Majors Box

Opening Major Suits

The Major Suit Openings section looks like this:

MAJOR OPENINGS

1© - 1ª Opening on 4 Cards

            Often Seldom Never

1st-2nd [   ]          [ ]          [ ]

3rd-4th [ ]            [ ]          [ ]

RESPONSES

Double Raise Forcing [ ] Limit [ ]

Preemptive [ ] Limit in Comp. [ ]

Conv. Raise: 2NT [ ] 3NT [ ]

Swiss [ ] Splinter [ ]

Conv. Responses: 1NT Forcing [ ]

Drury [ ] Single Raise Constr. [ ]

Other _________________________

Do you ever open 4 card majors ? Sometimes ? Check the appropriate box.

    Some open them occasionally, and some check the Seldom box in case they forget.

What do your responses to an opening of one in a major mean ?

What does a Double Raise mean ? [1© - P - 3© ].

Most play it as a Limit Raise, showing 10 to 12 points. Check the box if you have any conventional meaning when you jump to 2NT or 3NT over 1© or 1ª .

Swiss and Splinter bids are double jumps showing a strong trump raise and a void or singleton in the bid suit. Drury is a convention used to allow weak major suit openings in third seat. Constructive Raises mean a single raise is strong (7+ to 9) points.

Our card in the Major Openings section

MAJOR OPENINGS

1© - 1ª Opening on 4 Cards

            Often Seldom Never

1st-2nd [   ]          [ ]          [ X ]

3rd-4th [ ]            [ ]          [ X ]

RESPONSES

Double Raise Forcing [ ] Limit [X]

Preemptive [X] Limit in Comp. [ ]

Conv. Raise: 2NT [X] 3NT [X]

Swiss [ ] Splinter [X]

Conv. Responses:1NT Forcing [X]

Drury [X] Single Raise Constr. [ ]

Other _____REVERSE____________

We never open four card majors.

For us, a double raise [1© - Pass - 3© ] is a Limit Raise, which means a hand with 9 to 11 HCP and 3 trumps plus a singleton or with four trumps. However, in competition, a double raise is preemptive: [1© - 2 § - 3© *]. This shows a weakish hand with 4+ trumps, and is an attempt to shut out the opponents before they can decide whether or not to get into the auction.

We have conventional meanings for both [1© /ª - Pass - 2NT*] and for [1© /ª - Pass - 3NT*]. The first means an opener with exactly two trumps, and the second is an opener with a strong trump raise with four trumps or three trumps including a major honor (A, K, or Q).

Our 1NT bids over 1© /ª openers are forcing for one round. (1NT Forcing [X] ). Drury is a special convention for responses to third seat openings of 1© /ª , which may be as weak as 9 HCP.