When partner opens a minor and you have a major suit of 4+ cards you should always show your major suit. Easy.  But what if you don’t have a 4+major to show? Now things get a little more tricky.  A lot of the time you will want to play in NT because it’s way easier to make game in NT than in a minor suit.

But if you have fit with partner’s minor – remember this is at least four cards in diamonds or five in clubs because opener hasn’t promised five like they do with a major – it can be helpful to show it. If you or your partner has a strong, shapely hand, it could be that you will make a slam in the minor suit. It could also be the case that your opponents bid a major suit and now you have shown an alternative if your side doesn’t have any stops in that suit.

The panel above shows you how to choose a response with a weak or invitational hand and the one below shows what to do with stronger hands.