Bridge Trainer - Responding Convention Detailed 1 Suit Responses

This convention is designed as a BASIC approach for beginners. Experienced players will use a more complex and fluid bidding system.

Note: S = Number of Spades in hand, SP = Number of Spade Points, SH = Number of Spade Honour Cards – the same pattern for the other suits applies.

OPENERS BID	YOUR POINTS	YOUR CARDS	YOUR RESPONSE
1 Club	0-5	<4C	Pass
	6-9	<4C	Longest @ 1 (If you have 4 H or 4S, bid the strongest of these at 1 over a longer Diamond)
	10+	<4C	Longest @ 1
	0-5	>=4C	Pass
	6-9	>=4C	2C
	10-12	>=4C	3C
	13+	>=4C	3NT
1 Diamond	0-5	<4D	Pass
	6-9	<4D	If Longest = Club then 1NT however, if you have 4 H or 4S, bid the strongest of these at 1
	10-15	<4D	Longest @ 1, if Clubs, then @2
	16+	<4D	Longest @2
	0-5	>=4D	Pass
	6-9	>=4D	2D
	10-12	>=4D	3D
	13+	>=4D	3NT
1 Heart	0-5	<4H	Pass
	6-9	<4H	If Longest = Club or Diamond then 1NT however, if you have 4S, bid this at 1
	10-15	<4H	Longest @ 1, if Clubs or Diamonds, then @2
	16+	<4H	Longest @2
	0-5	>=4H	Pass
	6-9	>=4H	2H
	10-12	>=4H	3H
	13+	>=4H	3NT
1 Spade	0-5	<4S	Pass
	6-9	<4S	1NT
	10-15	<4S	Longest @ 2
	16+	<4S	3NT
	0-5	>=4S	Pass
	6-9	>=4S	2S
	10-12	>=4S	3S
	13+	>=4S	3NT

These responses include Stayman and variations on Transfers

OPENERS BID	YOUR POINTS	YOUR CARDS	YOUR RESPONSE
1NT	<10	Balanced	Pass
	11-12	Balanced	2NT
	13-18	Balanced	3NT
	19+	Balanced	4C - Gerber, Asking for Aces
1NT	0-11	Unbalanced	Pass
	12	Unbalanced	2NT
	13-18	Unbalanced	3NT
	19+	Unbalanced	4C - Gerber, Asking for Aces

Responding Conventions