Trial bids by Paul Bowyer

This series is all about bidding on after partner has raised your major suit.

Let's set the scene. You open 1♠ and partner raises to 2♠. You may have an intermediate hand now, not enough strength to advance to 4♠ but too good to Pass. How can you pass the buck to partner?

You may think of bidding 3♠ but this carries no information over to the other side of the table. On what basis would partner now bid 4♠ and on what hands would he back out and Pass?

It is better to play that bids in a new suit are trial bids. They generally show length in that suit and ask partner for help. Partner only has two choices - he can revert back to three of the major (a sign-off) or he could bid game in the major. Of course, he may not Pass your trial bid - as a partnership you are committed to playing in your major (occasionally 3NT, although such occasions are rare).