Responder’s Common Bidding Mistakes
Responder has one job: describe your hand accurately so opener can place the contract. Sounds simple, but responder makes more mistakes than opener because the rules are less intuitive. You’re reacting to someone else’s bid, and the “forcing or not?” question trips up players at every level.
The Classic: Passing a Forcing Bid
The Problem: Not recognizing when partner’s bid demands a response.
Example Auction:
West East (you)
1♦ 1♥
2♣ ???Your Hand:
♠ 8 7 4
♥ K Q 10 6 3
♦ 9 2
♣ 7 5 4You have a terrible hand—6 HCP and nothing to say. Many players pass 2♣, thinking “Partner will be happy in a low contract.”
Wrong! Opener’s new suit is forcing. Partner might have:
♠ A Q 5
♥ 4
♦ A K J 7 4
♣ A K 10 8They’re planning to jump in something next bid. If you pass 2♣, they’ll be furious when you miss game (or slam).
What to Do Instead: Bid 2♥. This shows a minimum response (6-9 points) with a five-card suit. Partner can pass if they have heart support and a minimum, or continue exploring with extras. Your job is to keep the auction alive—let partner decide where to play.
Bypassing a Four-Card Major
The Problem: Responding in a minor when you have a four-card major.
Example Auction:
West East (you)
1♣ ???Your Hand:
♠ K J 8 5
♥ 7 4
♦ A 10 6 3
♣ Q 9 2You have two four-card suits. Some players respond 1♦, thinking “We might have a diamond fit.” This is backward! Always show a four-card major before showing a minor.
Why It Matters: If you respond 1♦, partner with four spades will rebid 1NT (12-14) with:
♠ A Q 6 3
♥ K 10
♦ 5 4
♣ A K 8 7 5Now you’ll play 1NT or 3NT, missing your 4-4 spade fit that makes game easily.
What to Do Instead: Respond 1♠. If partner has four spades, you’ve found your fit. If not, you can explore diamonds on the next round.
The “Too Weak to Respond” Myth
The Problem: Passing with 6-7 HCP and thinking you’re too weak.
Example Auction:
West East (you)
1♥ ???Your Hand:
♠ K J 9 6 3
♥ 7 4
♦ Q 10 6
♣ 8 5 2You have 6 HCP. Some players pass, thinking “I don’t have enough to respond.”
Wrong! You need 6+ points to respond at the one-level. This hand qualifies. If you pass, partner might have 19 points and you’ve missed game cold.
What to Do Instead: Respond 1♠. This shows 6+ points and four spades. Partner will place the contract appropriately. Even if you end in 2♠, that’s often better than letting opponents compete.
Jumping With the Wrong Hand
The Problem: Jump shifts and jump raises without the right strength.
Example 1: The Weak Jump Shift
Auction:
West East (you)
1♦ ???Your Hand:
♠ K J 10 7 3
♥ A 5
♦ 8 2
♣ Q 10 7 4You have 10 HCP and a nice five-card spade suit. Some players jump to 2♠, thinking “I want to show my good suit.”
This is wrong if you play strong jump shifts (standard). A jump to 2♠ promises 17+ points—nearly game-forcing strength. Partner will blast to game and you’ll go down.
If you play weak jump shifts, this bid is fine—but make sure you and partner agree!
What to Do Instead (if playing strong jump shifts): Respond 1♠. This shows 6+ points and four spades. You can bid again if partner shows interest.
Example 2: The Premature Jump Raise
Auction:
West East (you)
1♥ ???Your Hand:
♠ 7 4
♥ K 10 8 6
♦ A Q 6
♣ J 7 5 2You have 10 HCP and four hearts. Many players jump to 3♥ (limit raise), showing 10-12 support points.
But wait—this hand has no shortness, no fifth trump, no quick tricks in side suits. It’s a flat 10-count. In practice, it’s barely worth 10 support points.
What to Do Instead: If playing modern methods (Bergen raises), bid 3♣ (showing 7-10 with four trumps) or 2♥ (constructive, 8-10). If playing standard, just bid 2♥ and raise again if partner tries. Don’t overpromise with flat hands.
The Fourth Suit Forcing Confusion
The Problem: Not understanding when fourth suit is artificial.
Example Auction:
West East (you)
1♣ 1♥
1♠ ???Your Hand:
♠ 7 4
♥ A K 10 8 6
♦ K Q 9 5
♣ 6 2You have 12 HCP, five hearts, and four diamonds. Partner has shown clubs and spades. You want to explore game, but bidding 2♦ is fourth suit forcing—it’s artificial, demanding partner bid again and often denying real diamonds.
Many players bid 2♦ here thinking “I’m showing my diamond suit.” Partner rebids 2NT, denying diamond support, and you end up in no-trump when 4♥ might be cold.
What to Do Instead: Jump to 3♥ (showing six hearts and invitational values) or bid 2NT yourself (suggesting 11-12 HCP). Save fourth suit forcing for when you need to force and have nowhere else to go.
Responding 1NT With a Disaster
The Problem: Bidding 1NT with the wrong shape or when you have other options.
Example 1:
West East (you)
1♥ ???Your Hand:
♠ K 10 8 6 4
♥ 7
♦ Q 9 6 3
♣ J 7 4You have 6 HCP and a five-card spade suit. Some players respond 1NT because “I don’t have enough for 1♠ at the two-level.”
Wait—1♠ is at the one-level! You can respond 1♠, showing 6+ points and four spades. Bidding 1NT with a singleton heart is insane when you have a perfectly good alternative.
What to Do Instead: Respond 1♠. Simple.
Example 2:
West East (you)
1♠ ???Your Hand:
♠ 6
♥ K Q 10 8
♦ J 9 7 4 3
♣ Q 10 5You have 7 HCP and can’t support spades. You can’t bid hearts at the two-level (needs 10+ points in standard). So you bid 1NT.
This is actually correct! Sometimes 1NT is right with unbalanced shape when you lack the points for a two-level response. Just don’t fall in love with it.
What to Do Instead: Bid 1NT here. It’s the least-bad option. But if playing 2/1, consider that 2♥ is forcing to game and might be too strong for this hand—1NT is right.
Raising With Three-Card Support
The Problem: Raising partner’s major with only three-card support when you have other options.
Example Auction:
West East (you)
1♥ ???Your Hand:
♠ K 10 7 4
♥ A 9 6
♦ K 10 5
♣ Q 8 4You have 11 HCP and three hearts. Some players raise to 2♥ or even 3♥ (limit raise).
This is wrong. You have a balanced hand with three-card support. Partner might have only five hearts. An 8-card fit is fine for game, but you want to explore no-trump first.
What to Do Instead: Respond 1♠, planning to rebid 2NT (invitational) if partner rebids 2♥. This shows your strength accurately and lets partner choose between hearts and no-trump.
Failing to Invite With 11 Points
The Problem: Underbidding invitational hands.
Example Auction:
West East (you)
1NT ???Your Hand:
♠ K 10 7
♥ Q J 8 6
♦ A 9 5
♣ 10 6 3You have 11 HCP and balanced shape. Partner opened 1NT (15-17). Some players pass, thinking “We might not have 25 for game.”
Wrong! You have 11 opposite 15-17. If partner has 15, you’re at 26 (possibly game). If they have 17, you’re at 28 (solid game). You must invite.
What to Do Instead: Bid 2NT (invitational). Partner passes with 15, accepts with 16-17. That’s the entire point of invitational bids.
Getting Fancy When Simple Works
The Problem: Making artificial bids when natural bids describe your hand perfectly.
Example Auction:
West East (you)
1♥ 1♠
2♥ ???Your Hand:
♠ A K J 10 6
♥ 7 4
♦ K 8 5
♣ Q 9 3You have 13 HCP and five spades. Partner rebid 2♥ (showing six hearts or extra length). Some players bid 3♣ (fourth suit forcing) or 2NT to “explore.”
Why? You have a clear-cut bid: 2♠. This shows five spades and invitational values (10-12 points). Partner can pass with a minimum and two spades, or bid 3♠ with three-card support, or bid 2NT with stoppers.
What to Do Instead: Make the obvious bid. Don’t manufacture problems.
Bottom Line
Responder mistakes fall into three buckets:
- Forcing vs. non-forcing confusion (passing forcing bids, bidding over non-forcing bids)
- Strength errors (jumping with 10 points, failing to invite with 11, responding with 5)
- Suit priority mistakes (bypassing majors, raising with three when you should bid your own suit)
The fix: Learn what’s forcing, what’s invitational, and what’s to play. If you know those three categories cold, you’ll avoid 90% of these mistakes. When in doubt, bid naturally and let partner captain.