MINOR-SUIT
AUCTIONS
SSS by Danny Kleinman
SAYC. A 1D opening suggests four, the only exception being 4=4=3=2hands, 1C being required on 4=3=3=3 and 3=4=3=3 hands not in any
notrump range. To raise diamonds requires four, to raise clubs requires five, but in a pinch, competitive raises are permissible with one fewer. Jump raises are limit: no forcing raises exist. 2NT (13-15 HCP) and 3NT (16-17 HCP)
are standard. Suit-responses are up-the-line. SSS. Both 1C and 1D openings suggest four. Though openings in 3-card minors are possible, they are rare (more than 93% of all minor-suit openings deliver four or more of the suit
bid). 4=3=3=3 and 3=4=3=3 hands require opener to use judgment, usually preferring to open in the stronger minor. Responder's approach is the same, whether the opening is in a major or a With Type w, responder's priorities are: (1) Raise to two with at least 4-card support. This recommendation is controversial. Almost all other experts make bidding a 4-card major responder's
first priority. They are simply wrong, for two reasons. First, raising partner's minor often shuts fourth hand out when responding in a major wouldn't. Second, when fourth hand does enter, partner will be able to compete to
the 3-level more often if you've shown your support. Never mind that occasionally opener has only three: he won't get hurt in a 3-4 fit at the 2-level, but if you withhold support early, you make it easy for fourth hand to enter
cheaply, and you won't be able to show your 4-card support unless you do so at the 3-level when it is an overbid and truly dangerous. (2) Bid a 4-card or longer suit at the 1-level. (3) Bid 1NT. (A 1NT response to 1D implies
four or more clubs. A 1NT response to 1C is completely unnecessary; except when using it conventionally after making an appropriate agreement with partner, I haven't responded 1NT to 1C in many years. But if you insist on using it,
do so only with a maximum Type w hand.) With Types i and g, responder's actions are also similar to his actions Suit-responses are generally up-the-line, but you should use judgment. In response
to 1C, you will often bid a decent 4-card heart suit ahead of a similar or weaker 4-card diamond suit, especially if you fear that fourth hand's possible 1S bid may shut out hearts. However, you will almost always bid a 4-card
diamond suit ahead of a similar or moderately stronger 4-card spade suit, exceptions arising only when the spades are much stronger, e.g. S-KQ97 versus D-J987. MINOR-SUIT OPENER'S REBIDS. SAYC. Nothing to say.
SSS. Nothing to add to description of
minor. His first task is to classify
his hand as Type w, Type i or Type g.
over major-suit openings. Jump raises are forcing; to make a limit raise, you must bid another suit first (in a
pinch, a tripleton or doubleton in the other minor), then bid three of opener's minor. Also, to show forcing-raise values plus a 4-card or longer major, you must start by bidding your major, and must usually continue by bidding a
new suit at your next turn. \2NT (13-15) and 3NT (16-18) responses deny 4-card majors, but the 3NT response shows a flat (4-3-3-3) hand with stoppers and no 4-card major. I suggest that you avoid it even with a
"perfect" hand, but if you must use it, you'll do slightly better if you agree with partner that the 4-card suit is always CLUBS.
HAND VALUATION
SSS by Danny Kleinman