This is a fairly simple section for us, at least so far as the boxes on the convention card go.
We open our longer minor if we are not opening 1NT and don't have a 5 card major. This means that we might open a minor suit with as few as 3 cards, so we check the box for length 3 in both clubs and diamonds.
Now, at least the way I play, if clubs and diamonds are both length 3, I will open 1C (unless the diamonds are drastically better than the clubs). So there is only one distribution on which I will open 1D with 3 diamonds: 4-4-3-2. Nevertheless, even I must check the minimum length 3 box.
We get to the responses now. Just as with the majors, a double raise is a limit raise for us, so we check invitational. Again, just as with majors, we change after an overcall (we can cuebid to show strength), so that a double raise becomes weak.
Suppose your partner opens 1C and you have 4 diamonds and 4 hearts, and enough points to respond. Do you bid 1D or 1H? If the former, don't check "Frequently bypass 4+D". If the latter, check it. I opt to bid up the line-in other words, over an opening of 1C, I start bidding my 4 card suits from the bottom up, beginning with diamonds. Of course, I'll bid a 5 card major over a 4 card diamond suit, but that is expected.
Our 1NT bid over either minor shows 6-9 points (or a bad 10), while 2NT shows a good 10 to 12 and is invitational. Our 3NT bid is 13-15 and is to play. All three imply balanced hands (since otherwise we'd find a suit to bid).
That's it for minors. Fairly simple (even if the system on top of it has a lot of nuances).
Next time: 2 Level Suit Openings
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