1 of a Major opening

1. 1 of a Major opening Review and intro to competitive bidding

2. What does 1 of a Major mean • 1 Major (1♥ or 1♠) opening shows • 12 to 21 high card points • 5 cards in the bid suit • E.g.: S AQTxx, H Q9x, D KQx, C xx : open 1♠ • With 5 cards in both majors, open 1♠, irrespective of relative suit quality • With 6 ♥ and 5 ♠ also, prefer to open 1♠ and rebid 2♥, unless you have 17+ hcp

3. Responses • Pass = <6 hcp, but with 5 hcp and 4 card support, prefer to raise • Raises = show 3 card support, limited and non-forcing • 2M = 6-9, 3M = 10-12, 4M = 13-15 • NT bids = limited, non-forcing, deny support • 1N = 6-9, 2N = 10-12, 3N = 13-15 • New suit = unlimited and forcing • 1 level = 6+ hcp, 2 level = 10+ hcp

4. Rebids by opener • After a raise • Invite game by re-raising or by bidding NT • Bid a new suit to ask for help and invite game • Bid game • After a NT bid • Invite or bid game • Rebid suit with extra length (jump with extra hcp) • Bid a new suit (jump with 17+ hcp) • After a new suit bid • Rebid suit with extra length (jump with extra hcp) • Bid a new suit, showing 4+ cards (jump with 17+ hcp) • Bid NT (jump bids show higher range) • Raise partner’s suit with support (jump with extra hcp)

5. Examples • S xx H KQ8xx D AQx C Kx : You open 1H • Pd bids 1S : You rebid 1N • Pd bids 2C : You rebid 2N • Pd bids 2H : You pass • Pd bids 3H : Bid 4H • Pd bids 1N : You pass • Pd bids 2N : Raise to 3N • S Ax H KQ8xx D AQx C Kx : You open 1H • Pd bids 1S : You rebid 2N • Pd bids 2C : You rebid 3N • Pd bids 2H : You bid 4H • Pd bids 3H : Bid 4H • Pd bids 1N : You bid 2N, inviting game and showing 18-19 • Pd bids 2N : Raise to 3N • Pd bids 3N : Raise to 4N, inviting slam

6. Examples • S K9xxx H KJ8x D AQx C x : You open 1S • Pd bids 1N : You rebid 2H • Pd bids 2C/2D : You rebid 2H • Pd bids 2H : You raise to 4H • Pd bids 3H : Bid 4H • Pd bids 2S : You pass • Pd bids 3S : Raise to 4 • S KQx H AQxxx D x C Kxxx : You open 1H • Pd bids 1S : You rebid 2C • Pd bids 2C : You bid 3C • Pd bids 2H : You bid 3C, asking for help in clubs • Pd bids 3H : Bid 4H • Pd bids 1N : You bid 2C • Pd bids 2N : Raise to 3N, pd will usually stop diamonds • Pd bids 3N : Be happy to play there

7. Rebids by responder • At her 2nd turn, responder will have a better idea of opener’s strength and shape • Responder will do one of the following • Bid or invite game in major suit • Bid or invite game in NT • Correct to a better part-score • 1H – 1N – 2C – 2H (preference with 2 cards) • *Force to game with 4th suit • S AKxx H xx D xxx C AQJx • 1H – 1S – 2C - ?

8. Competitive bidding by responder • Partner opens 1H, RHO bids 2C. Now what? • Raises = As before, except perhaps with fewer hcp • NT bids = As before, promise stopper • New suit = 5+ cards, 10+ hcp • What do you do with S AKxx H xx D AQxx C xxx • Make a negative double: promises strength but no suit to bid. Usually 4 cards in unbid major suit • Opener should only pass with length and strength in opponent’s suit • 1 lvl dbl = 6+ hcp, 2 lvl dbl = 10+ hcp, 3 lvl = 12+

9. Competitive bidding by responder • Double of 1N overcall is for penalty • After a take-out double • Raises = As before • XX = 10+ hcp, denies support • NT bids = As before, but should stop the other major at-least • New suit bids = 5+ cards, but with not too many hcp (start with XX with strong hands)