[bobjan]

After partner opens 1♦ what do you prefer with:

♠ 9 7 5 3
♥ Q 4
♦ Q T 9 8 6
♣ K 2

I understand that SAYC books say 1 of a 4-card major is the first choice, but what when the you have only 7HCP, the 4 crad major suit is so weak, and minor support is as it is?

[655321]

1♠.

I would always bid spades with a real responding hand, such as your example. Only with a hand too weak for a traditional response would I bypass the spades. So, if we replace the ♣K with the ♣2, I would raise diamonds (3♦ preemptive, if available).

[maggieb]

Yes absolutely 1S!

There are hands where I might decide not to show a 4-card major but they are rare and if you just always bid your major you'll do fine.

Whoops, I forgot that with a gameforcing hand you tend to bid your suits in the natural order, so with KQxx Axx x AQJxx you'd start with 2C.

[jillybean]

1♠ is fine. If partner doesnt support your ♠ and bids 1nt you can put him back to 2♦ - nothing lost.