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.

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.

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

Benefits of Walsh Responses

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

            ♠️ K 10 3
            ❤️ 8 5 2
            ♦️ 6 5 2
            ♣️ K 10 9 4
♠️ 8 2                  ♠️ Q 6
❤️ A 10 6 4      N      ❤️ K Q 9 7
♦️ A 4         W   E    ♦️ K J 10 9 3
♣️ A Q J 5 2     S      ♣️ 7 6
            ♠️ A J 9 7 5 4
            ❤️ J 3
            ♦️ Q 8 7
            ♣️ 8 3
W    N    E    S
1♣️  Pass 1❤️  2♠️
3❤️  3♠️  4❤️  Pass
Pass Pass

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:

             ♠️ 4 3 2
             ❤️ J 7 6 4
             ♦️ A 6 5
             ♣️ Q J 9
♠️ Q J 6                 ♠️ A 9 7 5
❤️ K 8 2          N      ❤️ 5 3
♦️ 7 4          W   E    ♦️ Q J 9 3
♣️ A K 10 8 5     S      ♣️ 7 6 2
             ♠️ K 10 8
             ❤️ A Q 10 9
             ♦️ K 10 8 2
             ♣️ 4 3
W    N    E    S
1♣️  Pass 1♠️  Pass
1NT  Pass Pass Pass

If East bids 1♦️ first, South has a safe 1❤️ overcall (or double). 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.

Opener’s rebids

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.

Example:

          ♠️ A 5 4
          ❤️ K 3
          ♦️ 10 9 4 3
          ♣️ A 7 5 4
♠️ 10 7 3             ♠️ K 9 8
❤️ A 8 6 4     N      ❤️ 9 7 2
♦️ A K       W   E    ♦️ Q J 7 5 2
♣️ Q J 8 6     S      ♣️ K 3
          ♠️ Q J 6 2
          ❤️ Q J 10 5
          ♦️ 8 6
          ♣️ 10 9 2
W    N    E    S
1♣️  Pass 1♦️  Pass
1NT  Pass Pass Pass

1♦️ - The only way I can have a major suit is with 12+ points.
1NT - 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.
Pass by E - No, I’ve shown my strength.

Example:

          ♠️ 5 4
          ❤️ K 3 2
          ♦️ 10 9 4 3
          ♣️ A 7 5 4
♠️ 10 7 3             ♠️ A K 9 8
❤️ A 8 6 4     N      ❤️ 9 7
♦️ A K       W   E    ♦️ Q J 7 5 2
♣️ Q J 8 6     S      ♣️ K 3
          ♠️ Q J 6 2
          ❤️ Q J 10 5
          ♦️ 8 6
          ♣️ 10 9 2
W    N    E    S
1♣️  Pass 1♦️  Pass
1NT  Pass 2♠️  Pass
2NT  Pass 3NT  Pass
Pass Pass

1♦️ - The only way I can have a major suit is with 12+ points.
1NT - Okay, I’m balanced and may or may not have a 4-card major myself.
2♠️ - I’ve got spades and the values for game.
1NT bypassing four-card major is NO LONGER alertable.
Note also, that West could rebid 1❤️ or 1♠️ with an unbalanced hand and no other suitable call.

Sources: bridgebum.com Gavin Wolpert’s webinar Larry Cohen’s article

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