Correct contract bridge / by E.V. Shepard ; including the official Laws of contract bridge adopted by the Whist Club, New York, and by all the leading clubs in America.

154 CORRECT CONTRACT BRIDGE

Trumps. In case the opening bidder's partner possesses the requisite trump strength he may pass, if
he lacks a definite trick; having neither the required
trump strength to pass nor the one definite trick to
increase the contract, the opening bidder's partner
must bid 2-No Trumps to show a "bust."
Having overcalled the opening two-bid, for the
first time is disclosed whether the original bid was
made on a long suit or on one of only four cards,
provided the overcall was anything except an assist. Whether the original bidder has a long or a
short suit, he will at least carry an assist to game,
provided he holds the values that his opening bid
indicates. With a long suit he will rebid over a 2 -No Trumps, but in most cases he must pass that
make on a 4-card suit. Unless he holds exceptional
aid for a shift of suit make, the original bidder will
recall his own make on a long suit. Going back to
4-odd will show a long suit when 3-No Trumps is
the response to the opening two-bid. In rare cases
the opening bidder may show a second suit, provided
it is nearly as good as that of his opening make,
over any shift of declaration. In case his partner
shows probable game-going strength by making an
unnecessarily high take-out, the original bidder must
render possible assistance to the new call, unless having a certain game at his own declaration.
The following deal that I recently noted in detail
illustrates proper short suit procedure, when the
opening bidder holds a minimum of 5 sure tricks,
with one unguarded suit: