Definition

Noun: - In the card game contract bridge, one of the two suits (diamonds or clubs) that are designated as having a lower scoring value compared to the major suits (hearts and spades).

Usage

• The term is used specifically within the context of bridge to categorize and strategize around the four suits.
• It is a standard term in bridge bidding and scoring.

Examples

• Noun:
  • With only diamonds and clubs in my hand, I knew I was holding minor suits.
  • The partnership's bid of 3♦ showed length in a minor suit.
  • In the final contract, they played in a minor suit rather than a major.

Advanced Usage

• "Minor suit game": A contract to take nine tricks (3NT) or eleven tricks (5♣ or 5♦), as opposed to the ten tricks required for a major suit game (4♥ or 4♠).
  • They missed the major suit fit and had to settle for a minor suit game.
• "Minor suit stayman": A convention used after a 1NT or 2NT opening bid to inquire specifically about a minor suit fit.
  • She used Minor Suit Stayman to ask about a possible club fit.

Variants and Related Words

• Major suit (n): The complementary term, referring to the higher-scoring suits of hearts and spades.
• Suit (n): One of the four categories into which the cards are divided: clubs, diamonds, hearts, or spades.

Synonyms

• Low suit (informal bridge terminology, though less precise and standard than "minor suit").

Related Phrases

• "Minor-suit slam": A contract to take twelve tricks (6♣ or 6♦) or all thirteen tricks (7♣ or 7♦) in a minor suit.
  • Bidding and making a minor-suit slam requires careful planning.
• "Minor suit raise": A bid that increases the level of a partner's minor suit opening.
  • His double raise was a preemptive minor suit raise.

Noun

1. ( bridge) a suit of inferior scoring value, either diamonds or clubs