Walsh Responses to 1C

Playing traditional 5-card majors, a 1 opening bid asks for natural responses “up the line.” Responder must bid 1 with 4+ diamonds before showing a 4-card major. Simple, right?

This approach was commonplace until the 1970s, when American expert Richard Walsh popularized his Western Scientific bidding system. With less than game-forcing strength, Walsh espoused bypassing the 1 response to show a 4-card major immediately.

With less than 12 points

Holding 4+ diamonds and a 4-card major, responder should bid the major first. It’s important to show the major first and foremost, because responder might not have the strength to bid again.

East KQ87 T83 A9763 7

West   1 North   Pass East   ? South

Bid 1.

East KQ87 T832 A976 7

West   1 North   Pass East   ? South

Bid 1. When holding 4-4 majors, show the hearts first. You can still locate a spade fit if partner rebids 1.

How "extreme" to take the Walsh philosophy is a matter of partnership agreement. For instance, some pairs might bypass 6 strong diamonds to bid 4 weak spades... and some might not.

East 7642 T7 AKQ83 54

West   1 North   Pass East   ? South

...Do you really want to bid 1? Many if not most Walsh players would consider a descriptive 1 instead.

With 12 or more points

With game-forcing strength, responder can afford to bid his diamond suit first, and rebid his major next.

East K52 AK83 KJT73 7

West   1 North   Pass East   ? South

Bid 1. You’re willing to reverse and show your hearts later.

Why play Walsh? First, you can find a major suit fit faster. This can be important when the opponents compete.

		North
		KT3
		852
West		652		East
82		KT94		53
AT64				KQ97
A4		South		KJT93
AQJ52		AJ9754		76
		J3
		Q87
		83

West   1 3

North   Pass 3

East   1 4

South   2

East bids 1 holding fewer than 12 points. This helps West identify the heart fit after South’s preempt. Imagine what would happen if East initially responded 1. West would have a tough time introducing hearts at the 3-level.

Another ironic benefit of Walsh is the occasional chance of jamming the opponents yourself. Check out this deal:

		North
		432
		J764
West		A65		East
QJ6		QJ9		A975
K82				53
74		South		QJ93
AKT85		KT8		762
		AQT9
		KT82
		43

West   1 1NT

North   Pass

East   1

South   Pass

If East bids 1 first, South has a safe 1 overcall. Instead, the 1 Walsh response makes it much riskier for South to compete at the 2-level.

Note that in ACBL games, Walsh responses are not alertable. However, the "Frequently bypass 4+ " checkbox should be marked under the Minor Opening section.

When the auction begins 1 : 1, opener is normally expected to rebid 1 or 1 with 4 cards. Playing Walsh, however, opener may choose to rebid 1NT with a 4-card major and a balanced hand. There are a couple reasons for this.

First - in his fine book "Modern Constructive Bidding", Marshall Miles advocates against opening 1 with a 3-card suit and rebidding a 4-card major. The risk is that partner might take a preference to clubs with only a 3- or 4-card holding.

Second, responder is guaranteed to bid again with a 4-card major and game-forcing values. Therefore, it’s more economical and preemptive for opener to bid 1NT directly with balanced shape.

Examples:

		North
		A54
		K3
West		T943		East
T73		A754		K98
A864				972
AK		South		QJ752
QJ86		QJ62		K3
		QJT5
		86
		T92

West   1 1NT2

North   Pass Pass

East   11 Pass3

South   Pass

The only way I can have a major suit is with 12+ points. Okay, I’m balanced and may or may not have a 4-card major myself. If you’re strong enough to hold four hearts, I know you’ll bid again. No, I’ve shown my strength.

		North
		54
		K32
West		T943		East
T73		A754		AK98
A864				97
AK		South		QJ752
QJ86		QJ62		K3
		QJT5
		86
		T92

West   1 1NT2 2NT

North   Pass Pass Pass

East   11 23 3NT

South   Pass Pass All Pass

The only way I can have a major suit is with 12+ points. Okay, I’m balanced and may or may not have a 4-card major myself. I’ve got spades and the values for game.

In the two auctions above, 1NT is alertable because of the ambiguity of opener's major suit length.

Note also that West could rebid 1 or 1 with an unbalanced hand and no other suitable call.