Limit raises

by: sage10606

Depends on how you and partner agree to use them. I use them only for major suit openings promising 4 card support and 10-11 HCP. With 3 card support, bid a forcing 1NT then a jump to 3 of the major. With less then 10 HCP a simple raise to 2 is enough. With 12 or more and 4 card support I will bid either Jacoby 2NT or splinter, which ever the hand dictates. With 3 card support and 12 or more I will bid my own suit at the 2 level then support opener. 2/1 means that any bid by responder to opener at the 2 level forces to game somewhere. I.e. 1s-2d-2h-2s=12+HCP&3s.

Problems occur when responder counts distribution to come up with 10-11 and/or jumps with 3 card support.10-11 + the 4th trump is what allows a safe jump to 3(you know you have a 9 card fit).

Properly used limit raises will (almost)never get you above your safe level and it allows 3rd and 4th seat openers to shade their count when opening.

In competition, a cue bid = a limit raise if partner opens ex: 1s-2d-3d where 1s-2d-3s now becomes preemptive and a new suit is a normal 10+HCP 5 card suit and is highly suggestive of game somewhere. ex: 1s-2d-2h. If partner has overcalled then a cue bid = a limit raise or better and a jump raise is preemptive. ex: (LHO)1H-(Partner)1S-(RHO)p-(YOU) 2H= limit raise or better and 3S = lots of S with 6-9 points.

12+ hands opposite an opening bid is going to play in game, there is no need to jump to show it. Take your time, force opener, start your transfer of information at as low a level as possible.