Supporting your partner's bid

When your partner bids, your hand is no longer alone: it completes theirs. To support is to add your strength to theirs in the suit they chose.

What does supporting mean?

Supporting means raising the bid in your partner's suit because you also hold useful cards there. You tell them: "I have something to help, we can aim higher." It's one of the foundations of team play.

What to support with

One or two trumps in their suit, especially high ones.
A side ace that brings a sure trick.
A possible ruff (a short suit) that adds tricks.

By how much to raise?

No fixed scale. Modest help justifies a small step (from 80 to 90, say); real fit can justify a sharper jump. The goal isn't to inflate the contract at any cost: over-support can lead to an unmakeable contract. Better to describe your strength honestly and let your partner adjust. Several support levels are often defensible.

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FAQ

Should you support as soon as you have a trump in their suit?

A single small trump is light support. Support depends on quality: high trumps, side aces or a ruff weigh far more than one isolated trump.

Can you over-support?

Yes. Overrating your help sometimes pushes the contract too high, toward failure. Describe your real strength rather than bidding out of enthusiasm.