A Walsh Influenced Version presented by Mike Savage

1C/1D – pass – 1H/1S – pass – 1NT; pass – 2 of the Other Minor is New Minor Forcing. This bid is used to find out Opener’s major suit length, the exact strength of his hand and sometimes to set up further forcing bids by Responder. New Minor Forcing shows invitational or better values and almost always shows a five-card major suit. Some partnerships use an abbreviated version, only focusing on the bid major. Over a 1S response followed by 1NT, with invitational or better values, you should check for a four-four heart fit too. Here are the basics of a simple version of New Minor Forcing.

After 1 of a Minor – 1H – 1NT:

2 of the Other Minor = Shows at least invitational values and either a 5-card major or

at least a game forcing hand with a great fit in Opener’s minor.

Responses:

2D (if available) = Denies three hearts and shows at least a five-card minor with

a minimum and a reluctance to bid 2NT.

2H = Shows three hearts and a minimum 1NT rebid.

2S = An artificial bid. Denies a spade stopper or three hearts.

2NT = Denies three hearts and shows a minimum 1NT rebid.

3H = Shows three hearts and a maximum 1NT rebid.

3NT = Denies three hearts and shows a maximum 1NT rebid.

After 1 of a Minor – 1S – 1NT:

2 of the Other Minor = Shows at least invitational values with 5 spades and may have

four hearts or a forcing hand with a great fit in Opener’s minor.

Responses:

2D (if available) = Denies four hearts or three spades and shows at least a five-

card minor with a minimum and a reluctance to bid 2NT.

2H = Shows four hearts, may include three spades, with a minimum 1NT rebid.

2S = Shows three spades, denies four hearts, with a minimum 1NT rebid.

2NT = Denies both four hearts and three spades with a minimum 1NT rebid.

3H = Shows four hearts, may include three spades, with a maximum 1NT rebid.

3S = Shows three spades, denies four hearts, with a maximum 1NT rebid.

3NT = Denies four hearts or three spades with a maximum.

1C/1D – 1H/1S, 1NT – 2 of the Other Minor, 2-level Response:

3 of Opener’s Minor = Shows at least opening values usually either with slam interest

in Opener’s minor or a very distributional hand.

1C/1D – 1H/1S, 1NT – 3 of Opener’s Minor = Invitational to game with 5-card support.

1C/1D – 1S, 1NT – 2H = Denies any game interest and wants to play 2H or 2S.

Opener normally should either pass 2H or bid 2S and not bid 2NT.

1C/1D – 1S, 1NT – 3H = Shows at least five-five in the majors and is forcing.