While you should feel comfortable asking any bridge player your repect questions, there is one impolite question: "What hands will you respond with?"

The oversimplified answer sometimes given to newer players: with 5 or 6 points, respond. That’s certainly one reason, but it's far from the full story. Players will sometimes respond with 2, 1, or even 0 points.

 

You can respond with any reason. Partner opens 1 and we have: Jxxxxx Jxxxxx x —. If you pass 1, you’re inviting catastrophe.

 

Partner could have, say, AKxx xx Axx xxxx and you’d be cold for 4 without making 1 or maybe; — AKxx Axx xxxxxx and you might make 1, but you’ll also have a shot at 6!

 

It comes back to the basics: strength and shape. If you have a useful amount of either, bid.

 

Responding a new suit on the 1-level is forcing, and so we have to be comfortable with the knowledge that the auction is going to spiral higher (sometimes a lot higher). If you're not ready for your partner to rebid 1NT or 2NT, you may want to reconsider. Sometimes, however, even a move to 2NT can improve the contract from partner's opening bid.

 

In terms of strength, you can't focus solely on point count. An ace is better than four jacks or two queens. Most experts will take a call with any ace, but the situation is important. Vulnerability, position, and the suits involved all matter.

 

One last note: many play that a jump-shift by responder (to the 2-level only) shows a weak hand with length in that suit. This is NOT a universal agreement so do not do this without discussing with partner beforehand. You should only do this with sub-minimum values. A weak jump from 1 to 2 is less than an opening 2 call; something like K109xxx xx xxx xx.

 

Let's look at some hands to decide whether or not to respond:

 

Partner opens 1 -- Pass-- to you. None vul. What is your call?

1)

Q982
K1087
987
32

2)

Q72
J43
9872
876

3)

QJ943
J982
43
32

Partner opens 1--Pass--to you. Both vul. What is your call?

4)

A32
82
9872
8432

5)

8
K94
743
987432

6)

98543
1098432
--
43

Answers:

1) 1. 1 could be a 3-2 fit! 5 points is enough combined with the incentive to move off of 1. With 4-4 in the majors, we bid 1 (as responder).

2) Pass. We'd like to be sure of finding a fit, but keeping this auction going is likely to only dig our hole deeper.

3) 1. Spades and hearts could both be better spots than clubs. We have enough offense to risk getting too high in the case of a misfit.

4) Pass. While we do have an ace, we're actually reasonably happy in hearts. When partner opens a major, we aren't as worried about playing in a non-fit.

5) 2 (or 1NT). We only have 3 points, but this hand is worth a lot more than that in support of hearts. Raising to 2 feels best, but bidding 1NT (forcing or semi-forcing) is ok if your raises are constructive rather than 6-10.

6) 4. Would we like to have an ace or king somewhere? Sure, but we have 11 hearts combined AND extra shape.