Opener's Rebid

         This section assumes:

                • that you opened with 1 of a suit (1, 1, 1, or 1), and

                • that your partner responded with either
                         a new suit at the 1-level (forcing), or
                         1NT

(NOTE:     Some of the discussion in this section also applies if your partner bid a new suit at the 2-level.)

Hand Strength

Since you previously opened, you have at least 13 points. Since you did not open 2, you have less than 22 points. For your next bid, you should classify your hand as follows:

13-15 points:     Minimum Hand
16-18 Points:     Medium Hand
19-21 Points: Maximum Hand

Here is a description of each:

         Minimum Hand.      You have a bare minimum opening. Unless your partner shows strength sometime soon, you will probably want to settle for a partscore.

         Medium Hand.      You have significantly more strength than you have promised so far. You will probably want to invite game despite partner's minimum response.

         Maximum Hand.      With such an amazingly strong hand, you will want to bid game on your own as soon as you find a fit.

Possible Rebids

         Here are the options, sorted by type instead of strength:

 

         Raise Your Partner's Suit.      You may raise your partner's suit with 4-card support. (Since he only promised 4, you need 4 to raise.) The level of the raise depends on the strength of your hand:

1 — 1 — 2:     Shows 13-15 points and 4-card spade support.
  3: Shows 16-18 points and 4-card spade support.
  4: Shows 19-21 points and 4-card spade support.

After a bid of 3, partner should pass with 6-8 points and bid 4 with 8-10. After a bid of 2, partner should normally pass unless he has at least 10 points.

 


         Rebid a 6-card Suit.      Bidding your suit a second time promises a 6-card suit (even in a minor). The level of the rebid depends on the strength of your hand:

1 — 1 — 2:     Shows 13-15 points and 6 hearts.
  3: Shows 16-18 points and 6 hearts.
  4: Shows 19-21 points and 6 hearts.

After a bid of 3, partner should bid game with 8 points and pass otherwise.
        Note that bidding 4 shows a very nice heart suit: you must be prepared to play in hearts even if partner has a void. You should usually have either a 7-card suit or a very strong 6-card suit (headed by the AKQ) to make such a bid.

 


         Bid a New Suit.      Bidding a new suit shows either a minimum or an invitational hand (13-18 points). You should only jump-bid a new suit with a maximum (19-21 point) hand.

1 — 1 — 2:     Shows 13-18 points and 4 clubs.
  3: Shows 19-21 points and 4 clubs.

 


         Make a Reverse (Forcing).      A reverse is a new-suit bid at the 2-level which is higher than your first suit. Reverses are dangerous because partner must bid at the three-level to escape back to your first suit. Therefore, you must have at least invitational strength (16+ points) to make a reverse. Furthermore, you should also have extreme distribution (at least 5-4 in the two suits):

1 — 1 — 2:     Shows 16+ points with at least 5 clubs and 4 hearts (forcing).
1 — 1NT – 2: Shows 16+ points with at least 5 hearts and 4 spades (forcing).

 

         Bid Notrump.      A notrump bid shows a reasonably balanced hand. (Try not to bid notrump with wild distribution.) The level of a notrump bid depends on your strength:

1 — 1 — 1NT:     Shows 13-15 HCP and a reasonably balanced hand.
  2NT: Shows 16-18 HCP and a reasonably balanced hand.
  3NT: Shows 19-21 HCP and a reasonably balanced hand.

        NOTE:     If you previously opened a minor, jumping to 2NT shows something different:

1 — 1 — 2NT:     Shows 18 or 19 HCP and a balanced hand

This is the "1½ Notrump" convention.

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