Major fifth

With the Bridge, the Majeure fifth is the most widespread system of bidding in the French-speaking world. The principle of opening consists in privileging a major color (or) as soon as it counts at least five charts.

(One will refer to the article Bridge for the definitions and usual abbreviations.)

Principle

The simplicity of the major fifth - and its success - is due to two subjacent reasons:

the sleeve is easier to realize with a major color than with a minor color;
with five charts of the same color, the probability of having the majority of the assets with its partner is significant.

Alternatives

Several alternatives exist. They relate mainly on the criteria and the significance of opening to the stage of 2 (weak or strong) and to the criteria of opening into minor (square fourth or third). In France, prevails the weak alternative 2 (2 and 2 indicate a color of six charts between 6 and 10 points H) and better minor (one will always open minor the longest without major fifth, thus of 1 hands 4-4-3-2).

Historically, of the methods like the Canapé, which obtained its greater successes with Giorgio Belladonna, also allowed to open with four charts but the partner then did not have always time with three charts in this major to support.

Evaluation of a hand

A system of points makes it possible to know the force of a hand and to determine if a bidding can be announced. It will be noted however that it is possible not to hold account for an advertisement of it, but that induces at the same time the adversaries and its partner in error.

The points of honors (points H) are calculated according to the number and of the quality of the honors of a hand:

Ace: 4 points H
King: 3 points H
Lady: 2 points H
Servant: 1 point H

Each chart starting from the fifth in a color Ordered by a large honor account for a point length (L) including for the fifth chart of the major color of the opener (but not of the guarantor in the event of misfit )

Openings

Openings to the stage of 1

The criteria necessary for the openings to the stage of 1 are listed below by set of priorities :

major Color (1 or 1): at least 5 charts and a hand between 12 and 23 points HL;
No trumps (1 SA ): a regular hand of 15-17HL.
minor Color (1 or 1): at least 3 charts and a hand between 12 and 23 points HL.

Openings to the stage of 2

The criteria necessary for the openings to the stage of 2 are listed below:

2: unicoloured hand of 20-23HL or regular hand enters 22 and 23HL;
2: Sustained pressure of handle (that means that one will not stop before having reached the sleeve). All hands of 24HL and more, all distributions;
2 or 2: six charts in the major one named and a hand between 6 and 10HL. It is an opening of stopping intended to obstruct the adversaries;
2 SA : regular hand of 20 or 21HL;
3,3,3 or 3: 7 charts in the color and a hand between 6 and 10HL;
3 SA : hand including/understanding minor (or) of 7 charts, freed (main) and not from king or external ace;
4,4,4 or 4: 8 charts in the color and a hand of less 12:00.

Particular cases

Hands of at least 20HL which one opens with the stage of 1:

It acts with the hands very strongly two-tone of which the description is strongly facilitated by an opening to the stage of 1. Without losing sight of the fact however that the opener risks a master key general, thus these openings will be limited to the hands of less 22:00.

regular Hand of 18-19H: opening of 1 follow-up of 2 SA .

Answers to the openings of 1 with the color

One must answer with hands starting from 5HL. All the answers not limiting the hand of the guarantor are sustained pressure , i.e. they oblige the opener to speak again whatever his hand (in practice, they are all the changes of color).

Principles of answers to the openings of 1 into minor

With a hand of less 12HL, priority must be given to the advertisement of a major fourth. If two major at least fourth are had, one names longest if there is disparity length; if not the least expensive () when they are all the two fourth, most expensive () if they are at least fifths.

With the hands of at least 12HL, priority must be given to the advertisement of its longest color, in the event of equality length, one names the least expensive if they are all the two fourth, most expensive if they are at least fifths (even principle that for the nomination of major in the hands of less 12HL).

Answers to the opening of 1

1: promises four charts in the color, not limited in force. Bidding Sustained pressure .
1: promises four charts in the color, not limited in force. Bidding Sustained pressure .
1: promises four charts in the color, not limited in force. Bidding Sustained pressure .
1 SA : regular hand not comprising neither 4, neither 4, nor 4, between 8 and 10HL (with less 8HL, it is preferable to answer 1). Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
2: promises at least five charts in the color (to be noted that the opener can have only three of them) and a hand between 5 and 10HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
2,2 or 2: unicoloured hand with at least three large honor in the color and at least 16HL. It is a bidding of slam thus obviously Forcing of handle .
2 SA : regular hand without major fourth of 11HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
3: in general promises 5 charts in the color and a hand between 11 and 12 HLD. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
3 SA : regular hand without major fourth between 12 and 14HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .

Answers to the opening of 1

1: promises four charts in the color, not limited in force. Bidding Sustained pressure .
1: promises four charts in the color, not limited in force. Bidding Sustained pressure .
1 SA : regular hand not comprising neither 4, nor 4, between 5 and 10HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
2: promises at least five charts in the color (or one made extremely with) and a hand of at least 11HL. Enchère Car-Sustained pressure (what means that it is sustained pressure for the opener and that the guarantor must speak again on the redemande of the opener).
2: promises at least four charts in the color (to be noted that the opener can have only three of them) and a hand between 5 and 10HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
2 or 2: unicoloured hand with at least three large honor in the color and at least 16HL. It is a bidding of slam thus obviously Forcing of handle .
2 SA : regular hand without major fourth of 11HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
3: in general promises 5 charts in the color and a hand between 11 and 12HLD. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
3 SA : regular hand without major fourth between 12 and 14HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .

Principles of answers to the openings of 1 into major

The concept of made (color of at least eight charts distributed between the two hands) between into force. With it, the points of distribution (D) which are valid only in the event of made : a frequent error of beginner consists in counting these points D before one made was detected.

They amount so that:

doubleton (only two charts in a color): 1 Pt D.
Singleton (only one chart in a color): 2 pts D.
baffle (no chart in a color): 3 pts D.
a ninth asset (for example one made of four charts in the major opening of the opener): 2 pts D.
a tenth asset (for example one made of five charts in the major opening of the opener): 1 Pt D.

When one has did it in the color of opening (3 charts in the color), priority must be given to the expression of this made for the hands of less 11HL. On the other hand, the hands of 11HL and more including/understanding one made must necessarily pass by a change of color sustained pressure before the expression of made. What means that any direct bidding of made into major denies more 10HL.

Answers to the opening of 1

1: four charts in the color, unlimited in force (with a hand including/understanding three and less 11HL, one should not name its but to give did it). Bidding Sustained pressure .
1 SA : regular hand not comprising neither 3, nor 4, between 5 and 10HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
2 or 2: promises at least four charts in the color and a hand of at least 11HL. Enchère Car-Sustained pressure (what means that it is sustained pressure for the opener and that the guarantor must speak again on the redemande of the opener).
2: Bidding of made with. Promises three charts in the color and a hand between 5 and 10 DHL . Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
2: unicoloured hand with at least three large honor in the color and at least 16HL. It is a bidding of slam thus obviously Forcing of handle .
2 SA : regular hand without 3 nor 4 of 11HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
to be noted: the large majority of the players of competition use today this bidding to show one made.
3: Bidding of made with. Promises four charts in the color and a hand between 11 and 12 DHL . Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
3 SA : regular hand without 3 nor 4 between 12 and 14HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
4: Bidding of made with. in general promises 5 charts in the color and a weak hand of less 10:00. It is about a bidding of stopping. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .

Answers to the opening of 1

1 SA : regular hand not comprising made with, between 5 and 10HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
2 or 2: promises at least four charts in the color and a hand of at least 11HL. Enchère Car-Sustained pressure (what means that it is sustained pressure for the opener and that the guarantor must speak again on the redemande of the opener).
2: promises at least five charts in the color and a hand of at least 11HL. Enchère Car-Sustained pressure (what means that it is sustained pressure for the opener and that the guarantor must speak again on the redemande of 'louvror).
2: Bidding of made with. Promises three charts in the color and a hand between 5 and 10 DHL . Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
2 SA : regular hand without 3 of 11HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
3: Bidding of made with. Promises four charts in the color and a hand between 10 and 11 DHL . Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
3 SA : regular hand without 3 between 12 and 16HL. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .
4: Bidding of made with. in general promises 5 charts in the color and a weak hand of less 10:00. It is about a bidding of stopping. Bidding Not Sustained pressure .

Answers to the opening of 1SA

Principles of answers to the opening of 1SA

It is a field of the biddings which is codified enough. There one finds there in particular the conventions most popular of the bridge, the stayman (aiming to discovered of one made 4-4 into major) and Texas or transfer for the anglo- SA let us xons (aiming at naming major at least a fifth). Priority must be given to discovered of one made 4-4 into major. Thus, when one is in possession of one 5-4 major justifying at least a hope of handle, the stayman must be preferred in Texas.

Answers “standard” to the opening of 1SA

2: Convention Stayman. Require at least 8:00 and a major fourth. Bidding Sustained pressure and Conventionnelle . cf below for the developments
2: Convention Texas. Require 5 charts at least with. Bidding Sustained pressure and Conventionnelle . cf below for the developments
2: Texas. Require 5 charts at least with. Bidding Sustained pressure and Conventionnelle . cf below for the developments
2: Generally, Texas. Require 6 charts at least with. Bidding Sustained pressure and Conventionnelle . cf below for the developments
2 SA : Proposal to play 3 SA . Require 8:00 exactly.
3: Generally, Texas. Require 6 charts at least with. Bidding Sustained pressure and Conventionnelle . cf below for the developments
3 SA : To play this contract. Require between 9:00 and 15:00 and denies major at least a fourth.
4 SA : Quantitative. Proposal to play 6 SA . Require between 16:00 and 17:00 and denies major at least a fourth.
5 SA : Proposal to play 7 SA , forces to play at least 6 SA (or possibly 6 or 6) if the opener is minimum. Require between 19:00 and 20:00 and denies major at least a fourth. Bidding Sustained pressure .
6 SA : To play them. Require 18:00 and denies major at least a fourth.

Developments after Stayman

Answers to Stayman

Recall: The sequence is 1 SA 2 (Convention Stayman)

2: The opener does not have a major fourth
2: The opener has 4 charts with but not four charts with
2: The opener has 4 charts with but not four charts with
2 SA : The opener has the two major fourth

Developments after 2

2 and 2: Biddings which show 5 charts in this color. They are simply propositional of handle. The opener will have to be maximum and fitté to announce the sleeve (generally 4 or 4, much more rarely 3 SA ).

2 SA : Remain a proposal for a sleeve made with a hand of 8:00 which has at least a major fourth to justify the use of the Stayman. The opener will pass with a hand minimum of 15:00, will announce 3 SA with 17:00 and 16:00 to trust its judgment (cf evaluation of the hands).

3: Convention of Drive out-Crossed .

It is a bidding Conventionnelle and Sustained pressure of handle which shows two-tone major 5-4. But attention like the objective remains to make player the contract with the opener of 1 SA , it is two-tone with 5 and 4.

3: Convention of Drive out-Crossed .

It is a bidding Conventionnelle and Sustained pressure of handle which shows two-tone major 5-4. But attention like the objective remains to make player the contract with the opener of 1 SA , it is two-tone with 5 and 4.

One finds the biddings of 3 SA , 4 SA , 5 SA … which preserve the same direction as if they had been carried out directly after the opening of 1 SA , without being last by a Stayman.

Developments after 2

2: Bidding which shows 5 charts in this color. It is simply propositional of handle. The opener will have to be maximum and fitté to announce the sleeve (generally 4, much more rarely 3 SA ).

2 SA : Remain a proposal for a sleeve made with a hand of 8:00 which has four charts with to justify the use of the Stayman. The opener will pass with a hand minimum of 15:00, will announce 3 SA with 17:00 and with 16:00 will trust its judgment (cf evaluation of the hands).

3: Proposal for a sleeve made with a hand of 8:00 which has four charts with. The opener will pass with a hand minimum of 15:00, will announce 3 SA with 17:00 and with 16:00 will trust its judgment (cf evaluation of the hands).

One finds the biddings of 3 SA , 4 SA , 5 SA … which preserve the same direction as if they had been carried out directly after the opening of 1 SA , without being last by a stayman. Attention 4 SA directly after 2 is a quantitative bidding and not a blackwood . What means that to pose the blackwood, the guarantor must as a preliminary name another color before announcing 4 SA .

Developments after 2

2 SA : Remain a proposal for a sleeve made with a hand of 8:00 which has four (even five) charts with to justify the use of Stayman. The opener will pass with a hand minimum (15H), will announce 3 SA with 17:00 without 3 charts with and will think of saying 3 with a maximum hand comprising 3 charts to recover possible made 5-3. With 16:00, it will trust its judgment (or a part in the air will throw).

3: Proposal for a sleeve made with a hand of 8:00 which has at least four charts with. The opener will pass with a hand minimum.

Developments after 2SA

3: Proposal of handle with 4 made with a hand of 8:00 which has four charts with.
3: Proposal of handle with 4 made with a hand of 8:00 which has four charts with.
4: To play them.
4: To play them.

Developments after Texas

Answers to the opening of 2SA

Principles of answers to the opening of 2SA

One finds the same structure of answers there as on the opening of 1 SA . In particular the bidding of 3 which is a stayman and the biddings of 3,3,3 and 4 which is Texas.

The research of made 4-4 priority remainder, therefore the use of the Stayman is on that of the Texas. It should be noted that there is no more concept of effort of handle. Any bidding becomes sustained pressure of handle (except for the biddings of Texas that certain players play with null hands). Indeed, compared to the bidding of 1 SA , there is a stage of available in less and the precision of the opening is increased since the fork is reduced to 2 points against 3 for the opening of 1 SA .

Play on Internet

The French standard (SEF) is very close to the American standard (SAYC). It should especially be remembered that, on the other side of the Atlantic, the opening of 2 is also weak and thus that 2 is the only strong opening; in France, 2 is only sustained pressure handle (2 is extremely also, but one can then stop before the sleeve).

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