The 5-suit is usually only used in the case of the minor suits. It is similar to the 3NT opening bid. But see the second example below. A 5♣ bid would show a 9-carder in ♣s and, say, 12 points and further that his minor suit is not solid. It is the minor equivalent of the 4-suit major opener. In the following example, North has eight diamonds and 8 points:

North as opener
♠ 7
♥ 10 5 2
♦ A K J 9 8 6 5 4 3
♣ —

North	South
5♦	?

Note that the hand is just below the strength required for a 2♦ opener, which would have been preferred had the ♦Q been held instead of the ♦J and was facing a partner who had not yet passed.

Opening a major at the 5-level

North as opener
♠ Q J 10 9 8 7 3 2
♥ A
♦ A K Q 10
♣ —

The five-level major opener usually shows a nine-carder. This hand is almost a solid 11 tricks without support! Even so, North’s opening of 5♠ is a calculated risk. It is asking South to raise with one top honour or go for Grand Slam with both.

North	South
5♠	?

Response

South would reply as follows:

Response to a 5 in a major opening bid
South	What his reply means
Pass	I have neither ace nor king of ♠s
6♠	I have either the ♠A or the ♠K
7♠	I have both top honours

Pre-emptive response

Normally you would pass partner’s pre-emptive bid, unless you have support for partner’s suit or a very good hand (16+ points)

Partner’s reply can also be pre-emptive, provided it is a double jump takeout. Note that a jump takeout would show strength, a double jump shows weakness and a 7-carder, similar to the 3-suit opener.

North	South
1♥	3♠

South’s double jump takeout response to North’s normal one of a suit opener shows 8–11 points and his long spade suit. If South had a stronger hand he would bid 2♠ in response to a 1♥ opener. This would show 16+ points and a signal for the partnership to investigate a fit for a contract at a suitable level. For example with this hand:

South as responder
♠ A J 9 7 6 5 4
♥ A
♦ A K Q J 10
♣ —

South has 19 points and a long spade suit.

North	South
1♥	2♠

If South had a better distribution of honours, but still 16+ points, he might jump straight to Game. He certainly would in any case if he had an 8-carder in spades. And the following hand might be a suitable candidate.

South as responder
♠ A K Q 9 8 7 6 5
♥ A 9
♦ A J 8
♣ —

North	South
1♥	4♠

In summary:

South as responder to one of a suit opener
Response	Points	Distribution
2♠	16+	Minimum four-card ♠ suit
3♠	8-11	Weak but a long ♠ suit
4♠	16+	Strong and a long ♠ suit

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To continue reading go to: Defence to pre-empt

By Nigel Benetton – based on the UK Acol Bridge Bidding System

Last updated: Friday, 2nd July 2021