Bridge lessons · Lesson 18 of 26
Responder's Second Bid
Updated 16 October 2026
By the time it is responder's turn to bid again, opener has made two bids and described a hand within a few points. Responder has said much less, which makes responder the captain, the player who decides whether the partnership stops in a part score, invites or bids game. That decision rests on the points the two hands hold together.
Who decides now?
After opener's second bid, responder becomes the captain. Opener has shown a size (minimum, medium or strong) and a shape, so responder knows roughly what is across the table. Responder's own hand is still a mystery to opener, which makes responder the one in a position to choose.
The captain's job starts with a sum. Add your points to the range opener has shown and look at both ends of the total. About 25 points between the two hands usually make game in a major or in notrump. If even the top of the range leaves you short of 25, stop low. If even the bottom gets you there, bid game. If the answer depends on whether opener is at the top or the bottom, ask by inviting.
Stop, invite or bid game
Once you know which of the three you want, pick the bid that says it. Each has its own family of calls.
- To stop, pass when opener's last bid is a fine contract, or sign off in a suit already shown at the two level: return to opener's first suit, or rebid your own six-card suit. Opener should pass a sign-off.
- To invite, raise opener's 1NT to 2NT, raise a suit you have agreed to the three level, or jump in your own six-card suit (1♦ - 1♥ - 1NT - 3♥). Opener passes with the bottom of the range and bids game with the top.
- To reach game, bid 3NT or four of the major yourself. Opener should not bid again unless something is badly wrong.
Sometimes you have the points for game but do not yet know where to play it. A new suit by responder at this point asks opener to keep bidding. Later on you will meet a tool called fourth suit forcing, a bid in the one suit nobody has named, which exists for exactly that situation.
Choosing between opener's two suits
When opener bids two suits and you have no fit for either, you still owe partner a choice. This is called giving preference. The bid shows no extra strength and only picks the suit where the two hands hold more cards between them.
Opener's first suit is usually the longer one. With more cards in the second suit, pass it. With equal length in both, go back to the first, since it will usually give the bigger fit. After 1♥ - 1♠ - 2♦, a hand with two hearts and two diamonds bids 2♥. That is a weak bid, the cheapest way back to hearts. It does not show extra values, and opener should normally pass.
Watch it in a deal
You are South, the responder. Follow the sum you make after partner's second bid.
North opens 1♦, you respond 1♠, and North rebids 1NT, a balanced 12 to 14. You hold 13 points, so the two hands hold 25 to 27, enough for game wherever North sits in the range. Your six spades opposite at least two give a fit of eight, so you bid 4♠ yourself. West leads the ♥Q.
The captain's habit
When opener has bid twice, add your points to the range shown and check both ends of the total. Stop when the top end falls short of 25, bid game when the bottom end reaches it, and invite when it could go either way. Without a fit for either of opener's suits, give preference to the one where you hold more cards.
For a closer look at how many points a game or slam needs, see hand evaluation, and for raises that invite game straight away, see limit raises.
Practice: responder's second bid
Eight quick questions on what you just read.