Limit Raises: Show Invitational Strength with Trump Support
You pick up a hand with 11 points and four-card support for partner’s major. Not strong enough to force to game, but too good to settle for a simple raise to the 2-level. What do you do? Welcome to the limit raise - one of the most useful tools in your bidding arsenal.
What Is a Limit Raise?
A limit raise is a jump response to partner’s opening bid that shows invitational values (usually 10-12 points) and solid support for partner’s suit. When partner opens 1♥️ and you hold four hearts with 11 points, you jump directly to 3♥️. This single bid tells partner everything they need to know: you have support, you have values, but you’re not quite strong enough to insist on game.
The “limit” part of the name refers to the fact that you’ve limited your hand - you’re showing a specific, narrow range of strength. Unlike a forcing bid that says “we’re not done talking,” a limit raise says “here’s exactly what I’ve got - you decide what to do next.”
Point Range: The Sweet Spot
The standard range for a limit raise is 10-12 support points. But what counts as a support point?
Start with your high card points (HCP), then add points for:
- Doubleton: 1 point
- Singleton: 3 points
- Void: 5 points
These distributional points only count when you have support for partner’s suit. A singleton is worthless if you’re playing in notrump, but it’s gold when partner’s suit is trump.
Here’s the spectrum:
- 6-9 points: Simple raise (1♥️ - 2♥️)
- 10-12 points: Limit raise (1♥️ - 3♥️)
- 13+ points: Game-forcing raise or other forcing bid
Some partnerships shade this range slightly. You might make a limit raise with a “good 9” (say 9 HCP plus a doubleton) or a “bad 13” (13 flat with all queens and jacks). That’s fine - bridge isn’t played by computer.
Trump Support Requirements
How much support do you need? The standard answer is four cards or more. When partner opens a major, your limit raise promises at least four-card support.
Why four? Because with four-card support, you know you have an eight-card fit or better (partner opened with at least four). Eight trumps is the magic number where you can usually draw the opponents’ trumps and still have some left over for ruffing.
Can you make a limit raise with three-card support? Generally no, but there are exceptions:
- Partner opened 1♠️ and rebid spades (showing 6+), and you have three honors
- You have such good trumps (like AKQ) that they’re worth more than generic four-card support
- You’re playing a special convention that uses 3♥️ for a different purpose
When in doubt, stick with the four-card requirement. You won’t go far wrong.
What Opener Does Next
The beauty of a limit raise is that it puts opener in the driver’s seat. You’ve described your hand precisely, and now opener makes the final decision based on their strength and shape.
With a minimum opening (12-14 points): Pass. You have 22-26 combined points, which isn’t quite enough for game. Trust your partnership maximum and settle for a partscore. Many players hate passing at the 3-level, but game is a long shot when you’re on the minimum side of the range.
With a medium hand (15-17 points): Bid game. You have 25-29 combined points - exactly the range where game should make most of the time. Just bid 4♥️ or 4♠️ and move on to the next hand.
With a maximum opening (18+ points): Consider slam. With 28-30+ combined points, slam is possible. Make a move toward slam by bidding a new suit (asking for control), using Blackwood, or making another slam try. Don’t just blast into slam - investigate first.
With extra shape: Sometimes distribution matters more than points. If you opened 1♥️ with a 6-4 hand and 14 HCP, you should probably bid game opposite a limit raise. Your distribution is worth extra tricks.
Limit Raises vs. Forcing Raises
Beginning players often confuse limit raises with forcing raises. They’re completely different animals.
A limit raise (1♥️ - 3♥️) is invitational. It says “I have 10-12 points and support. You decide if we belong in game.” Opener can pass.
A forcing raise shows 13+ points and support, and it typically starts with a different bid. Most modern partnerships use one of these methods:
Jacoby 2NT: After 1♥️ or 1♠️, a jump to 2NT shows 4+ support and 13+ points, forcing to game. This lets you explore slam without jumping past 3NT.
2/1 Game Force: Bid a new suit at the 2-level first (forcing to game), then support partner’s suit. For example: 1♠️ - 2♣️ - 2♠️ - 3♠️. You’ve shown 13+ points and spade support.
Bergen Raises: Some play that 3♣️ over a major shows exactly 4-card support with 10-12 points (limit raise), while 3♦️ shows 4-card support with 7-9 points (weak). The direct jump to 3♥️ is used for a different hand type. Check your partnership agreements.
The key distinction: limit raises are invitational, forcing raises demand game or better.
Example Auctions
Let’s see limit raises in action with complete hands.
Example 1: Minimum Opener Passes
Opener (South):
♠️ AQ742
♥️ K3
♦️ J85
♣️ K92Responder (North):
♠️ K863
♥️ A74
♦️ KQ6
♣️ 1054Auction:
South North
1♠️ 3♠️
PassOpener has 12 HCP, a minimum opening. Responder has 11 HCP plus 1 for the doubleton club, total 12 support points. Combined they have 24 points - not quite enough for game. Opener correctly passes, and 3♠️ will likely make. If opener bid 4♠️, they’d be stretching and might go down.
Example 2: Good Fit Makes Game
Opener (West):
♠️ 6
♥️ KQJ75
♦️ AK94
♣️ J83Responder (East):
♠️ A43
♥️ A1082
♦️ 752
♣️ Q65Auction:
West East
1♥️ 3♥️
4♥️ PassWest has 15 HCP - a clear acceptance. East has 10 HCP plus 1 for the doubleton spade, total 11 support points. Together 26 points, and the nine-card heart fit with opener’s strong hearts makes 4♥️ a good contract.
Example 3: Slam Try After Limit Raise
Opener (South):
♠️ AKJ965
♥️ A3
♦️ KQ7
♣️ 84Responder (North):
♠️ Q1074
♥️ K82
♦️ A65
♣️ K93Auction:
South North
1♠️ 3♠️
4♣️ 4♦️
4♠️ PassSouth has 17 HCP and a great six-card suit - too much to just bid 4♠️. South tries for slam by bidding 4♣️, showing a control (ace or void) and slam interest. North cooperates by showing the ♦️A with 4♦️, but South doesn’t have enough for slam (no club control, and responder could be minimum). South signs off in 4♠️. This shows good judgment - 6♠️ needs everything to work, while 4♠️ is cold.
Example 4: Shapely Hand Accepts
Opener (West):
♠️ 3
♥️ AKJ87
♦️ KQ1065
♣️ 92Responder (East):
♠️ A65
♥️ Q1042
♦️ 84
♣️ AQ73Auction:
West East
1♥️ 3♥️
4♥️ PassWest has only 13 HCP, technically a minimum. But with 6-5 distribution, this hand is worth more than a flat 13-count. The singleton spade is perfect - East’s ♠️A won’t be wasted, and West can ruff spade losers. West correctly bids game despite minimum high cards. Distribution matters.
Common Mistakes
Raising with three-card support: Unless you have a specific agreement, stick to four cards. Raising on three can leave you in a 4-3 fit when a better contract exists.
Limit raising with game-forcing values: If you have 13+ points, don’t make a limit raise - you’re too strong. Use a forcing bid instead. Limit raises can be passed, and you’ll hate it when partner passes with 12 points and you have 13.
Forgetting to count distribution: Add points for shortness when you have support. That singleton is worth 3 points, which might push you from 9 to 12 - from a simple raise to a limit raise.
Passing with 15+ HCP as opener: When partner makes a limit raise and you have 15 or more, bid game. Don’t get cute trying to stop in 3♥️ with 26 combined points. Game is odds-on.
Making slam tries with minimums: If you opened with 12 HCP and partner limit raises, just bid game (or pass). Don’t go looking for slam when you’re at the bottom of your range.
Ignoring vulnerability and form of scoring: At matchpoints, bidding a thin game can be right because everyone else will. At IMPs or rubber bridge, you can afford to be more conservative. And non-vulnerable games are easier than vulnerable ones.
Partnership Agreements
While the basic limit raise (1♥️ - 3♥️ = 10-12 points, 4+ support) is standard, you should discuss these points with your partner:
What does 1♠️ - 3♠️ show? Most play 10-12, but some play 8-10 or 9-11. Get on the same page.
Do you play Bergen Raises? If so, 3♥️ might mean something different, and you use 3♣️ or 3♦️ to show the limit raise instead.
What about minor suit limit raises? After 1♣️ or 1♦️, does a jump to 3♣️/3♦️ show the same thing? Some partnerships use these jumps differently or prefer to bid 1NT with invitational hands.
Three-card raises? Agree whether responder ever raises with three. Most say no, but some allow it with perfect honors (AKQ or AKJ).
What’s the range with shape? Can responder stretch to 3♥️ with 9 HCP and a singleton? Can opener accept with 14 and great shape? Discuss your style.
Competitive auctions? If RHO overcalls, does a jump still show a limit raise, or does it show something different? Many play that cuebidding the opponent’s suit shows a limit raise after interference.
Putting It All Together
The limit raise is a precision instrument. It shows exactly what you have (10-12 points, 4+ support) and lets partner make an informed decision. When you pick up invitational values with support, don’t dither with temporizing bids - make the jump to the 3-level and put the ball in partner’s court.
Opener, when partner limit raises, use your judgment. Minimums pass, medium hands bid game, maximums explore slam. Trust the auction - partner has told you what they have.
Master the limit raise and you’ll reach the right contract more often. Sometimes that’s a partscore at the 3-level. Sometimes it’s a game that barely makes. And occasionally it’s the start of a slam auction. The limit raise handles all of them, one jump at a time.