====== Minorwood ======

  *http://www.wednesdaygame.com/threadfiles/bid/8.RKCBMinorSuits.htm
  *http://www.bridgeguys.com/Conventions/minorwood_convention.html
  *http://bridgetips.wordpress.com/useful-bridge-conventions/minorwood-keycard-gerber/

  *If we are already in a game-forcing auction,
   *And, we have not agreed another suit,
  *And, the minor has already been bid naturally twice,
  *Then, the third bid of the minor (at the 4-level) is Minorwood.
The second case is Jump Minorwood, and it works like this:

            If we are in a constructive auction (as in at least invitational to game),

            And, we have not agreed another suit,

            And, I have yet to limit my hand,

            Then, a jump to 4 of a minor is Minorwood, if one of these conditions applies:

                Either, your last bid suit was the minor

                Or, my first bid was a minor.

This may sound complicated, but the rules are really just plain common-sense, as hopefully will become apparent with these examples.  We’ll start with some auctions which are not Minorwood:

       (A) 1♦     4♦          (B)  1♣     1♦           (C)  1♣    1♠          (D)  1♣   1♠

                                            2♦     4♦                   4♣                          2♠   4♣

(A)     This is not Minorwood because 1♦ did not create an invitational auction … so, without other prior agreements, 4♦ is simply preemptive … lots of Diamonds and out.

(B)     Same story … 2♦ does not elevate the auction to “invitational to game” status, so 4♦ is not Minorwood … we don’t suppose that we’ll ever use this bid in our lifetime, so we won’t even waste your time offering a meaning.  And, if after 2♦ you really do have an RKCB type of hand?  No problem … bid 2 of a major, just to keep things moving along, and then bid 4♦.

(C)     Again, 1♠ did not invite us to game, so 4♣ is not Minorwood.  Then, what is it?  We suggest that it is a Spade raise … with solid Clubs.

(D)     This is not Minorwood because we have agreed Spades.  It’s a Splinter.

  Bothwood

 

Yes, as the name suggests, we actually advocate both Minorwood and Redwood.  This is what we suggest:

-         First option is to follow the Minorwood rules whenever they apply

-         If Minorwood is operational, then the would-be Redwood bid is either a cue-bid or (if a jump) a

      Splinter

-         If Minorwood is not operational on a particular sequence, then revert to Redwood

-         If that doesn’t work (presumably because no fit and/or force have been established), then a jump to

      4NT will usually be interpreted as RKCB.

-         Finally, if you had a Minorwood or Redwood bid at your disposal, then bidding 4NT is natural (and,

      usually, invitational to slam)