Partnership Bidding Breakdowns

The most expensive mistakes in bridge aren’t the ones you make alone—they’re the ones where you and partner are having two different conversations. One person thinks you’re in a forcing auction; the other thinks you’re signing off. One shows slam interest; the other shows a weak hand. These disasters are preventable, but only if you recognize the patterns.

System Amnesia: Forgetting Your Own Agreements

The Problem: You discussed something before the game, then forgot it during the auction.

Example Auction:

West    East
1NT     2♣ (Stayman)
2♦ (no major)    2♥
???

West’s Hand:

♠ A 10 5
♥ K 6 3
♦ K Q 10 8
♣ A J 7

West and East discussed before the game: “After Stayman, if responder bids a major, it’s invitational showing five cards.” But in the heat of the moment, West forgets and thinks 2♥ is weak (to play).

West passes. East holds:

♠ 6 3
♥ A Q 10 8 5
♦ J 7 4
♣ K 10 3

East has 11 HCP and five hearts—a clear invitation. West has 17 HCP and three hearts—an easy acceptance. 4♥ makes easily. But they play 2♥ and score 140 instead of 620.

What to Do Instead: Write down your agreements. Before every session, review:

  • What is 2♥ after 1NT-2♣-2♦?
  • What is 2NT after 1NT-2♣-2♦-2♠?
  • Is a new suit forcing after 1NT?

If you discussed it, write it on your convention card. If it’s not written, you’ll forget.

The “Undiscussed Sequence” Disaster

The Problem: Facing an auction you’ve never talked about, both players guess—and guess differently.

Example Auction:

West    East
1♦      1♠
2♣      2♥
???

West’s Hand:

♠ 6
♥ K 8 5
♦ A Q 10 7 3
♣ A K 7 4

East’s Hand:

♠ K Q 10 7 3
♥ A J 6 4
♦ 6 2
♣ 9 3

East’s 2♥ bid—what does it mean?

  • Some pairs: Fourth suit forcing (artificial, forcing to game)
  • Some pairs: Natural, showing 5-4 in the majors, non-forcing
  • Some pairs: Natural, showing 5-4, one-round force

West and East never discussed it. West assumes it’s natural and non-forcing, so they pass. East thought it was forcing, expecting West to bid again. Result: They play 2♥ making four when 4♥ is cold.

What to Do Instead: Have an explicit agreement about “fourth suit forcing.” If you play it, mark it on your card and know when it applies. If you don’t play it, agree that a new suit by responder is natural and forcing one round. Don’t wing it.

Forcing or Not? The Eternal Question

The Problem: One player thinks a bid is forcing; the other doesn’t.

Example Auction 1:

West    East
1♥      2♣ (game-forcing 2/1)
2♥      2♠
???

West’s Hand:

♠ 8 5
♥ A K J 10 6 3
♦ A 7
♣ Q 10 4

West thinks: “Partner showed clubs, I showed hearts. Their 2♠ is showing a spade stopper for no-trump.” West bids 2NT.

East’s Hand:

♠ A K 10 7 4
♥ 4
♦ K 6 3
♣ A J 8 2

East thinks: “We’re in a game-forcing auction. My 2♠ shows spades. Partner will raise with three-card support or bid something else.” East expected another bid, not 2NT, which denies spade support.

Result: They play 2NT making four when 4♠ is cold.

What to Do Instead: In game-forcing auctions (2/1, Jacoby 2NT, strong 2♣ auctions), ALL new suits are forcing. You can’t pass until someone bids game or signs off clearly (like rebidding your own suit twice). Make this explicit with your partner.

Example Auction 2:

West    East
1♠      1NT
2♥      ???

East’s Hand:

♠ 6 4
♥ J 7 3
♦ K 10 8 5
♣ Q 9 6 2

Is 2♥ forcing? In standard methods, YES—opener’s reverse (or new suit at the two-level) is forcing. But many casual pairs don’t know this. East passes, thinking “I have a terrible hand.”

West’s Hand:

♠ A K Q 8 5
♥ A K 10 6 4
♦ 7
♣ A 3

West has 20 HCP and 5-5 in the majors. They’re cold for 4♥ or maybe slam. But East passed, and they play 2♥ making five.

What to Do Instead: Learn the basic forcing sequences:

  • Opener’s reverse (1♦-1♠-2♥) = forcing
  • Opener’s jump shift (1♥-1♠-3♣) = forcing
  • Responder’s 2/1 response (1♠-2♣) = forcing

If you don’t know, ASK before the game.

The “Assumed Fit” Mistake

The Problem: One player thinks you’ve agreed on a suit; the other doesn’t.

Example Auction:

West    East
1♥      2NT (Jacoby, game-forcing raise)
3♦ (shortness)    4♣
???

West’s Hand:

♠ 6
♥ A K 10 7 6
♦ 8
♣ A Q 10 8 5 3

West showed shortness in diamonds (singleton or void). East bid 4♣. West thinks: “Partner is control-bidding clubs, showing the ♣A or ♣K and slam interest.” West bids 4♦ (control bid showing diamond control—here, a void).

East’s Hand:

♠ K Q 5
♥ Q J 9 3
♦ A K 7 4
♣ K 4

East was bidding 4♣ as “last train”—a generic slam try not necessarily showing club control. East thought 4♣ was ambiguous. Now West bid 4♦, and East has no idea what it means. East passes, and they play 4♦ (likely down several).

What to Do Instead: After Jacoby 2NT and a shortness-showing bid, agree what subsequent bids mean:

  • Control bids (showing first-round control)?
  • Cue bids (showing second-round control)?
  • “Last train” (generic slam try)?

Write it down. Different pairs play it differently.

The “Invitation or Bust?” Problem

The Problem: Responder invites, but opener doesn’t recognize it.

Example Auction:

West    East
1♠      2♠
???

East’s Hand:

♠ K 10 8 6
♥ A 7
♦ Q 10 8 5
♣ J 9 3

East has 9 HCP and four-card support. In some systems, 2♠ shows 6-9 points (weak). In others, it shows 8-10 (constructive). In modern methods (Bergen raises), it might show 6-9 with exactly three trumps.

West’s Hand:

♠ A Q J 5 3
♥ K 6
♦ A K 7
♣ Q 10 5

West has 17 HCP. If East has 6-9, West should pass or make a game try. If East has 8-10, West should bid game. If East has three trumps, West might make a game try. If East has four, West bids game.

But West doesn’t know what 2♠ means! So they guess. Sometimes right, sometimes wrong.

What to Do Instead: Agree on your raise structure:

  • Standard: 2♠ = 6-10, any number of trumps; 3♠ = 10-12 limit raise
  • Bergen: 3♣ = 7-10 with 4 trumps; 3♦ = 10-12 with 4 trumps; 2♠ = 6-9 with 3 trumps; 3♠ = preemptive
  • Constructive: 2♠ = 8-10; single raise = 6-7; 3♠ = 10-12

Write it down. Don’t guess.

The Double Message Confusion

The Problem: Doubles mean different things in different contexts.

Example Auction 1:

West    North   East    South
1♠      2♥      Dbl     ???

Is East’s double:

  • Negative (showing values, denying support)?
  • Support (showing three-card spade support)?
  • Penalty (showing hearts and wanting to defend)?

Different pairs play it differently!

Example Auction 2:

West    North   East    South
1NT     Pass    2♣      Dbl
???

Is South’s double:

  • Showing clubs?
  • Showing general strength?
  • Lead-directing?

Again, different pairs have different agreements.

What to Do Instead: Discuss these situations:

  • Doubles after interference over 1NT
  • Doubles after overcalls
  • Support doubles vs. penalty doubles
  • Negative doubles vs. responsive doubles

Mark your card. If you don’t have an agreement, assume the simplest meaning (penalty at high levels, takeout at low levels).

The “Conventional or Natural?” Problem

The Problem: Playing conventions without discussing when they’re “on.”

Example Auction:

West    North   East    South
1♠      2♥      3♥      ???

South’s Hand:

♠ K 10 8 6
♥ 6
♦ A Q 9 5
♣ K 10 7 3

South wants to show a limit raise in spades (10-12 with 3+ spades). Is 3♥ a “cue bid” showing support and invitational values?

Or is it natural, showing hearts and competing?

West and East never discussed it. East passes, thinking it’s natural and showing hearts. West thought it was a limit raise and expected East to bid 4♠.

What to Do Instead: Discuss cue bids after overcalls:

  • Is a cue bid of opponent’s suit showing support?
  • Is it forcing to game or invitational?
  • What if they overcall 1NT—is 2NT still natural?

Write it down.

The “Bidding Over Interference” Breakdown

The Problem: Interference changes the meaning of your bids, but you didn’t discuss it.

Example Auction:

West    North   East    South
1♥      1♠      ???

East’s Hand:

♠ 7 4
♥ K 10 8 6
♦ A J 5
♣ Q 9 6 2

East has 10 HCP and four hearts. Without interference, East would bid 3♥ (limit raise). But after 1♠, how do you show this?

  • Some pairs: Bid 3♥ (still a limit raise)
  • Some pairs: Bid 2NT (Jordan, showing 10+ with 4 trumps)
  • Some pairs: Cue bid 2♠ (showing a limit raise or better)

East and West never discussed it. East bids 3♥ thinking it’s a limit raise. West thinks it’s preemptive (weak, based on Law of Total Tricks) and passes. They miss game.

What to Do Instead: Discuss raises after overcalls:

  • What is a direct raise (weak or invitational)?
  • What is 2NT (Jordan or natural)?
  • What is a cue bid?

Don’t assume. ASK.

The “Too Many Conventions” Problem

The Problem: Playing so many conventions that you forget which apply when.

Example Auction:

West    East
1NT     2♦

Does 2♦ show:

  • Diamonds (natural)?
  • Hearts (transfer)?
  • Both majors (some artificial convention)?
  • A weak hand with a long minor (some pairs play this)?

If you play transfers, but forgot to alert, or if partner thinks you don’t play transfers in this situation, disaster follows.

What to Do Instead: Keep it simple. Play:

  • Basic transfers (2♦ = hearts, 2♥ = spades)
  • Stayman (2♣)
  • Maybe Jacoby 2NT (if you play 2/1)

Don’t add new conventions every week. Master the basics first.

Bottom Line

Partnership bidding breakdowns happen because:

  1. System amnesia (forgetting your agreements)
  2. Undiscussed sequences (never talked about it)
  3. Forcing vs. non-forcing confusion (different understandings)
  4. Conventional misunderstandings (doubles, cue bids, transfers)

The fix is brutally simple: Discuss your system. Write it down. Review before every session.

Your convention card isn’t decoration—it’s your partnership’s contract. If it’s not written, you’ll forget. If you haven’t discussed it, you’ll guess wrong. And guessing costs games, slams, and tournaments.

The best pairs don’t have the fanciest system—they have the clearest agreements. Play simple methods, discuss thoroughly, and stick to your agreements. That’s how you avoid disasters.

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