BRIDGE ON ONE PAGE

Bridge On One Page

Reply to Suit Bid at 2 Level - 0 to 4 Points

After your partner has done an opening suit bid at the 2 level (e.g. 2 hearts), your bid then depends on your reply points. If the value of your hand is 4 points or less, you must always bid, as the 2 level opener is 'forcing'. You have the following options :

Raise in the same suit that your partner bid, if you have at least 4 cards in your partner's suit, i.e. bid the same suit at the 3 level.

Bid 2 No Trumps if you cannot support your partner's suit.

Example

Here you have no points, or arguably 1 point for a doubleton. A hand of zero value is called a 'Yarborough' !

If your partner has bid 2 Diamonds or 2 Hearts, you have support for your partner in both those suits, so you bid 3 Diamonds or 3 Hearts, according to your partner's bid.

If your partner's bid was 2 Clubs or 2 Spades, you bid 2 No Trumps, indicating both your lack of points and your lack of support for your partner's suit !

Note

A cautious player might decide to pass on a Yarborough, but in so doing he or she may miss the opportunity of getting a game. Generally speaking, the scoring system for rubber bridge is such that it favours more adventurous players.