[j23185]

When partner opens one spade, opponent passes, must I have five hearts to bid two hearts? I understand if opponent had bid, I could use a negative double to show four hearts and so a two heart bid would indicate a five card heart suit. But in the first case with opponent passing I cannot double and I'm told I cannot bid my 4 card heart suit at the 2 level. Is this correct? I haven't been able to find this information online.

[P_Marlowe]

j23185, on 2025-July-18, 07:15, said:

When partner opens one spade, opponent passes, must I have five hearts to bid two hearts? I understand if opponent had bid, I could use a negative double to show four hearts and so a two heart bid would indicate a five card heart suit. But in the first case with opponent passing I cannot double and I'm told I cannot bid my 4 card heart suit at the 2 level. Is this correct? I haven't been able to find this information online.

Yes, a 2H response to a 1S opening showes usually 5 cards.

The reason: If you have only a 4 card heart suit, you either have another 4 card suit in the minor,
und with 2 suits being 44 you start with the the lower suit, or you have a 4 card fit for p, in which
case you should show the fit direct, or you are 4333 ... meaning you have 3 card support for p.

What you do with 3 card support and a bal. hand is a contentious topic ...

If you have below inv. strength, make the simple raise, this was the easy part.
If you have inv. strength / or game forcing strength .... I leave this to other.
With inv. strength I would make the limit raise, with game force strength I would bid
a 3 card minor suit, partner should treat the minor suit bid as showing 4+,
but other player will give you other answers.

Key is: if you bid a minor suit, you sometimes can hold a card less, than promised, if you bid a major suit,
you should have at least the number of cards you promised.

[wuudturner]

If partner opens 1♠, you can bid clubs or diamonds, IF you have sufficient values for that bid. But it is acceptable to bid a minor suit on 4 cards.

So if you have only 4 hearts, AND you lack a 4 card minor, how many spades do you have? Clearly you MUST have at least 3 spades, so you have a spade fit! Show that using whatever means you have available. Your first responsibility should be to tell partner about your known fit, rather than hoping to find a fit somewhere else. And, if you do have a spade fit, do you really, really, really want to end up in a club or diamond contract? Of course not. Spade contracts will generally be worth more than minor suit contracts anyway, and you can make game one trick lower in spades. (Yes, the right way to show a spade fit in some cases might start by bidding 2♣ or 2♢.)

Now, suppose you have 2=4=3=4 shape? That is, 2 spades, 4 hearts, 3 diamonds, and 4 clubs? And you have sufficient values to bid at the 2 level given your agreements? You bid 2♣. Will you miss a heart fit if partner has 4 hearts? Of course not, since partner has the opportunity to show them, and you will happily raise.

It is best to reserve the sequence 1♠-2♡ to show a 5 card (or longer) suit. Given that start, opener can raise you on 3 cards, IF they have them.