Avoid Minors. We avoid minor suits whenever possible. Minor suit contracts are the least desirable ones in competitive bridge.
The bidding after a minor suit opening is to determine if there is a major suit fit or if some number of Notrump is feasible.A hand is opened with a minor when the HCP and distribution prevent it from opening with one of a major or NT.
Reverse If Possible. With two suits, the correct opening depends on the strength of the hand in HCP - whether or not it should be reversed. With 17+ HCP, we reverse by opening the lower ranking suit first. With less than that, we open the higher rank and then rebid the lower. Minor Suit Opening Distributions. The distribution determines the suit to be opened when there are no 5+ card majors, according to these rules
Until opener's rebid, responder doesn't know how long opener's minor suit is. It's a minimum of three cards long, but it could be 5 or 6 or even more.
Distribution (ª-©-¨-C)
Opening Bid. HC Strength is meaningless -- only length matters. 4-3-3-3
1 Club - NOT the 'better minor'. 4-2-4-3
1 Diamond 2-4-4-3
1 Diamond, then 2©'s if strong enough to reverse. 3-3-3-4
1 Club 2-2-5-4
1 Diamond (1 Club if you can reverse) 2-2-4-5
1 Diamond (1 Club if you can reverse)
This means that Diamond openings are usually 4+ cards, unless the distribution is exactly 4-4-3-2.
¨ and raise ©'s or ª s.
In that case, open 1
(c) Robert D. McConnell, 1998 All Rights Reserved