Constructive Auctions After a Minor Suit (1C or 1D) Opening Bid
---------------------------------------------------------------

Constructive auctions when opener starts with 1C or 1D are the most difficult
because opener has a wider range of hand types than with other opening bids.

Responder still has the same responsibilities -- determine whether or not to bid game,
and determine what strain is best.

Determining whether or not to bid game is the same as before -- I will repeat the table which
summarizes when to bid game:

                                  Opener
Responder           Minimum      Medium       Maximum

Minimum             No                 No            Yes
Medium               No                Yes           Yes
Maximum            Yes               Yes           Yes

The strain is a bit more complicated. Responder's most important objective is to determine
whether or not the partnership has a major suit fit. If you always keep this objective in
mind, the appropriate bids are much easier to remember.

Let's summarize what you know about opener's hand:

1) Opener does not have a 5-card major. In many cases, opener has a 4-card major.

2) Opener does not have a 1NT opener.

3) In a large majority of cases, opener has at least 4 cards in the minor suit. (The only
time opener doesn't have at least a 4-card minor is with 4-4-3-2, 4-4-2-3, 4-3-3-3, and 3-4-3-3
distribution and not 15-17 points.)

Finding a 4-4 major fit
-----------------------

As mentioned above, responder's most important objective is to find the major suit fit.
Therefore, if responder has a 4-card major, it should be bid. With both 4 hearts and 4 spades,
responder should bid hearts. (When partner opens 1C, some players will bid 1D with 4+ diamonds and
a 4-card major; however, the modern tendency is to bypass the diamond suit and bid 1H.)

Once responder bids a 4-card major, opener must raise with 4-card support:
   - with a minimum hand, opener bids 2 of the major
   - with a medium hand, opener bids 3 of the major
   - with a maximum hand, opener bids 4 of the major

If responder is fortunate enough to hear a raise, the strain is set, and it is easy for
responder to figure out whether or not to bid game.

Note that if responder bids 1H and opener has 4 spades and not 4 hearts, opener should bid 1S.

Responding with a 5+ card major suit
------------------------------------

With 5+ spades, responder should always bid 1S (even with 4 hearts). With 5+ hearts and not 5 spades,
responder should bid 1H.

Since responder only guarantees 4 of the major, opener usually only raises with 4-card support.
Opener can raise with 3 to an honor with appropriate distribution -- a void, singleton,
or small doubleton, but responder should assume opener is showing 4-card support.

Note that if opener makes a minimum non-raise rebid, and responder has a minimum hand, responder
should pass. You will occasionally miss a 5-3 fit, but the rewards for staying at a lower level
far outweigh the risk of getting too high.

NT Responses
------------

With no 4+ card major, responder should usually make a NT response:

 - bid 1NT with a minimum hand (6-9 points)
 - bid 2NT with a medium hand (10-11 points)
 - bid 3NT with a maximum hand (12+ points)

 If opener opens 1C and you have 4+ diamonds and a minimum hand, you should bid 1D.

 With an unbalanced hand, 5+ cards in the other minor, and a medium or maximum hand,
 responder should bid the long minor. However, with a medium or maximum hand balanced hand
 (5-3-3-2), it is often better to make the appropriate NT response.


Raising Opener's Suit
---------------------

Rarely should you immediately raise opener's suit. This is usually done with 5-card support
(since opener can have only 3), and no other alternatives (e.g., bidding a major suit or NT).

 - With a minimum hand, raise to 2
 - With a medium hand, raise to 3
 - With a maximum hand, you must find another forcing bid.


Quiz
----

Your partner opens 1C. What do you bid with each of the following hands?

1) S xxxx
   H Kxx
   D x
   C Kxxxx

2) S KQxx
   H xxxx
   D xx
   C Qxx

3) S Kxxxx
   H KQxx
   D xx
   C xx

4) S xxxxx
   H KQxx
   D Kx
   C xx

5) S xxxx
   H xx
   D KQxxx
   C Kx

6) S Kxx
   H Qxx
   D xx
   C Kxxxx

7) S xx
   H xxx
   D Qxx
   C KQxxx

8) S KQxx
   H x
   D Qxx
   C K10xxx

9) S KQxx
   H xx
   D xxx
   C KQxx

10) S xxxx
    H xx
    D KQx
    C KQxx

11) S Kxx
    H Kxx
    D xx
    C KQxxx

12) S Kxx
    H Kxx
    D x
    C KQxxxx

13) S xx
    H Kxx
    D KQxxx
    C Qxx

14) S KQxx
    H Kxxx
    D Kx
    C Qxx

15) S KQx
    H xx
    D Kxx
    C KQxxx
