When I first heard about bridge conventions, I immediately remembered that every time I attended a convention, they always had fun parties. And I was for all the parties I could get! Only later did I learn that a bridge convention is a bid that carries a special meaning with it – such as the five-card Major Convention – oh well … I was already hooked!
Last time we talked about what is required to open the bidding. We need 13 or more points which are a combination of high card points (HCP) plus distribution points (one point for the fifth card plus one point for the sixth, and so on). And, we need five or more cards in the suit to open one heart or spade. But, this still leaves several questions. So, what do you bid if you have 13+ points but don’t have a five-card suit? The bridge gurus came up with an interesting convention to handle just this situation. It is called the “Convenient Minor” Convention.
With 13+ points but no five-card major, you should bid your longest minor suit. For example, if you hold four clubs and three diamonds, you would open one club. But if you hold three diamonds and two clubs, then you would open one diamond – how convenient!
One could ask, “How can you possibly open with only three cards in a suit?” But, what are the alternatives? (a) You could pass, but then you might gift the auction to the opponents and miss out on a good score. (b) You could bid your four-card major, but now you are lying to partner (holding only three of your suit) who could raise you too high and your opponents set you. By far, it is better to let partner know you hold an opening hand with at least three cards (and maybe more) in your bid suit.
So, what do you bid if you hold the same number of clubs and diamonds? The bridge gurus have an answer for that one, as well: if you hold 4-4 in the minors, you should bid one diamond – this allows you a re-bid of two clubs, if needed. But if you hold 3-3 in the minors, you should bid one club – this allows partner to bid one diamond if partner has any. If partner holds anything at all, you and partner at least have something to talk about with further bidding. Don’t worry that partner might not be able to bid. In that unlikely situation, your opponents certainly WILL bid! Problem solved.
So, let’s say that partner opens one club. That means all you know is that partner holds at least 13 high card points plus distribution points, and partner holds at least three clubs. How do you respond? The answer to that interesting question depends on what cards you hold, and that will be the subject of our next column.
Good luck and good bridge. See you all next time.
