[knew]

I am an intermediate bridge player. I play on occasion with a more advanced player. I was told as responder{my partner opens 1 clubs]} I can respond 1 heart with 4-5 heart but donot repeat the hearts even if I have 5???? I was referred to the Bridge Bulletin, April 2017 pg 57. There is an example near the bottom page where responder has 5 heart {8,6,5,4,2} I understand this example that I would not repeat the suit. Can we rebid 5 card major?????at the 2 level as responder?? Lets say I have 6-9 HCP... Thanks

[rmnka447]

Normally, yes you can, but with this particular example ♠ 7543 ♥ 86542 ♦ AKJ5 ♣ -(void), you're on a misfit and passing is correct. With misfits, you don't want to bid on as further bidding may get you to a higher level and greater set. So, the best option with a "1 bid" hand is to get out of the auction as quickly as possible.

Had the auction gone

1 ♣ - 1 ♥
1 NT

and you held this same hand, it would be entirely proper to rebid 2 ♥ which is a signoff to play. Why? By rebidding 1 NT partner has presumably shown a balanced hand, so should have at least 2 ♥, so you know you have at least a 7 card fit.

Normally, opener will bid 1 NT with a 5-3-3-2 with 5 ♣. So, normally when opener rebids 2 ♣, opener is likely to have 6. The only exception would be if partner holds a minimum hand and 4 cards in a suit that would be a reverse. Something like ♠ Kxx ♥ x ♦ xxxx ♣ AKJxx would be such a hand in the context you are asking about. But with ♠ Kx ♥ xx ♦ xxxx ♣ AKJxx, opener would likely just rebid 1 NT.

[Stephen Tu]

As responder, you only rarely want to repeat a suit with only 5 cds (with 6+ it's more routine). The main scenarios where repeating a 5 cd suit is somewhat common are:
1. Opener rebids 1nt, and will often have 3 cd support and at least 2 (unless you've agreed opener is allowed to rebid 1nt with a singleton in your suit with certain awkward hands which has both pros and cons, a stylistic choice), and you have no game interest, wanting to stay at the 2 level, 6-9/bad 10 pts. With unbalanced hands it will often be better to rebid a major (but with 5 spades and 4+ H bid the heart suit next). If you have a stronger hand with a 5 cd major, after 1nt you typically learn gadgets such as "new minor forcing", "2 way checkback" to find out if partner has 3 cd support for you, to help you choose between 3nt/4M.

2. Partner makes a reverse bid, e.g. 1c-1h-2d, or 1c-1s-2h or similar, bidding at the 2 level a new suit higher ranking than his first bid. It's common to repeat a 5 cd major here with most agreements. Partner will rebid after this call so you won't be left in a bad fit.

The reason you don't repeat 5 cd majors in other situations is that partner on other sequences is quite likely to be singleton/void in your suit (otherwise would tend to rebid 1nt or raise on 3), will pass your call, and you'll be stranded in a suit where the opponents have more trumps than you do. With stronger hands that have game interest, usually you bid a new suit to find out if partner has 3 cd support, not repeating your major which shows a weaker hand with 6+ M.

[rhm]

Intermediate players far too readily rebid 5 card suits
A good rule is when you rebid your suit (and the bid is not forcing) partner should expect 6 cards and when in doubt should not try to improve the strain just because he is short in your suit.

There are a few exception to this rule, but they are rare.

For example if the bidding starts 1♣ -- 1♠ -- 1NT and you hold say ♠KQJTx ♥xxx ♦xxx ♣xx you should rebid your spades.
If opponents hold the ♠A they can take it when declarer's spades are exhausted and your hand will be worthless in notrumps.
In a spade contract you have at least 3 spade tricks and hope for more.
Note that even then it could be wrong. For example if partner got ♠Ax ♥Axx ♦Axxx ♣Jxxx you would have reason to regret not to have passed 1NT.

Rainer Herrmann