In the previous issue, we looked at modern agreements for raising partner’s suit in competitive auctions. These methods may differ from those used in bridge classes and casual games, but some are so popular that they’re considered standard in duplicate play and worth adopting.
Of course, you don’t always need a "modern" bidding system to get to the right contract. Tournaments are won with good judgment and cardplay skills, not conventions. The more information you have, though, the better your judgment, so some well-chosen upgrades can improve your decisions. Here are ideas for must-have ways to raise and some more advanced gadgets:
Most valuable
These are simple agreements that are most helpful (some would say necessary) and will occur frequently. They’re so widely accepted that even without discussion, an experienced partner will assume these meanings.
LHO Partner
RHO You
1C 1H DBL ?
Cuebid (2C) =
Invitational or better raise. 11+ support points.
Jump raise (3H) = Preemptive. 4+ trumps, around 4-7 points, usually with
no ace or king outside.
New suit (1S or 2D) = 5+ cards. Constructive but not forcing.
Denies heart support.
Redouble = Penalty-oriented. 12+ points, usually without heart support.
Good additions
Splinter raise (3S, 4C or 4D in the auction above): A splinter is a double jump that shows a strong raise with 4+ trumps and shortness (singleton or void) in the bid suit. It won’t come up often, but it’s easy to remember and provides a good description that may help you find a short-point slam.
Mixed raise (3C in the auction above): This treatment has been around for many years, but it’s only in the last decade or so that the term “mixed” became widely used. It’s an artificial jump in opener’s suit to show at least 4-card support and a hand that’s stronger than a preempt but weaker than a limit raise. A typical mixed raise has around 6-9 high-card points and a trick or two outside trumps – a hand such as ♠84 ♥Q1076 ♦AJ1043 ♣72.
Sometimes called “semi-preemptive”, the jump has the same meaning if your RHO had responded 1S or 1NT instead of making a negative double. If your bid of opener’s suit is a jump, it's a mixed raise.
For practiced partnerships
Fit-showing jumps (2S or 3D in the auction above) show support for partner’s suit and a strong side suit. This can uncover double fits and help partner evaluate his hand.
Transfer advances (2C or 2D transfer to the next higher suit) create sequences that allow you to show new suits and different types of raises.
General recommendations
Bid the full value of your hand right away, but don’t be a slave to "The Law". It may tell you that it's “safe" to raise to the level that equals the number of trumps your side holds, but you need to consider vulnerability, trump quality and other factors.
Don’t fall in love with balanced hands, even those with 4 or 5 trumps. Be conservative with weak hands that lack singletons or voids.
Stretch to raise in competition – and try not to hang partner when he might have felt pressure to show support with thin values.
If you have support, raise the suit to the appropriate level. Don't give the opponents extra room by using conventional doubles or redoubles to show support.
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© 2022 Karen Walker