Opening 1 suit 5 card majors : Bridge Online
Bridge is a partnership game so we need some rules to understand each other. In Standard American, opening 1♠/♥ promises a 5-card suit. It also promises 13+ TP.
| ♠ A2 | ||
| ♥ J9864 | ||
| ♦ 32 | ||
| ♣ AKQ2 |
| North | East | South | West | |
| P | P | 1♥ |
On this hand the correct opening bid is 1♥. You have enough TP and a 5-card suit. You don't promise a great suit, just five of them. Don't be tempted by those clubs.
| ♠ KQ732 | ||
| ♥ AQ854 | ||
| ♦ K6 | ||
| ♣ 2 |
| North | East | South | West | |
| P | P | 1♠ |
This time you have two 5-card majors. In this case, you should open 1♠, the higher ranking suit.
| ♠ K6 | ||
| ♥ KQ732 | ||
| ♦ AQ854 | ||
| ♣ 2 |
| North | East | South | West | |
| P | P | 1♥ |
In fact, any time you have two 5-card suits, you should open the higher ranking suit
If you don't have a 5 card major then you can open 1C or 1D. Clubs and diamonds are called the 'minors'.
Opening 1♠ or 1♥
• Promises at least a 5-card Suit
• Open your Longest Suit
• Open your Higher 5-Card Suit