Conventions in depth
After a minor-suit opening, the single raise is strong and forcing and the jump raise is weak.
After a 1♣ or 1♦ opening, the two raises swap their natural meanings. The single raise (1♦ – 2♦) is strong and forcing for one round: about 10 or more support points, at least five-card support (or four good diamonds), and no four-card major. The jump to three of the minor (1♦ – 3♦) is weak and pre-emptive: roughly 6–9 high cards with five-plus support.
The strong raise is the one that needs room to probe for 3NT or slam, so it is given the low, forcing route. The weak raise only wants to take up the opponents’ space, so it is handed the jump, where the obstruction does the most good.
Support points are high cards plus a little for short suits, which start to earn once a trump fit is known. The raise agrees the minor, so a singleton is worth 3 and a doubleton 1 — a hand of 8 high cards with a singleton is an 11-point raise, not an 8-point one. A balanced hand with the support length raises as well; the pair then bids guards up the line looking for 3NT.
So a hand of 6–9 high cards with a singleton or void can reach 10 support points and take the forcing single raise instead of the jump.
Because the single raise is forcing, opener must bid again, and the target is now usually the notrump game, 3NT, provided the side suits are guarded. Opener describes the hand in order:
Over opener’s 2NT, responder raises to 3NT with game-going values, or passes with only an invitational minimum.
Inverted Minors apply only to an uncontested auction. As soon as an opponent overcalls or doubles, the convention switches off. A raise of partner’s minor then has its natural meaning: an ordinary competitive raise showing support and modest values.
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