Minor Suit Openings

Often called a ”Convenient Minor” or “Short Club”, Open 1 of a Minor with  4 cards in Clubs or Diamonds and 12 HCP. (High Card Points)

Open the minor with the most cards.  If equal, open Diamonds first.  If later you bid Clubs your partner know you have either the same number of cards in each suit or more Diamonds than Clubs.  You are not required to have 4 Diamonds to open Diamonds.  This would be “Partnership Agreement” but is not an official bidding requirement.  (Don’t believe everything you hear at the Bridge table.)*

Best Bridge Contracts:  Major Suit – No Trump – Minor Suit

Game in a Minor needs 28 HCP. (Distribution points are another lesson.) 

No Trump Responses to a Minor Suit Opening

0 – 5 HCP pass.  If you have cards in the bid minor your partner will be OK at the one level.  No need to raise to 2.  For game your partner would need to have at least 23 points.  They would have not bid 1 of the minor what a “monster” hand.

6 – 10 HCP bid 1 NT.  Deny a 4 card major and limit your hand.

11 – 12 HCP bid 2 NT.  Deny a 4 card major and limit your hand.

13+ HCP bid 3 NT.  (We will talk about “monster” hands later}

Openers Response

1 NT Pass

2 NT – Pass with 12.  With extra bid 3 NT

3 NT – Pass.  We will talk about the “monster” bids later.

Responded passes.  They have told their story.

Practice Bidding

Opener rebid after a No Trump Response.