ACBL01C – Bidding: Responding Up the Line Ward Trumbull
Apr 29, 2010
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Conflict Problem
When your partner opens a minor and you have 4 hearts and 5+ spades, many players respond with 1 spade.
However, if you are playing “up-the-line” responses (as I teach), you
would respond 1 heart, not 1 spade. Hence, there is a conflict among
bridge players on this point.
Neither approach is right or wrong. It is a matter of preference.
Editor’s Note
Those who would bid the 1 spade (per above) also often employ
another bidding technique known as “new-suit-forcing” (NSF). These forcing bids are based on HCP, and the decision to make or not make such bids is extremely complicated. For instance, some “forcing bids” are made in suits with as few as three cards. I personally feel this convention should be left to the skilled advanced players.
“Up-the-line” Logic
1. You respond based on suits, not aces and face cards. That is, you
will respond a major that has no aces or face cards.
2. You BELIEVE that 4 opposite four is better than 5 opposite 3 when
a pair has a fit in both majors.
3. If the responder passes up a chance to name a 4 card major, it
means he/she doesn’t have 4 cards in that major. Pay attention to
what partner’s response says about any unbid major.
A. 1 club 1 diamond I have 6+ HCP, a very good
suit and haven’t got to the
majors yet.
ACBL01C – Bidding: Responding Up the Line Apr 29, 2010l
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´Up-the-line´ Logic (continued)
3. B. 1 club 1 spade I have 6+HCP and don’t
have 4 hearts.
C. 1 club 1 notrump I have 6-9 HCP and no 4+
or 2 clubs card major.
D. 1 club 2 notrump I have 12-15 HCP and no
4+ card major.
E. 1 heart 1 notrump I have 6-9 HCP and don’t
have 3 hearts or 4 spades.
F. 1 heart 2 diamonds I have 10+ HCP and don’t
have 4+ spades..
G 1 spade 2 diamonds I have 10+ HCP and don’t
have 4+ hearts.
Note: This is not treated the same as example A
above. At the 2 level you should be bidding
the majors over the minors.
H. 1 heart/spade 2 notrump I have 12-15 HCP and don’t
have 4+ in the unbid major.
Problems with “Up-the-Line” Logic
You will have problems playing “up-the-line” responses:
1. If you can’t/won’t respond in a major that has no ace or face card.
2. If you think the first one to bid notrump will get to play the hand.
3. If you think notrump contracts are god’s gift to bridge players.
ACBL01C – Bidding: Responding Up the Line Apr 29, 2010l
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Problems with “Up-the-Line” Logic (continued)
4. If you go for notrump contracts in duplicate but the “safer” major
contracts in rubber bridge.
5. If you still don’t buy into the fact that 4-opp-4 is better than 5-opp-3.
6. If you respond a 5 card spade suit instead of your 4 card heart suit,
and neither of you later bids their 4 card heart suit, you will miss out on
your 4 opposite 4 heart fit.
Pro and Con Examples
Not Up The Line with NSF Up the Line without NSF
--------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
1. 1 club 1 spade 1. 1 club 1 spade
1 notrump 2 hearts * 1 notrump 2 hearts
A. Does responder have 4 or 5 hearts? A. Responder has 5/5 in
B. Does responder have opening HCP? the majors and does not
have opening HCP.
B. Opener can pass, make a
support bid or bid notrump.
1 club 1 spade
1 notrump 3 hearts **
* Forcing (NSF)
** Forcing because of jump shift A. Responder has 5/5 in the
majors and opening points.
B. Opener picks game in a
major or 3 notrump.
ACBL01C – Bidding: Responding Up the Line Apr 29, 2010l
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Not Up The Line with NSF Up the Line without NSF
----------------------------------- ----------------------------------
1 club 1 spade
1 notrump 4 hearts
A. Responder has 5/6 hearts
and 6+ spades and opening
HCP
B. Opener can pass or bid 4
spades
Not Up The Line with NSF Up the Line without NSF
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
2. 1 club 1 spade 2. 1 club 1 spade
2 hearts * 2 hearts
A. Opener has 4 hearts and A. Opener has 6 clubs and 5
2/3+ clubs. hearts.
B. Responder still may have B. Logic: Why offer 4 card
4 hearts. hearts when responder
does not have 4 hearts.
* Forcing Of course – it’s 6/5.
C. With 6 clubs and 5 hearts, opener
would have to bid clubs once and
hearts twice to describe the hand.
Or bid hearts first and then repeat
clubs, and hope partner figures it
out.
ACBL01C – Bidding: Responding Up the Line Apr 29, 2010l
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Not Up The Line with NSF Up the Line without NSF
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
3. Responder has 4 hearts and 5+ spades. 3. Same.
1 club 1 heart 1 club 1 heart
1 notrump 2 spades 1 notrump 2 hearts
A. Won’t happen. A. Responder doesn’t have
Opening points.
B. Opener can pass or bid
notrump.
Not Up The Line with NSF Up the Line without NSF
---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------
4. Responder has 5/5 in majors and 4. Same.
5 HCP (an ace and jack).
1 club 1 spade 1 club 1 spade
1 notrump ? 1 notrump 2 hearts
A. If 2 hearts is forcing, will responder A. This 5/5 hand is too good
bid 2 hearts? not to try and get a major
fit. 2 hearts is not forcing.
B. Opener can pass, make a
support bid or rebid a
notrump.
ACBL01C – Bidding: Responding Up the Line Apr 29, 2010l
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Not Up The Line with NSF Up the Line without NSF
---------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
5. Responder has 5 hearts and 4 spades. 5. Same.
1 club 1 hearts 1 club 1 heart
1 notrump 2 hearts 1 notrump 2 hearts
A. 2 hearts is not forcing. A. Same.
Opener could pass.
B. Opener denied 4 spades with the B. Same.
1 notrump rebid.
C. Some responders might instead bid C. Never.
2 spades to show 5/4 in the majors.
Note: In either system, responder must skip to 3 hearts to make a forcing
bid.
Recap
--------
I’ve given examples of:
a. Responder with 4 hearts and 5 spades
b. Responder with 5 hearts and 5 spades
c. Responder with 5 hearts and 4 spades
d. Responder has 5/6 hearts and 6+ spades
e. Opener with 6 clubs and 5 hearts
In all cases except item “a”, “up-the-line” is preferable. Non
“up-the-line” only works better for item “a” if you are playing new-suit-
forcing, and you have the points to make that 2 heart forcing bid.