Inverted Minors


Following the basic idea that weak bids should take up as much bidding space as possible while with strong hands, you can afford to bid more slowly, Inverted Minors reverse the usual meaning of single and double raises of partner's opening 1/1 bid. 
1 - 2 shows a good 10+ HCPs while
1 - 3 shows 6 to a bad 10 HCPs. 
Either of these raises requires 5+ card support in Clubs or 4+ in Diamonds.
Most experts say that Inverted Minors are off in competition, although since most people play that a cue bid is a limit raise, then a jump raise is still weak in competition and a single raise is 6-9 points.

Some experts say that a weak 3 shows 0-6 points. The drawback to that range is that you may not have any good bids with a 7-9 HCP hand such as 92 87 AQ75 JT932.

BridgeBum.com says to bid 1N with a 3-3-3-4 hand because it is more descriptive than an inverted raise.

A person asks on Rec.Games.Bridge what to bid with T8 6 KQ9854 QT75 after pard opens 1 when playing Inverted Minors. 
Most people evaluated the hand to 10 points and would bid 2. One person said that according to Kaplan-Sheinwold, the minimum for bidding 2 is if the hand is strong enough for a possible game opposite a strong (15-17) notrump, which he thought to be true of this hand. He further said that if you bid 3,"you are giving up on this hand" when it is worth an invitation with a 2 bid.  
One possible sequence is 1-2, 2N and then 3 shows the lack of side suit stoppers with a good (no great) 6-card diamond suit.

BridgeBum.com gives these optional rebids by opener after a strong 2 raise:

  • 2 = implies a hand not suitable for 2N.
  • 2 = natural, but some experts play this a stopper-showing only. Forcing
  • 2N = balanced, 12-14, non-forcing ("NF")
  • 3 = natural, 5 clubs, NF.
  • 3 = natural, 4+ diamonds, forcing
  • 3N = balanced, 18-19 HCP  
After a strong 2 raise:
  • 2 = natural, but some experts play this a stopper-showing only. Forcing
  • 2N = balanced, 12-14, non-forcing ("NF")
  • 3 = natural, 4+ clubs, Forcing.
  • 3 = natural, 5+ diamonds, NF
  • 3N = balanced, 18-19 HCP

Most experts say that with a weak hand, you should jump-raise even if you have a 4-card major, the idea being that if you are weak, the opponents are going to get into the bidding, so you want to shut them out right away, or at least take away as much bidding space as possible.

Some people play that 1-2 and 1-2 are limit raises while a jump in the other minor (1-2 or 1-3) is a game force.

On Larry Cohen's web site, Cohen says:  In no case should a minor be raised if responder has a 4-card major.

He also says that Inverted Minors should be on even if responder is a passed hand, but not after a double or overcall.