1. 1. Does partner need an honor to raise my suit?
   2. Is there a way to show North’s points and bid the hearts? If I bid 1♠ – 2♥, wouldn’t I be promising 5 hearts?

North
♠ A Q 10 8 7 3
♥ A K Q 10
♦ 5 4
♣ J

West                            East
♠ K 6 2                          ♠ 9 5
♥ J 6 3 2                        ♥ 9
♦ 9 3                              ♦ Q J 10
♣ K Q 10 2                   ♣ A 9 8 7 6 5 4

South
♠ J 4
♥ 8 7 5 4
♦ A K 8 7 6 2
♣ 3

1. Responder does NOT need an honor to raise partner’s suit, but does need to have at least three when partner opens 1♠.  If Responder has a weak hand – 6-10, raise partner before introducing a strong side suit.  With 11+ point, you should bid the new suit, then raise partner.  (assuming standard ~ playing 2/1 wait for an opening hand). Still no honor needed to ever raise partner.  So on BD 5, South cannot raise spades on the first round.
2. South does NOT have enough points to bid 2♦ – 11+ total points (10 HCP plus a length point).
3. South should bid 1NT to show 6-10 points and no three-card spade support.
4. With 6-4 in both majors – the expert treatment is to show the second 4-card major before rebidding the 6-card suit.  If your 6-4 had been major/minor then the common rebid is the 6-card suit before showing the second 4-card suit.
5. Over 1NT, North could rebid 2♥ to show 5 spades and 4 hearts (minimum) with 12-18 points.  When showing a 2-suited rebid by opener, the point range is very wide so many hands fit in this rebid.
6. South would then raise to 3♥ to show 8-10 points and four hearts.
7. North would raise to four hearts.
8. This is not a hand you would want to be in 6 hearts – just because the sheet says you can make it, doesn’t mean you should bid it!

Bidding Recap:

1♠   1NT
2♥   3♥
4♥   AP

Let me hear your comments!

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