Exception #1: With Clubs and Spades and a minimum opener, begin with 1♣, not 1♠.
Exception #2: If the lower ranked suit is longer and the hand is a maximum (17-21 if an Opener, 13+ if a Responder), then start with the 6+card lower ranked suit and bid & rebid the higher 5+card suit — even if this involves increasing the bidding level.
Exception: When opening with 4-4 in the Minors and no 5-card Major, open 1♦ and not 1♣.
1 | 1 | – Forcing |
2 | 2 | – Forcing |
Exception: A natural new suit bid by Responder (after Opener has bid 1NT) is NOT forcing unless it is a jump.
1 | 1 | – Forcing. |
1NT | 2 | – NOT Forcing, 3 Would be forcing. |
– | Pass | |
1 | 1 | – NOT Forcing. |
1NT | 3 | – NOT Forcing. |
– | Pass | |
1 | 2 | – Good hand, often with Diamond support. |
Pass | – A sub-minimum. |
1 | 1 | – Forcing. |
2 | 3 | – NOT Forcing. |
2 | 2 | – Waiting |
2 | 2NT | – No Spade support. |
3 | – Not Forcing. Cancels game force. |
Exception #1: If Responder's previous bid showed 10+ points a jump in a previously bid suit is forcing.
1 | 2 | – Forcing, 10+ points. |
2 | 3 | – Stronger than 4♠. |
Exception #2: If either player has started a game forcing sequence, a raise to any level below game shows a good hand (while a jump to game shows a bad hand according to the Principle of Fast Arrival).
2 | 2 | – Waiting. 2♣ is GF *if* there is a fit. |
2 | 3♠ | – Stronger than 4♠. Forcing. |
Compare this auction to the 2♣:2♦ above, where 2♣ Opener is NOT guaranteed a fit. Only 2♣ opener can cancel the game force !
Exception #3: Any suit bid (new or not) over a jump 2NT bid by Opener is forcing.
1 | 1 | – 6+ points, 4+Spades. |
2NT | 3 | – 5+Spades, forcing.. |
1 | 1 | |
2 | – This strong "reverse" is NOT forcing. |
Exception #1: If Responder has raised one of Opener's suits, any suit bid is forcing — at least until the pair returns to the agreed suit.
1 | 2 | – 6-9 points, 3+Spades. |
3 | – Forcing to at least 3♠. |
Exception #2: A jump shift in a new suit is forcing in the opinion of most experienced players. I do NOT consider them 100% forcing, and will pass with a bare minimum 6 points and a total misfit for partner.
1 | 1NT | – 6-9 points, 0-2 Spades (else 2♠). |
3 | – Forcing in most expert's opinion ... |
...but bidding on with this hand is suicidal.
1 | 2 | – 6-9 points, 5+ Diamonds. |
2 | – Spade stopper. No Heart stopper.  |
– | 1 | – 13-21 points, 5+Spades. |
2 | 3 | – Forcing to 3♠, looking for Diamond help. |
3 | 4 | – A cuebid, looking for a Spade slam. |
1 | 1 | – 6+ points, 4+Spades. |
3 | 4 | – Natural sign-off. NOT a cuebid. |
1 | 1 | Pass | 1 | – NOT forcing. "Forward going". |
Exception: Free suit bids by an unpassed Responder are forcing.
1 | 1 | 1 | – Forcing. No need for 2♦ here. |
1 | Dble | Pass | 1 | – 0-8 points, Spades. |
Pass | 2 | – 16-19, too strong for 1♥. | ||
With 20+, Doubler cues 2♦. |
1 | Dble | Pass | 1 | – 0-8 points, Spades. |
Pass | 1NT | – 19-21, too strong for 1NT. | ||
immediately over 1♦.. |
1 | Pass | 1 | Pass | |
1NT | – 13-14 points, flat. |
1 | 1 | Pass | Pass | |
1NT | – 18-19 points, flat. |
Open this hand with 1♣, even though the Diamonds are stronger.
Open this with 1♦.
Over 1♠:1NT, bid 2♥ and NOT 2♠. 2♠ would locate six cards in your hand. 2♥ will locate nine of your cards (5 Spades and 4 Hearts) and is much more likely to "strike gold" in partner's hand.
Exception: Rebid a good 6-card major before showing a 4-card Minor.