Dealing with major suits

After a 1C/1D opening, responder bids 2H/2S with a 6-card suit and 9+ points. This is F1 and opener may

• bid 2NT/3C/3D/3NT to show shortness in partner's major;
• bid 2S to show a 4-card suit and deny 2-card support for heart (may have 1 heart), F1;
• bid 3H to show a 4-card suit and deny 2-card support for spade;
• bid new suit at 3 level to show void in partner's major, non-forcing;
• raise to 3H/3S in case of 12-15 points and 2-card support;
• raise to 4H/4S in case of 16-21 points and 2-card support;
• explore slam possibility via Blackwood or HSST.

If responder does not have a 6-card major with 9+ points, his first priority would be to show a 4-card major in order to look for a major fit. Depending on the major holding, the bidding sequences are as follows:

Major holding	Bid	Responder's continuations in looking for major fit
4 hearts	1H
4 spades	1S
4-4 in majors	1H	Raise spades if partner shows 4 spades
5+ hearts	1H	Consider to rebid the major if partner shows no support, especially in case of an unbalanced hand and at a low level
5+ spades	1S
5+ hearts and 4 spades	1H	Play at 2H or raise hearts if partner shows heart support Raise spades if partner shows 4 spades Consider to rebid hearts if partner denies 4-card major, especially in case of an unbalanced hand and at a low level
5+ spades and 4 hearts	1S	Play at 2S or raise spades if partner shows spade support Consider to rebid 2H if partner denies spade support
5-5 in majors	1H	Play at 2H or raise hearts if partner shows heart support Rebid 2S (generally F1 except for opener minimum) if partner denies heart support and denies 4 spades by bidding 1NT/2C/2D Rebid 3S (GF) if partner denies heart support and denies 4 spades by bidding 1NT/2C/2D

Note: The above table implies that 1C/1D > 1S denies 4 hearts unless responder rebids hearts, in which case responder has 5+ (usually exactly 5) spades and exactly 4 hearts.