Bridge Lessons - Intermediate

NYU Bridge and Spades Club

Lesson 11Game Tries/Slam Tries over 1M Openers

RevisionSo far, we’ve learnt that you may respond to 1M openers with 2X, 1S (in the case of 1H openers), xNT or xS.2S = 6-9 points, 3+ card support3S = 10-12 points, 3+ card support4S = 13+ points, 3+ card support1NT = 6-9 points, no spade fit2NT = 10-12 points, no spade fit3NT = 13+ points, no spade fit1S (over 1H) = 4+ spades, 6+ points2X = 5+ cards in X, 10+ points

Game Tries after 1M-2MWhat does opener do if opener has a strong

hand (15+ to 18- points) and wants to check if game is available?

Opener rebids the next cheapest bid i.e. 1H-2H-2S or 1S-2S-2NTResponder rebids the cheapest suit in which he has

a feature (one of the top 3 royals at least)Opener then decides whether there is a secondary

fit which may produce extra tricks and decide on the contract accordingly

After 1H-2H-2S, responder bids 2NT to show a spade feature

Slam Tries after 1M-3MOpener rebids the cheapest suit (Mathe

asking bid) as a slam try i.e. 1H-3H-3S or 1S-3S-3NT to ask for shortnessWithout shortness, responder bids 4M to end

the auctionWith shortness, responder bids the suit in

which he is short at the 4th level

Jumpshifts – Two Schools of ThoughtA jumpshift is defined as a bid that is one

level higher than the lowest level possible for that suitE.g. 1H-2SE.g. 1C-2HE.g. 1S-3D

School of thought 1: strong jumpshiftsSchool of thought 2: weak jumpshifts

School of Thought 1: Strong JumpshiftsThis is more commonly used with Standard

American Yellow Carding (what we have been learning so far)

This school of thought uses strong jumpshifts as a game-forcing bid and showing 5+ cards in the suit bid

School of Thought 2: Weak JumpshiftsThis is more commonly used with 2/1Because there is no longer a need to

jumpshift to GF in 2/1, weak jumpshifts are used instead2nd level weak jumpshifts show 2-5 points and

6+ cards in the suit bid3rd level weak jumpshifts show slightly more,

probably 5-9 points and 6+ cards in the suit bid

Weak jumpshifts are to play and opener is generally recommended to pass

Splinter BidsRight now, 1M-4X is a useless bid so we’d

might as well put it to use1M-4X a splinter bid showing 4+ card

support for M and a singleton/void in X, 12+ pointsE.g. 1S-4C shows 4+ spades and singleton/void

in XException: 1H-3S is also a splinter bid. It

doesn’t make sense for 1H-4S to be the splinter bid as it forces a contract at the 5th or higher level

2-Way DruryIf you pass with 10-12 points and your partner opens on the 3rd seat with 1M (a suit in which you’re long too), your partnership may have a game anyway

We have thus come up with the 2-Way Drury bid1M-2C shows 3 card support and 10-12 points

Opener can rebid 2D to show he could’ve opened by rule of 20

Opener can rebid 2M to show he opened by rule of 18 so the partnership can sign off at that level

1M-2D shows 4+ card support and 10-12 points Opener can no longer show a less than opening hand, but

has knowledge of an extra trump and can better decide where the contract should be

2M on top of 2D is sign-off, 3M is invitational. Responder only bids up to game with favourable distribution

2-Way DruryOpener may also bid 2H on top of 1S-2m to show a 4-card heart suit. This promises opening strength

Opener may also bid 3m on top of 1M-2m to show a 5-card minor and responder can then decide where to place the contract

If responder wants to show a good minor suit instead, responder should bid 3m instead of 2m