(339) Unbalanced 1-Suited Opening Hands

This Week in Bridge 

Opener’s Rebid Collection
(339) Unbalanced 1-Suited Opening Hands 

©AiB                                                      Robert S. Todd
Level: 3 of 10 (1 of 6)                           
robert@advinbridge.com  

General 

A 1-suited hand has a 6+card suit and no other 4+card suit.  This means that when we hold a 1-suiter we usually have an unbalanced hand (one with a singleton or a void).  The only 1-suited hands without a singleton or void are 6322 or 7222 semi-balanced hands.  When we are the opening bidder and have enough values to open the bidding, then we must describe our hand to partner.  Let’s take a look at how we best do so when we hold a 1-suited hand. 

 

1-Suited Major Suit Hands

When we open the bidding with a 1-suited hand that has a 6+card Major suit, then we start by bidding our long suit (showing partner at least a 5-card Major suit) and plan to later further describe our shape (additional distribution) and strength.  

 

“Buckets” (Strength)

  •  12-14 points     Small (S)

  • 15-17 points     Medium (M)

  • 18-19 points     Large (L)

  • 20-21 points     Extra-Large (XL)

Example 1
♠ KQT873
♥ AJ9
♦ 5
♣ K43
1♠        1NT
__?
Here we rebid 2♠, showing a 6-card ♠ suit and minimum opening bid values.  This 2♠ rebid usually shows a 1-suited hand (no other 4-card suit).   

Example 2 
♠  9
♥ AKJ843
♦ AQ9
♣ QT9
1♥        1♠
__?
Here we rebid 3♥, showing a 1-suited hand with a 6-card ♥ suit and extra values (about 15-17 HCP).  

 

Example 3
♠  9
♥ AKJT843
♦ AQ9
♣ T9
1♥        1♠
__?
Here we only have 14 HCP, but with an excellent suit and a 7th ♥ we jump to 3♥.  This hand has about the same playing strength as one with a 6-card suit and an extra King. 

 

Example 4
♠  9
♥ AKT98743
♦ AQ9
♣ T
1♥        1♠
__?
With this hand we jump to 4♥.  This shows an 8-card ♥ suit and about minimum opening values. 

 

Example 5
♠ AKT743
♥ 9
♦ A97
♣ AKT
1♠        1NT
__?
Here we are too strong to rebid 3♠ and we need to make a game forcing bid.  So we make a jump shift by bidding 3♣, pretending like we have a 4-card ♣ suit.  

Example 6
♠ AKQT743
♥ J
♦ A9
♣ QT7
1♠        1NT
__?
Here we rebid 3NT to show a solid 7+card ♠ suit and an outside Ace or King.  This gives partner a choice of games between 3NT or 4♠.  With about 8 tricks in our hand, we just need partner to produce 1 trick to make 3NT. 

 

Summary of Rebids
1M       1NT
__?
If we have a 1-suiter in a Major, we start by opening the bidding with 1-Major (1M), hear partner respond 1NT, and have the following rebid options:

  • (S) 2M           11-14 HCP with a 6-card suit 

  • (M) 3M          15-17 HCP with a 6-card suit (with a longer suit we may stretch with fewer HCP)

  • (S+) 4M          11-15 HCP with a good 7-card or 8-card suit (4-level shape + 1-level strength)

Hard Hands

  •  (L) 3-minor      Open 1-Major and jump shift into 3-card minor (“lie in a minor”) – Game Force!

  • (XL+)               Here we usually do not start with a 1M opening; we probably open 2♣.  

  • (M+) 3NT        “Tricks”  This rebid shows a solid suit, 6+card Major, with outside winners.

 

 1-Suited Minor Suit Hands

When we hold a 1-suited hand with a long minor suit, hand type becomes a more important factor for us to consider.  With an unbalanced hand, we will show our long suit and strength to partner (similar to a Major suit auction), but with a semi-balanced hand, we should consider bidding notrump (the appropriate amount) to describe our hand. 

The location of our honors also helps us determine which rebid we should make – whether to treat the hand as unbalanced or balanced. 

Example 7
1♦        1♠
__?

Values              Bidding Options 

12-14 points     Rebid 2♦ or rebid 1NT
15-17 points     Rebid 3♦ or Open 1NT
18-19 points     Jump shift into a 3-card minor or rebid 2NT
20-21 points     Jump shift into a 3-card minor or open 2NT

  

Solid Suits

When we have a 6+card solid suit (either Major or a minor), like AKQxxx+, then we can show a hand with this trick-taking strength by opening our long suit and rebidding 3NT. 

 

Example 8 - Solid Suit Auctions
1♠        1NT
3NT

1♥        1NT
3NT

 

1♦        1♠
3NT
Each of these auctions shows a long solid suit with enough outside values to open the bidding at the 1-level (usually at least one outside Ace or King). 

  

Conclusion

When we have a 1-suited hand (a 6+card suit and no other 4+card suit), we need to make a rebid to show our long suit and our strength.  This is not quite as simple as describing a balanced hand, but if you focus on communicating both these factors then you can usually effectively describe your opening hand to partner with your rebid.