Definition

1. Noun:
   • In the card game of contract bridge: A "major suit" is one of the two suits (spades ♠ or hearts ♥) that have a higher scoring value when bid and made in a contract, compared to the minor suits (diamonds ♦ and clubs ♣).

Usage

• The term is used specifically within the context and rules of contract bridge to discuss bidding strategy and potential scores.
• It is a countable noun (e.g., , ).

Examples

• Noun:
  • With eight hearts between us, we have a strong fit in a major suit.
  • The partnership's opening bid showed at least five cards in a major suit.
  • Bidding and making a game contract in a major suit (4♥ or 4♠) yields a significant bonus.

Advanced Usage

• "Major suit fit": A situation where a partnership holds a combined total of eight or more cards in the same major suit, which is a key goal in bidding.
  • Finding our major suit fit was the key to bidding the slam.
• "Major suit game": A contract to take ten tricks with hearts as trumps (4♥) or spades as trumps (4♠).
  • Our first priority is to try to reach a major suit game.

Variants and Related Words

• Minor suit (n): In bridge, either of the two suits of lower scoring value: diamonds ♦ or clubs ♣.
  • He opened one club, showing a long minor suit.
• Suit (n): One of the four categories into which playing cards are divided: spades, hearts, diamonds, or clubs.
  • What is your strongest suit?

Synonyms

• High-ranking suit: (Contextual synonym within bridge) Refers to spades or hearts.
• Trump suit (when applicable): The suit named in the final contract, which outranks all other suits for that hand. A major suit often becomes the trump suit.

Antonyms

• Minor suit: The direct antonym within bridge terminology, referring to diamonds or clubs.

Related Phrases

• "To bid a major": A common shorthand for making a bid in spades or hearts.
  • With that hand, you should bid a major.
• "Major-suit stayman": A convention in bridge bidding used to ask partner if they hold a four-card major suit.
  • I used major-suit stayman to find our heart fit.

Noun

1. (bridge) a suit of superior scoring value, either spades or hearts