Reply to Partners Suit Opening

Guide-lines

If you have 6+ points you must reply to your partner unless the opposition enter the bidding. The bidding order of preference is:

Support your partners Major Suit
Support your partners Minor Suit
With No Suit Support bid your longest suit at the lowest level

Reply at the 2-level promises 10+ points & a 5+ card suit
1NT default bid, promises 6 to 9 points

With 10 to 12 Points and a balanced hand bid 2NT

Support Partners Major Suit

If partner opens 1H or 1S and you have at least a 4-card suit in support and 6+ points then you must reply and support partners suit at the appropriate level.

If you have:

6 to 9 points - raise partner with a single raise and bid 2H or 2S
10 to 12 points - raise partner with a jump bid and bid 3H or 3S
13 to 19 points - raise partner with a jump bid directly to Game

Your have given a limiting bid and your partner now knows the strength of your hand and can make a judgement on whether to continue bidding.

In the first situation where you have made a single raise, if partner bids 3H or 3S they are investigating if Game is possible:

With 6 to 7 points Pass
With 8 to 9 points Raise to game and bid 4H or 4S

Support Partners Minor Suit

If partner opens 1C or 1D and you have at least a 4-card suit in support and 6+ points then you must reply and support partners suit at the appropriate level.

If you have:

6 to 9 points - raise partner with a single raise and bid 2C or 2D
10 to 12 points - raise partner with a jump bid and bid 3C or 3D
13 to 19 points - find a holding bid by first bidding another suit even if it is a 3-card suit, to see partners rebid. This is because you may find you do not have enough strength to bid a minor game whereas bidding and making game in 3NT is a better option.

No Suit Support

Bid your longest suit at the lowest level possible. If you have options follow the same rules as you would for opening i.e. bid a major suit before a minor, etc.

This is an unlimited bid showing 6+ points

To reply at the 2-level you must have at least a 5-card suit and 10+ points.

If you have 6 to 9 points and cannot bid your long suit at the 1-level then bid 1NT. This limiting default bid does not promise a balanced hand.

No Suit Support & Balanced Hand with 10 to 12 Points

Bid 2NT. This limiting bid helps partner to decide on the best rebid.