hold a balanced 16-17 suitable for a 3NT response.

Show your own long suit, or suit fit with partner, or balanced hand next time after opener's rebid.

e.g. Over 1♥ bid 3♣ with your 18 TP and

♠Kxx ♥AJxx ♦x ♣AQJxx   You will support hearts next time.

Or jump to 2♠ with

♠AQJTxx  ♥A  ♦Kxx  ♣Axx    and rebid spades the next time.

Or jump to 2♠ with

♠AKJxx  ♥Kx  ♦KQx  ♣Qxx     and rebid notrumps the next time.