Minor-Suit Inventions in Detail

by Allan DeSerpa

This article expands Minor-Suit Inventions from the April 2019 issue of The Bridge World.

After a One-Notrump Opening

This is an example set of details showing how responder can describe a minor one- or two-suiter after a one-notrump opening:

These bids by responder are puppets to the next-higher bid: a response of three clubs, a response of three diamonds, and three diamonds after a two-spade response transferring into clubs.

A transfer to a minor followed by four of a red suit shows six cards in the minor, four cards in the other minor, and a singleton in the suit one step above the four-level bid. (For example, two spades then four hearts shows 1=2=4=6.)

After a two-spade transfer into clubs and a three-diamond puppet to three hearts, then (note that bids in this set emphasize length in the black suits):
Three spades: 3=3=1=6
Three notrump: 2=2=4=5
Four clubs: 3=0=5=5
Four diamonds: 3=0=4=6
Four hearts: 0=3=4=6

Corresponding sequences that emphasize length in the red suit start with a three-diamond response, followed by . . .
   Three spades: 3=3=6=1
   Three notrump: 2=2=5=4
   Four clubs: 0=3=5=5
   Four diamonds: 3=0=6=4
   Four hearts: 0=3=6=4

Initial responses of three of a major have analogs after a three-club response (which puppets to three diamonds):
Three hearts: 1=3=5=4
Three spades: 2=1=5=5
Three clubs followed by . . .
   Three hearts: 3=1=5=4
   Three spades: 1=2=5=5
Higher-level responses cover the other patterns:
Three notrump: puppet to four clubs, then:
   Four diamonds: 6=4=3=0
   Four hearts: 6=4=0=3
   Four spades: 5-3-3-2 long clubs
   Four notrump: 2=2=4=5
Four clubs: 3=2=4=4|2=3=4=4
Four diamonds: 4=6=3=0
Four hearts: 4=6=0=3
Four spades: 5-3-3-2 long diamonds
Four notrump: 2=2=5=4

After a Two-Notrump-Family Opening

After a two-notrump-family opening, responder's three spades shows a one- or two-suited hand with a long minor or minors and asks opener to bid three notrump except with extra high-card strength and wasted values opposite putative spade shortness (in which case, opener bids four clubs).

(1) Responder shows a one-suiter (via two notrump -- three spades -- three notrump -- four clubs)

Over four clubs, if opener likes clubs, he relays with four diamonds. Responder then bids four hearts to show that his suit is diamonds or shows key cards for clubs. When responder announces diamonds, opener bids four spades as a key-card-ask or discourages with four notrump.

If opener lacks a club fit, he bids four hearts if he likes diamonds. If responder has clubs, he can sign off in four notrump or invite six notrump bu bidding four spades.

If opener does not fit either minor, he bids four spades with a maximum or four notrump with a minimum.

(2) Responder shows both minors with heart shortness (via two notrump -- three spades -- three notrump -- four diamonds)

With a progressive hand, opener relays with four hearts, and responder bids:
Four spades: four diamonds, longer clubs (3=1=4=5, 2=1=6=4, 3=0=6=4)
Four notrump: four clubs, longer diamonds
Five clubs: 2=1=5=5 or 3=0=5=5

In this type of sequence, it is assumed that the auction is headed for slam if the hands fit. After responder clarifies pattern, opener uses a one-step bid as a six-key-card-ask for the minors.

If opener holds substantial wastage in hearts, he four spades with a maximum or four notrump with a minimum.

(3) Responder shows both minors with spade shortness (via two notrump -- three spades -- three notrump -- four hearts)

The only difference from (2) is that opener has only one step available to deny a good fit. However, as opener would have bid four clubs over three spades with good values wasted spade values, only one step is needed.

(4) Responder shows 5-4-2-2 (via two notrumpo -- three spades -- three notrump -- four spades or four notrump or, if responder is too strong for a nonforcing four notrump, five clubs)

With minimum values and/or weak minor-suit fits, opener passes or corrects to four notrump. Otherwise, opener makes the next-cheapest bid as a six=key-card=-ask for the minors. (Recommended replies in steps: one key card, one or two queens; two key cards, zero or one queen; two key cards, two queens; three key cards, extra queen or king; three key cards, no queen or king. Then, a one-step bid asks for specific queens with these replies in steps: If Teller must have a key-suit queen: clubs queen, diamond queen, both queens, both queens plus a side king. If Teller might not have a key-suit queen: club queen, diamond queen, no queen.

To use this capability, responder should hold at least two high minor-suit honors and a total of three. This requirement inference may eliminate the need for some later relays. Similarly, if responder announces three key cards plus an extra feature, opener will often be able to visualize a grand slam.

(5) Showing key cards opposite a hand with a short suit

When opener shows that he likes his hand once responder announces shortness, subsequent asks for key cards are automatic: the cheapest bid is a six-key-card=ask. The same steps as in (4) apply, except that the final step should not be beyond six clubs. The same protocols apply when asking about queens. Beyond that, any subsequent ask is about working side-suit honors, including a doubleton king or the queen of a known-to-be-three-card suit or a doubleton in a suit that might be either two or three cards long.

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