Modern bidding systems often require 5+ cards to open in a major. This is somewhat conventional because usually a 4-card suit is biddable in bridge, but this greatly improves search of 5-3 and 6-2 major fits.
Although minor openings are lower and more frequent, major openings are explained first because
- Major openings are more symmetric where both require 5+ cards.
- There are fewer mediocre exceptional bids which are difficult for beginners.
- Some conventions designed for majors can also apply to minors.
Opening a major at the last 2 seats requires only 11+ HCP and 5+ cards.
Nevertheless, a weak 2 can be made with only 5 cards at a non-unfavorable 3rd seat. This phenomenon excludes Drury from the Wbridge5 bidding system because major openings at the 3rd seat are seldom light.
- 1♠
- 6~16 points, 4+ cards.
- 1NT
- Semiforcing dustbin 1NT, 6~11 HCP without another suitable call.
- 2♣, 2♦
- 2/1, 12+ points, 4+ cards.
- 2♥
- Simple raise, 6~10 points, 3+ support.
- 2♠
- Strong jump shift, 17+ points, 4+ cards.
- 2NT!
- Special 2NT, 11~16 points, 3+ support, 2+ cards in each suit.
- 3♣!
- Bergen raise, mixed raise, 9~10 points, 4+ support.
- 3♦!
- Bergen raise, limit raise, 11~12 points, 4+ support.
- 3♥!
- Bergen raise, preemptive raise, 6~8 points, 4+ support.
- 3NT!
- Serious 3NT, 16~19 points, 4+ support, 2+ cards in each suit.
- 3♠!, 4♣!, 4♦!
- Splinter, 12~16 points, 0~1 card, 4+ support.
- 4♥!
- Preemptive raise, at most 8− HCP, 4+ support. Strength depends on vulnerability.
Responses from a passed responder are no longer forcing because the previous pass has limited the strength. Some conventions are cancelled to make these bids passable.
- 2♣, 2♦
- 11~12 points, 5+ cards.
- 2♠!, 3♣!, 3♦!
- Fit-showing, 11~12 points, 5+ cards, 3+ support.
- 3♥
- Limit raise, 11~12 points, 3+ support, some singleton or void.
- 1NT
- Semiforcing dustbin 1NT, 6~11 HCP without another suitable call.
- 2♣, 2♦
- 2/1, 12+ points, 4+ cards.
- 2♥
- 2/1, 12+ points, 5+ cards.
- 2♠
- Simple raise, 6~10 points, 3+ support.
- 2NT!
- Special 2NT, 11~16 points, 3+ support, 2+ cards in each suit.
- 3♣!
- Bergen raise, mixed raise, 9~10 points, 4+ support.
- 3♦!
- Bergen raise, limit raise, 11~12 points, 4+ support.
- 3♥
- Strong jump shift, 17+ points, 4+ cards.
- 3♠!
- Bergen raise, preemptive raise, 6~8 points, 4+ support.
- 3NT!
- Serious 3NT, 16~19 points, 4+ support, 2+ cards in each suit.
- 4♣!, 4♦!, 4♥!
- Splinter, 12~16 points, 0~1 card, 4+ support.
- 4♠!
- Preemptive raise, at most 8− HCP, 4+ support. Strength depends on vulnerability.
Responses from a passed responder are no longer forcing because the previous pass has limited the strength. Some conventions are cancelled to make these bids passable.
- 2♣, 2♦, 2♥
- 11~12 points, 5+ cards.
- 3♣!, 3♦!, 3♥!
- Fit-showing, 11~12 points, 5+ cards, 3+ support.
- 3♠
- Limit raise, 11~12 points, 3+ support, some singleton or void.
Such raise directly jumps to game, showing at most 8− HCP and 4+ support. Its minimum strength is determined by vulnerability.
- Unfavorable
- 10+ points
- Both vulnerable
- 9+ points
- None vulnerable
- 8+ points
- Favorable
- 7+ points
The 12 points are intentionally duplicated in this table. It is difficult to find clear-cut game-forcing hands with only points.
With a flat hand, 3-card support, and 6 or 11 HCP, bid 1NT for better continuations.
| 3-card support | 4+-card support | |
|---|---|---|
| 6~8 points | 2M, 1NT | 4M, 3M, 2M |
| 9~10 points | 2M | 4M, 3♣ |
| 11~12 points | 2NT, 1NT, 2M | 4M, 3♦ |
| 12~16 points | 2NT, 2/1 | 2NT, Splinter |
| 16~19 points | SJS, 2/1 | 3NT, SJS, 2/1 |
| 20+ points | SJS, 2/1 |
- Choose the longest suit.
- To break a tie, bid the cheapest call for 4-4, the highest suit for 5-5 or above.
In the following examples, your partner opened 1♥ and you have not passed.
- ♠9872 ♥A ♦65 ♣A76532
- Bid 1♠. This hand is too weak to bid 2♣.
- ♠J52 ♥AK ♦K983 ♣K874
- Bid 2♣. Bid the cheapest call for 4-4.
- ♠KJ10 ♥- ♦K10876 ♣K8764
- Bid 2♦. Bid the highest suit for 5-5.
- ♠K10543 ♥2 ♦J6 ♣AKQ62
- Bid 1♠. Bid the highest suit for 5-5.
- ♠AK8 ♥AJ86 ♦A83 ♣A86
- Bid 2♣. This hand is too strong for 3NT. Feel free to lie about a minor with a blockbuster.
The special 2NT shows
- Limit raise or better without slam interest (11~16 points, 3+ support).
- Somewhat balanced (2+ cards in every suit).
If responder has passed, this 2NT bid has given enough information for opener to sign off.
If responder has not passed yet, this 2NT bid is a puppet forcing opener to bid an artificial relay 3♣. Responder shows support and strength in the second round.
The 3♥ response is also forcing to game because Bergen 3♦ already takes care of invitational hands.
- 3♦!
- Minimum short, invitational+, 11~14 points, 3-card support
- 3♥!
- Minimum long, forcing to game, 12~14 points, 4+-card support
- 3♠!
- Maximum long, forcing to game, 14~16 points, 4+-card support
- 3NT!
- Maximum short, forcing to game, 14~16 points, 3-card support
This convention seems to be invented by Wbridge5. I guess that this is an improvement from Jacoby 2NT. This convention greatly improves 2/1 structure of Wbridge5.
- Special 2NT handles 3-card limit raise, freeing dustbin 1NT from forcing.
- Jacoby 2NT fits into special 2NT and serious 3NT, leaving no burden for other bids.
- Responder shows. Opener relays, hiding information from opponents.