Major suit openers

Notes

1. 1.
   Limit raises, based on playing 5-card majors. Over a single raise, a change of suit rebid from opener is a trial bid asking for help in that suit and looking for game. With minimum points, rebid the first suit at the three level; with maximum points, bid game. Any change of suit after a double raise is a cue bid.
2. 2.
   Jacoby raises. The rationale behind the lower bid showing more points is to give the partnership more room to explore slam — for example through cue bids.
3. 3.
   A pre-emptive raise showing a highly distributional hand, not necessarily with many points. Use with care: bidding this vulnerable against non-vulnerable opponents invites a punishing double.
4. 4.
   A splinter — game force in the major, with a singleton or void in the suit bid. A single jump (e.g. 1♠ – 3♣) promises a club singleton; a double jump (e.g. 1♠ – 4♦) promises a diamond void. With a weak hand opener jumps to game; otherwise start cue bidding in other suits.