Bidding Quiz: Raising Responder's Suit by David

A: 2♠. It's an easy first question. You have found an 8-card trump fit, so you are clearly going to raise partner's suit.

Your hand is close to a minimum opening bid, so you make the minimum raise, to 2♠.

Your result so far:

A: 3♦. You are too strong to raise to 2♥. The singleton diamond is a powerful asset because it may allow partner to ruff diamond losers in your hand.

You are worth a raise to 3♥, but a more accurate rebid is available. Since 2♦ (a reverse) would be natural and forcing (also unlimited), the rebid of 3♦ is used as a splinter bid. In other words, it shows a raise to 3♥ including a singleton diamond. What a great description!

Your result so far:

A: 3♠. You are clearly too good for 2♠. With only five losers in your hand, you might consider rebidding 4♠. That's too much, with just 16 HCP and no singleton.

A rebid of 3♠ shows good values and partner will go to 4♠ with the slightest excuse.


Your result so far:

A: 4♣. You have a great hand. Only five losers, a splendid diamond suit, and a singleton club. You are worth a raise to 4♥, but it is more accurate to make a splinter bid of 4♣.

Note that 3♣ is not available to show this hand type because it would be a natural (and very strong) bid.

Your result so far:

A: 2♠. In olden days, this sort of bid promised 4-card trump support. Times move on! A huge majority of top players judge nowadays that 2♠ is easily best.

If partner passes and has only four spades, the contract will play well enough with your ruffing value in hearts. If instead he has enough HCP for game and only four spades, he can bid No-trump and rely on you to revert to spades with 4-card support.

If you choose to rebid 2♦ or 1NT instead, partner may pass when you have a 5-3 spade fit. You will have missed a better contract in 2♠ (or sometimes even 4♠).

Your result so far:

A: 2♦. Although it is fine to give a minimum raise on 3-card support, a jump raise to 3♥ would promise four trumps.

With a powerful hand and only 3-card support, you must look for another bid. Sometimes, this will be 2NT. Here, though, you will 'reverse' to 2♦. This is forcing and you will be able to show your heart support on the next round.

Your result so far: