[Rickysa]

During my session with my mentor yesterday, two questions arose and I'd like to get input from others as to the common practice when:

1. Responder has 10+ pts, no support for partner's 1 heart opening, and holds 4 spades and a 5 card minor...SAYC, I believe bids the length (minor), but it seems most folks bid the 4 card major?


2. Hand reevaluation: My understanding is to evaluate point count: HCP + Length when opening or bidding a new suit, and only reevaluate point count when responding to partner's suit by HCP + shortness?

Thanks for any advice,

Rick

[FrancesHinden]

If you have a game forcing hand (about 13+ HCP) it is normal to bid your longer suit first, so with 5 clubs and 4 spades respond 2C, and bid spades next.
Most SA players seem to play the auction 1H - 2C - 2H - 2S as game forcing (often described as "responder's reverse"). That means that if you have 10-12 HCP or so, and respond 2C, you then don't have the strength to bid 2S over partner's minimum rebid. They also play that 1H - 2C - 2S shows extra values in opener's hand, so if opener has a minimum and responder has minimum 2/1 strength, you can miss your spade fit if you don't respond 1S.

In summary:
- with enough to force to game, respond in your longest suit
- with only invitational strength, respond 1S, otherwise you may never find a spade fit.

[SoTired]

1) SAYC, you may bid 2m or 1S. With 10-11, I would just bid 1S. With 12+, I would bid 2m. Reason: With 10-11, you want to invite game and 2m may lead to awkward auctions, maybe losing the spade suit, which is a disaster. 5m is an unlikely final contract. With 12+, you are GF and want to bid your 2 suits in correct order. 5m or even 6m is a possible contract and since you are GF, you can't lose the spade suit.

2) Hand evaluation is a complex issue. You may spend your entire bridge life improving it. Personally, I re-evaluate HCP, length and shortness on each bid. Length has greater importance as declarer and shortness has greater importance as dummy, so your method makes sense.

[Echognome]

1. What the others have said. Whether you make that 13+ or 12+, it's all a matter of hand evaluation and how light your partner is going to open.

2. I agree with SoTired. Hand evaluation is complex. However, as someone learning, I would simply recommend you start with an initial valuation like "I have 12 high card points and an unbalanced hand, etc." Then try to piece together every bit of information from the auction that you can and simply ask the question "Is my hand getting better or worse?" You can then start to think of all the things that might affect that valuation. But if you start with that simple premise and listen to every bid (partner's and opponents), it will make you better at evaluation.

[Rickysa]

Thanks so much for the replies...

As a beginner, I'm wanting to try and hammer down the fundamentals as best as possible, knowing they aren't "rules" per se, as I see advanced players stray from my "notes" in bidding as they are applying the nuances from their knowledge.

Just wanting to make sure my "bidding poster" was correct .

Rick