Inverted Minors is a bidding convention in which a jump raise in a minor is weaker than a simple raise. General agreement for the (forcing) simple raise is at least 10 (±1) high card points. However, the jump raise does not have general agreement. I discovered this when I did a survey of open pairs from the local unit game. Thirteen pairs were surveyed.
The survey consisted of two questions:
1. “Do you play inverted minors?”
2. “What is the point range for a 3♦️ response to a 1♦️ opening?”
Survey results:
From this sample I suggest that inverted minors are favored by most open players. Furthermore I am going to classify the treatment of the jump raise as one of the three below:
Jump Raise case 1: WEAK–For this case responder’s jump raise shows 0-6 or something similar. Her/his bid is totally preemptive. This is the treatment preferred by three pairs from the survey as well as Larry Cohen and the BridgeBum. For this treatment, when responder has 7-9 points and five card support she/he must scramble to find a non-raise bid (1NT?)–yuck. Personally I would not do a vulnerable jump raise with zero points.
Jump Raise case 2: MIXED–For this case responder’s jump raise shows 6-9 or something similar. Her/his bid is equivalent to a “normal” two level raise. This is the treatment espoused by Barbara Seagram1 and three of the pairs in the survey. This gives meaning to the “inverted” of the inverted minors. The main downside is the missed opportunity for a long suit preempt.
Jump Raise case 3: LESS THAN LIMIT RAISE–For this case responder’s jump raise agreement is simply “less than a limit raise”. Four of those pairs surveyed gave me this as their understanding. Needless to say responder is expected to use some common sense vis-a-vis vulnerability. I am uncomfortable with this option. I can just see myself at the three level with 18 high card points and a partner who has promised 0-9 high card points. What am I supposed to bid? On the other hand if we are playing a strong club system then this could work because opener’s 1♦️ bid limits his/her hand to 15 high card points.
Patrick’s Jump Raise Agreements: With my 2/1 and standard partners, I will do the WEAK (0-6) understanding when non-vulnerable and MIXED (6-9) understanding when vulnerable. With my Big Club partners, I will do LESS THAN LIMIT RAISE (0-9).
- 25 More Bridge Conventions You Should Know by Barbara Seagram page 144 ↩︎
