Game try
A game try (also called a game trial bid) in the card game of bridge is a bid that shows interest in bidding a game and asks partner to help in making the decision. For example, (using Acol or Standard American bidding) if opener, with around 16-17 HCP, bids 1 and partner responds 2 (showing 6 – 9 support points) opener is in a quandary: if responder has a maximum strength hand, with well-positioned high cards, then game will probably make; but the information revealed so far is not accurate enough for either partner to decide whether  to play in game or only part score. Originally, opener would make a game try by bidding 3 (inviting game) and responder would then bid game with maximum (8-9) points or pass with minimum (6-7) points. Modern game try bids permit more accurate decision-making. Following a simple raise by partner (e.g. 1 – 2), opener bids a new suit either to show extra values or to ask responder to show more about his values. There are a variety of methods to do so including "long suit", "short suit", or "help suit" game tries and partnership agreement is required . Whichever method is adopted, responder and opener will collaborate to evaluate the additional information and make one of the following choices: sign off in three of the agreed major; jump to game in the agreed major; jump to game in notrump if the suit is a minor; or make a "counter try" in yet another new suit. When opener has a very strong hand, slam investigation may also be undertaken. With a major suit fit. Prior partnership agreement is needed to determine which variety of game try is being used: With a minor suit fit. Because 11 tricks are required  for a minor suit game, most players prefer to investigate the possible optimum contract of 3NT before settling for a minor suit contract (game or part score) and thus a trial bid new suit shows a stopper in that suit for NT purposes, e.g.: 1 – 2; 2 shows game going strength and a stopper in spades If opener has a weak hand. When using any of the above methods of game tries, it is common that a rebid of three of the agreed suit is not a game try, but a preemptive strategy intended to inhibit the opponents from entering  the auction. Responder must pass, as in this example: 1 – 2; 3 – Pass. If opener has a very strong hand. If opener has such a good hand that a slam seems possible even following a single raise by partner, then more information about responder's hand can be obtained by using a game try bid. If responder rejects the game try, opener can sign off in game. If responder accepts the game try, then opener can further investigate the slam.