When You Can't. Not all responder hands are able to raise a major opening, of course.
Remember, if opener rebids a major without a raise from responder, he has six or more cards in the suit. At that point, responder may raise with only two -- an eight card fit is all that's necessary.
Without a fit for opener's major, the choices are, in order of preference:
- the other major
- Notrump
- a minor suit
If you have good Spades over a Heart opener, bid them. Opener probably doesn't have four Spades, or he would have opened Flannery - Two Hearts. Responders Spade bid is therefore a temporary stopper-showing bid for later Notrump, or shows 5 Spades, or can be a semi-transfer to 1NT. It's legitimate however, not conventional, but still is alertable.
If you have Hearts over a Spade opener, there is a systemic problem -- a two Heart bid over a 1 Spade opener is a two over one call, a game forcing bid. Such a call needs 12 or more points and 5+ Hearts. What to do with 8 points and 4 Hearts?
For that matter, the same question comes up with any bid at the two level playing Two Over One or Standard -- what to do when the responding hand can't force game?
N
E
S
1ª
P
???
North South ª KQxxx ª xx © Jxxx © KQJx ¨ Ax ¨Jxx § AK § Qxxx This problem is the same in any system.
The answer to these types of questions is found in the Forcing 1 Notrump convention, a basic part of Two Over One.
(c) Robert D. McConnell, 1998 All Rights Reserved