The opener has less than 12 honor card points (HCPs), and a 6-card suit (in diamonds, hearts or spades) with at least 5 honor card points (HCPs) in that suit. The opener likely holds only 6 tricks, so the responder is expected (or hoped) to make up the difference of 2 tricks or more. The opener does not know if the responder has a strong or weak hand, so the opener must follow the direction of the responder's bidding.
The responder assumes the opener has 10 HCPs.
The responder should have at least 12 HCPs for a response.
Whenever one player at the table has a long suit, it is not unusual for additional players to have a long suit as well. The bidding can be unsusual, and the player with a long suit with a higher hierarchy has a bidding advantage.
If the Responder has:
• 0 to 11 pts: - PASS - There are not enough combined points for a game.
• 12 to 22 pts: Responder has Support in the Opener's Suit (2+cards in the opener's suit)
If the responder has:
×
• 12 to 14 pts: - Responder has no interest in a game-level contract. Responder bids PASS. However, the responder should be prepared to bid 3-level in the opener's major suit if forced by competition and there is a desire to take the sub-game level contract in the opener's major suit.
• 15 to 22 pts: - There are enough points for a game. Responder bids game at 4-level in the opener's Major suit to play a game-level contract in the opener's suit.
If the responder has:
×
• 12 to 14 pts: - Responder bids PASS - not enough points for a game in diamonds.
• 15 to 18 pts: - Responder bids 3 ♦ - not enough points for a game in diamonds.
• 19 to 22 pts: - There are enough points for a game in a minor suit. Responder bids game at 5 ♦ .
Responder has NO Support in the Opener's Suit (1-card or void)
12 to 14 pts: - Responder bid PASS 15 to 22 pts: • Responder Proposes a New 5+card Bidable Suit (with at least 5+ HCPs in the new 5-card suit) at the lowest possible level
• With a Balanced Hand the Responder bids:
Responder has an interest in a GAME contract and bids the following:
×
• 3 NT: This is a natural close-out bid. The responder wants to play the contract in No Trump. This is the most common response, and should be used by beginners.
• 2 NT: For experienced players - This is an artificial bid that asks the opener for a feature in the opener's hand: an outside Ace or an outside King or Queen doubleton (protected).
• 2 NT Ogust: For advanced players - The partnership must agree on its use prior to the session. The Ogust Convention is an artificial, forcing bid that asks the opener to divulge points and the number of the top 3 honors in the opened suit. See the section below for more details.
• 23+ pts - Enough points for a Slam - Bid 4 ♣ Gerber - asking for Aces.
Opener's Next Bid (Bid 3)
If the responder's bid 2 is one of the following:
Responder supported and re-bid the opened suit. The responder was not inviting the opener to bid again.
×
The opener bids PASS, even if there is an intervening bid by the opposition.
At bid 2, the responder bids a New 5+card Suit. The opener must respond to keep the bidding open. If the opener has:
×
• 3+card support in the new suit or a doubleton honor in the new suit - opener supports the new suit with a single raise in the new suit
• NO support in the new suit and the opener has:
• 9 to 11 pts - opener either bids another 4-card suit or 2NT
• 5 to 8 pts - opener rebids the original opened suit (or PASS with an intervening bid)
At bid 2, responder bids 3 NT.
×
This natural bid indicates the responder's desire to play the game in NO Trump. The opener bids PASS.
At bid 2, responder bids 2 NT (15 to 22 pts).
×
This artificial bid asks the opener for another suit in the opener's hand that contains an Ace or a protected King or Queen (a "feature" in an outside suit). Opener must respond with one of two bids:
• Opener bids another suit that contains a feature at the lowest possible level.
• Opener re-bids the opened suit if there is no other suit with a feature.
At bid 2, responder bids 2 NT Ogust.×
For advanced players. This artificial bid asks for the opener's point range and the number of the top 3 honors in the opened suit.
The opener's artificial responses are:
Weak Hand (5 to 7 pts):
Opener bids 3 ♣ with 1 of top 3 honors;
Opener bids 3 ♦ with 2 of top 3 honors;
Strong Hand (8 to 11 pts):
Opener bids 3 ♥ with 1 of top 3 honors;
Opener bids 3 ♠ with 2 of top 3 honors;
Opener bids 3 NT with 3 of top 3 honors.
The mnemonic for remembering Ogust responses is "Minors are Minimum, 1-2-1-2-3."