Responder Changes Suit Acol : Bridge Online
Sometimes, as responder, you will want to bid your own suit. This is especially true when you don't have a major suit fit with partner and can't make a limit bid.
When changing suit, you should keep the bidding as low as possible. This is very important. It is also safe as a change of suit is FORCING. In bridge terms, forcing is a bid which partner may not pass. Bidding a new suit shows 6+ HCP. It could be any number, because bidding a new suit is not limited as some bids can be.
New suit at 1-level = 6+ HCP
| ♠ AKJ94 | ||
| ♥ Q9 | ||
| ♦ K97 | ||
| ♣ 865 |
| North | East | South | West | |
| 1♦ | P | 1♠ |
You have plenty for game, but you would like to find a spade fit. Bid 1♠. It is forcing so partner won't pass.
| ♠ 87 | ||
| ♥ KQJ543 | ||
| ♦ Q6 | ||
| ♣ A65 |
| North | East | South | West | |
| 1♦ | P | 1♥ |
You can't support my spades, so tell me about that heart suit. Keep the bidding as low as you can, so we have room to talk without getting too high.
Changing suit tells opener to bid at least one more time. This is not a request but an order.
| ♠ KQJ2 | ||
| ♥ AJ76 | ||
| ♦ J32 | ||
| ♣ Q6 |
| North | East | South | West | |
| 1♣ | P | 1♥ |
This time you've got two suits that you could show me. With two 4-card suits, bid the one you can at the lowest level, just as the opener does. On this hand your correct response is 1♥. As you are the responder, you only promise a 4-card suit.
| ♠ KQJ2 | ||
| ♥ 87 | ||
| ♦ K32 | ||
| ♣ Q654 |
| North | East | South | West | |
| 1♦ | P | 1♠ |
You have two 4-card suits again. What bid will keep the bidding at the lowest level? Your correct response on this hand is 1♠. Bidding 1♠ keeps the bidding lower than bidding 2♣.
| ♠ KQJ32 | ||
| ♥ QJT32 | ||
| ♦ Q6 | ||
| ♣ J |
Now you have two 5-card suits. With two 5-card suits bid the higher ranking, just as you would do for an opening bid.
New suit at 2-level = 10+ HCP
| ♠ 32 | ||
| ♥ QJ3 | ||
| ♦ J6 | ||
| ♣ A98543 |
| North | East | South | West | |
| 1♠ | P | 1NT |
You can't bid 1♣ this time because partner opened 1♠. Bidding a new suit at the 2-level shows 10+ HCP, so you can't bid your suit with this hand.
If you are not strong enough to bid at the 2-level and have no suitable bid at the 1-level, bid 1NT = 6-9 HCP. This is not always balanced.
You'll have to bid 1NT here. This is a very useful bid for weak hands that haven't got a suit to show at the 1-level. This shows 6-9 HCP.
Responder Changes Suit
• New suit at 1-level = 6+ HCP
• New suit at 2-level = 10+ HCP
• Bid lower 4-card suit
• Bid higher 5-card suit