Openers rebid. Unbalanced, Delayed support
3-5? Delay your 3-card support if responder bids
You opened the bidding, and partner changed suit to one of a Major, promising 4+ at the one level. If you have a 3-card suit, should you support it ?
W | N | E | S | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | pass | 1 | pass | ||
? | |||||
If are not sure if partner's 1st suit = 5-card, what should you do ?
- assume it was a 5-card suit, but give "delayed support"
- after your delayed support, partner will go back to the suit if it was a 5-card major
So, delayed support means respond with something else, and then support it next time.
W | N | E | S | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | pass | 1 | pass | ||
1NT | pass | 2 | pass | ||
2/3 | pass | /NT | |||
There are three basic responder distributions that give rise to uncertainty:
- 5-5, 4-4
- 5-4
- other, e.g. 5-3-3-2, or 4-4-3-2
Case 1. It's usually clear, but only after the second bid. Responder will bid 5-card suits down the line, and 4-card suits up the line. But hang on, what if he bids up the line, does that guarantee the first suit is only 4-cards ? No. . ...
Case 2. It's clear sometimes. With 5-4 he bids length first. If the 5-card suit is higher denomination, no problem. But if the 5-card suit is hearts, and the 4-card is spades, it will sound like a "up the line" 4-card suit in hearts and spades. Best to assume that is was 5-4, not 4-4, and give delayed support to the hearts if you have 3.
Case 3. It's also not clear. Responder is very unlikely to repeat a 5-card suit, preferring to rebid NT, or support one of your suits.You won't be able to tell the difference between 5 and 4 in the major. Again, assume 5 with delayed support if you have 3 in your hand.
As opener, if 5 might be there, but it's not definite, your responses are these
- 4-card = immediate support always
- 3-card = delayed support (5 might be possible)
- 2-card = double delay (6 might be possible)