Bridge is for Everyone - Learn to Play #6 - Respond to a Minor

[@JD-pb2mz]

I just want to say how much I love your tutorials. I took beginners classes last year and with the others in my class I have started a bridge club for beginners. Our little club is expending and every week, I send to our group an email with a link of your absolute must see videos. I am so thankful of your explanations as everything is so clear. We play once a week and for the first time and with your help, we are able to play following the same rules and understanding what partner is saying when bidding (as we keep changing partners every time we play). Your step by step teaching style is absolutely fantastic. Thank you!! Thank You!! Thank you!

[@jadbridge]

Hi JD. What you have done is brilliant. This is why I have the channel. Thank you.

[@McGheeOsse-rn4vz]

Thanks so much for these tutorials! At 13:03, why is the opening bid 1C and not 1D?

[@jadbridge]

Thanks for your kind words. I will answer your question in your correction comment.

[@mmetz105]

Thanks for clarifying!

[@jadbridge]

No worries!

[@mmetz105]

Jad, at 9:04 if East makes any call and West passes then opener can not pass your 1 Heart bid. Is Pass considered a "call"?

[@jadbridge]

Hi mmetz. Yes, pass is a call, but it is not a bid. The same applies to double and redouble. Basically, what I am saying here is that it doesn’t matter what East does, if West passes, opener cannot pass. I hope this clarifies things for you. Good luck with your Bridge.

[@McGheeOsse-rn4vz]

Correction: At 3:55, why is the opening bid 1C and not 1D?

[@jadbridge]

Hi. In the system I teach you must have 4 Diamonds to open 1D. Without 5 of a major or 4 Diamonds, you open 1C, even though, as in this case, you have only two. This system is called Short Club. There is an alternative system called Better Minor which would have you open 1D with this hand, but I don’t like it. I find it much more important to know that the Diamonds are a real suit. I hope this helps. Cheers.

[@dofiah]

Where did you get the nameWhere did you get the name J-process? Thanks for your excellent tutorials.

[@jadbridge]

Hi Dofiah. The J-process is the standard way to work out which suit to bid but is usually taught in several pieces. I put the pieces together into one process to make it easier to understand and use. It needed a name to be able to refer to it in classes. My students suggested the J-process after my initial. It’s not a great name, but it just stuck. I am very pleased you find my videos useful. Good luck with your Bridge. Cheers.

[@khuntankrub]

at 9:17 instead of making a call, RHO passes and does it alter the situation making my different suit bid no longer forcing?

[@jadbridge]

Hi. Thanks for your question. It is excellent that you give me the timecode as I can answer accurately and quickly. In Bridge the term Call means anything said when it is a players turn to bid. This includes a pass, a double or a redouble. These three calls are technically not bids, they are just calls. A bid consists of a number and a strain. All bids are also calls. So, in this case, I use the word call because it doesn’t matter what rho does. I hope that helps. Of course, let me know if you want a more in depth response.

[@khuntankrub]

Cant thank you enough Jad. I hope I am asking common questions that other learners are also able to benefit from your advice. Please pardon me for the many questions as I go thru your videos.. @@jadbridge

[@JD-pb2mz]

You have a big heart! Thank you❤

[@jadbridge]

You are so welcome

[@khuntankrub]

11:43 my understanding is that with two 4 cards majors, bid the hearts. I can understand the reason is that by bidding spades instead, it is denying the existence for a 4 cards in hearts. But why for the case of 5 cards for both Hearts and Spades, Spades will be chosen? Is it not denying the existence of 5 cards in hearts?

[@jadbridge]

Hi. Whichever suit you bid simply says: This is the longest or equal longest of the suits. It doesn’t deny anything about the other suit except that it is not longer. With 4 card suits we bid them “up the line” because if there is a fit in a 4 card suit, then either Partner can bid it. But with a 5 card suit, Partner may only have 3 cards and will not bid the suit. Don’t worry if you don’t understand this explanation. Most Bridge players simply follow the system. But I also like to know why. Bidding theory like this can get tricky, but I will explain as simply as I can.

[@khuntankrub]

with a balanced hand 13-15 HCPs, can I actually respond 3NT regardless whether I have stoppers in all suits?

[@jadbridge]

Hi. This is an interesting question. If Partner opens 1C and you have 13-15 HCP, you can bid 3NT if you have exactly 4 Clubs and 3 of each other suit. With any other hand you would be best to make a different bid.

[@khuntankrub]

Thanks and have a wonderful Christmas my teacher! @@jadbridge

[@jadbridge]

Merry Christmas

[@khuntankrub]

Opener opens with a 1D. My hand is 3S 3H 5C 2D with HCP14. Do I respond with 2 clubs or is 1NT better?

[@jadbridge]

Hi. 1NT is limited to 6-9 points, so you are too strong for that. If you wanted to bid NT you would bid 3NT. But, 2C is the best bid. It shows 10 or more points and is forcing. Opener will bid and give you more information on their hand. You can always bid 3NT later if that still seems appropriate.

[@khuntankrub]

@@jadbridge thank you! How about this strong hand. 5S 2H 3C 3D with 16hcp. Opener opens 1 heart. Am I limited to responding with 1 Spade, not higher despite the partnership has sufficient points to game? Do I always need to respond cheaply as my 1 Spade respond will be a forcing bid anyway?

[@jadbridge]

Hi. Your 17 points are not quite strong enough for a 2S bid which requires 19 points. But 1S is forcing, so it is not an issue.

[@khuntankrub]

I am mistaken to use 6-9, 10-12, 13+ (for supporting the same suit bid) as the range... can you please point me to the episode dealing with the range which will explain that 2S bid (responding with new suit jump) requires 19 points? I am still struggling with the criteria/ranges for bids and rebids.. @@jadbridge

[@jadbridge]

@@khuntankrub Hi. Episode 18 covers the jump bid in a new suit requiring 19+ points.

[@khuntankrub]

certain guides recommend opening with 12 HCPs. Also with 2 clubs and 3 diamonds, to open diamonds instead. I am quite confused with the different systems although both are standard..

[@jadbridge]

Hi. Thanks for your comment. It is one I have heard many times before. I would like to address both the points you raise. First, opening 12 points was usual before Long Points were introduced. But people would often open with a “good” 12 and pass with a “bad” 12. Long points solved this problem. The reason 13 makes sense is that if the partnership has the 25 points for game, then one of them must have at least 13. With regard to opening clubs or diamonds, there are two different modern approaches. I always prefer the one I teach, because it guarantees that the Diamond suit bid is always a proper biddable suit. But, there are those who prefer what is called the better minor. Just make sure you and Partner are on the same page with this opening. Good luck with your bridge.

[@khuntankrub]

Thanks for the clarification! I am on lesson 7 now and can say that your lessons had brought a lot of clarity for me who is trying to pick up bridge online! @@jadbridge

[@CathyBates-b1n]

at 11.47. what do you mean by the cheapest

[@jadbridge]

Hi. The cheapest means the lowest bid. For example, if you could bid 1 Spade or 1 Heart, then 1 Heart is the lower bid. In Bridge we also call this the cheapest bid. Thanks for your question, I am sure others will appreciate this clarification.

[@lanegrann6721]

I've never seen the J-Process in any of the information that I've read, although the same logic is used. Not a fan of creating unofficial terminology. The official is quite enough!

[@jadbridge]

Hi. You are correct. The J-process is a name I use for logic that doesn’t have a name as far as I know. Having a name makes it easier to reference. I am not sure what you regard as official, but if you know of a name I should use, please tell me what it is.

[@garyjgray49]

@@jadbridge Great comeback