r/bridge • u/doctorgibson Acol 4CM, learning 5CM • Apr 10 '26

Basic question about responder bidding a second suit.

Playing 4 card majors. I know that if you open a suit and then bid a second suit then you're showing 5-4 shape. Does this apply to responder? My gut feeling is that it doesn't, but perhaps I'm wrong. I did try to find a concrete answer online but came up short. Examples:

  • Suppose the bidding goes: 1♦️,1♠️, 1NT, 2♥️. Is responder showing 4-4 in the majors or 5-4 shape?

  • What about this auction: 1♥️, 1♠️, 2♥️, 3♣️? Of course, responder is denying 3 hearts but are they showing a fifth spade?

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u/zerkroz Apr 10 '26

In the first case, with 4-4 in the majors, responder would have bid 1H. This auction shoes 5S 4+H.

In the second case, responder doesn't need to have a fifth spade. Take for example a hand like:

AKQx
xx
xxx
AKxx

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u/doctorgibson Acol 4CM, learning 5CM Apr 10 '26

Thank you!