What do you open the bidding when you only hold four cards in the major suits?
In this lesson
You open the short club or the short diamond. The short club — also called the preferred minor bid — is used when you have opening-hand points but no major suit long enough to become trumps. It is a waiting bid: it tells partner you have opening points, and only if you rebid the suit a second time is it a real suit.
This lesson builds on the opening bid skills from our Beginners Bridge lessons.
In the SAYC (Standard American) bidding system, if you do not have a five-card major suit and you have 13–14 HCP, there is no major-suit or no-trump opening available to you. Instead there is a bid which promises at least a three-card suit, called a short club opening bid (also referred to as a preferred minor suit opening). Use it only when you are in a position to start, or open, the bidding.
Requirements
You must have at least three club or diamond cards. If your minor suits are equal length, always bid the club suit; if clubs are shorter, open the diamond suit. Partner needs to be aware that your club or diamond opening could be — but may not be — a short suit.
Preferred minor opening bid
Opening 1♣ shows 13–21 points and 3+ clubs, and possibly a four-card major suit. Opening 1♦ shows 13–21 points and 3+ diamonds (your club suit will be shorter than your diamonds) and hints at a four-card major suit.
Bid 1♣ when you have…
- 13–21 HCP
- Four or fewer cards in both major suits
- At least three club cards (no upper limit on length)
- A club suit longer than, or equal to, your diamond suit
Bid 1♦ when you have…
- 13–21 HCP
- Four or fewer cards in both major suits
- At least three diamond cards (no upper limit on length)
- A diamond suit longer than your club suit
Instant Progress Quiz — check all the correct answers
Question 1: What do you open the bidding with this hand?
- ♠ Q J 3 2
- ♥ A K 9 4
- ♦ J 10 7 5
- ♣ Q
Question 2: What do you open the bidding with this hand?
- ♠ K 8 6 5
- ♥ Q J 8 7
- ♦ K J
- ♣ K 10 8
Exercise: this is your hand and it is your turn to bid.
What will you bid?
- ♠ K 9 7
- ♥ A K J 2
- ♦ K 8 7
- ♣ 9 7 5
Practice This Lesson
Use a preferred minor suit opening bid in a guided practice hand.
PlayExtra for Experts
A different game on the same subject as this lesson, with questions for community discussion.
Play