BiddingSame invitation — but bring five.
Limit Raises in the Minors
Novice
21 min · 2-part series
About this lesson
The same invitational raise you learned in the majors — ten to twelve points — but with one important difference: in a minor you need five-card support, not four. Because partner's minor opening can be as short as three cards, only a five-card jump raise guarantees the fit. Lorna keeps it to standard American (no inverted minors), shows why 1♣–3♣ or 1♦–3♦ denies a four-card major and aims the partnership at 3NT, and walks the auction when opener has to bid stoppers up the line instead.
What you'll pick up
- The minor limit raise — 1♣–3♣ or 1♦–3♦ showing 10–12 points, invitational and not forcing — in standard American, not inverted minors
- Why a minor raise needs five-card support, not four — partner's opening can be a bare three-card minor, so only five guarantees the fit
- How the jump raise denies a four-card major and points the partnership at 3NT
- The message to opener: 'I have a long minor and the values — bid 3NT if you can stop the side suits'
- When opener can't stop everything — bidding stoppers up the line — and why opener can still pass with a bad minimum