Responder Changes Suit Std : 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+ TP. It could be any number, because bidding a new suit is not limited as some bids can be.
New suit at 1-level = 6+ TP
| ♠ 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 | 2♥ |
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.
| North | East | South | West | |
| 1♠ | P | 2♥ | P | |
| 2NT | P | 4♥ |
Changing suit tells opener to bid at least one more time. This is not a request but an order. Partner's rebid will help you decide the final contract.
| ♠ 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+ TP
| ♠ 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+ TP, 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 TP. 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 TP.
Responder Changes Suit
• New suit at 1-level = 6+ TP
• New suit at 2-level = 10+ TP
• Bid lower 4-card suit
• Bid higher 5-card suit