Responder's second bid


In most auctions, the first few bids are an exchange of information about suit lengths and point count. The purpose of this early bidding conversation is to describe your hand, not to tell partner what the final contract should be.

Later bids in the auction tend to be stronger suggestions about the best trump suit and level for the final contract. The critical decision is often made by responder at his second turn to bid.

These decisions are easiest in auctions where partner raises your suit (1C - 1H / 2H, 3H or 4H) or rebids notrump to show a balanced hand (1C - 1H / 1NT or 2NT). Raises and notrump rebids show an exact point range, so when opener makes one of these rebids, you are usually the one who will choose the final contract.

There will be some situations where you'll want to ask for more information. You may want to invite by raising partner's suit to the 3-level or by making a game-try bid . If you responded with a 5-card major and opener's rebid was 1NT, you can use a New Minor Forcing bid to see if he has 3-card support for your suit. On most deals, though, you are in control after these point-showing rebids.


When opener shows an unbalanced hand

Other rebids by opener (new suits and rebids of his first suit) often show distributional hands. Opener can make a new-suit bid with a fairly wide point range -- from a minimum opener of 12 points up to around 17-18 points --  so you may have to continue searching for information about partner's exact strength. The longer your auction, the fewer “rules” there are to follow. At your second and later turns to bid, you’ll need to use bridge logic and your picture of partner’s hand to choose your calls.

In general:


Here’s a quick summary of the distributional pictures opener is giving you with his rebids:

If opener bids his suit twice:

Low-level rebid  [ 1H - 1S / 2H ]:

If you responded at the one-level, opener promises at least 6 cards in his suit and minimum strength (11-15 points).

If you responded at the two-level [1H - 2D / 2H], opener may have only a 5-card suit for his rebid. He may rebid his 5-card major if he can’t raise your suit or if his hand isn’t right for a 2NT rebid (he has shortness or no stopper in an unbid suit).

If opener bids the same suit three times, he usually has 7 cards (or a very strong 6 cards).

Jump rebid  [ 1H - 1S / 3H   or  1C - 1H / 3C]:

When opener makes a jump rebid in his suit, he's showing a very strong suit and a hand with playing strength of 16-18 points

If he jump-rebids his major suit, you don’t need a good fit to accept it as trumps. His suit is usually powerful enough that he can play opposite a singleton in your hand.

If he jump-rebids his minor suit and you have enough strength for game, consider playing 3NT instead of 5 of partner’s suit.

Jump to game  [ 1H - 1S / 4H ]:

Opener has a very long, powerful suit. He could have minimum point-count, but he has game-level playing strength.

Opener’s jump to game is a command that his suit is trumps. You can bid on if you’re interested in slam, but you shouldn’t try to play in any other trump suit.

If opener bids a second suit at the two-level or higher:

Assume he has at least 5 cards in his first suit and at least 4 cards in his second suit. Opener’s exact strength depends on the rank of his second suit and the level of his rebid.

If opener's second suit is lower in rank than his first suit  [1H - 1S / 2C or 2D]:

If you have a bare minimum, opener wants you to choose one of his suits -- either by passing his second suit or by “retreating” to 2 of his first suit.
You may have to take a preference to a suit where you have only a 7-card fit (you hold a doubleton in opener's first suit).

If you have a stronger hand, you can raise his second suit, bid notrump or force the auction by bidding the fourth (unbid) suit  [1H - 1S / 2C - 2D].

Opener may have from 11 to as many as 17 high-card points, so try to keep the auction open for him if you have fair values (9+ points)

If opener's second suit is higher in rank than his first suit  [1C - 1S / 2D or 2H]:

This is a strong reverse rebid. It promises at least 16-17 high-card points, 5+ cards in his first suit and 4+ cards in his second suit. This auction forces you to bid at least one more time.

Be sure you bid up to game level when you have a good 8-9 points or more. Add in your distribution points if you’re raising one of his suits.

Opener usually has a singleton for this auction, so bid notrump only if you have good stoppers in the unbid suit.

If opener jumps in his second suit  [1H - 1S / 3C or 3D]:

This is a strong jump-shift, showing 18-19+ high-card points. You cannot pass. You must keep bidding until you reach at least game level.


At the Table: Responder's second bid

Partner opens 1C, you respond 1S and partner rebids 2S. What is your rebid? 

K9853   2   A1052   ♣QJ3
    4S. Once you know you have a fit, add in your distribution points to determine your hand's playing strength. With the singleton heart and fifth trump, this hand values to at least 13 points, so go directly to game.

Q987   ♥AQ3   KQ4   J93
    3NT. This gives partner a choice of games. He knows you have 4 spades, so if he's balanced (or if he raised with 3-card support), he can pass. If he has 4 spades and a ruffing value, he will return to 4S.

Partner opens 1D, you respond 1S and partner rebids 1NT. What is your rebid? 

KQ85   A7   J6   ♣J9654
    2NT. A notrump contract is fine with you (there's no point in trying to show your clubs), but you aren't certain you have the 25 combined points needed to make 3NT. Your raise to 2NT invites game. If partner has a bare 12 points, he can pass. With a good 13 or 14 points, he will bid 3NT.

J10943  ♥K1043   K4   53
    2H. This auction (1 of a minor - 1S / 1NT - 2H) is the one exception to the rule that a new suit by responder is forcing. In this auction, 2H is not forcing. It shows 5 spades and at least 4 hearts and asks opener to choose one of your suits. A rebid of a new minor (1D - 1S / 1NT - 2C) would be forcing.

Partner opens 1C, you respond 1S and partner rebids 2C. What is your rebid? 

K10643   Q942   QJ5   3
    Pass. This hand rates to be a misfit, so give up on finding majors and stop low. Your spades aren’t long or strong enough to rebid, and a 2H bid would force partner to bid again (new suits by responder are forcing).

QJ10653  863   K74   3
    2S. This is the suit quality you need to insist on your own suit. Your low-level rebid shows a minimum hand of 6-9 points. Partner will usually pass.

AK862   742   AJ7   Q2
    2D. You have game values, but which game? You can’t bid 3NT with no heart stopper, so try a new suit as an artificial force. Your problem will be solved if partner can bid 2S (showing “belated” 3-card support) or 2NT (showing a stopper in the unbid suit, hearts).

K1086   KJ4   AQ93   103
   3NT. There’s no point in bidding your diamond suit. You have game strength and all suits stopped, so get to the final contract immediately.

Partner opens 1S, you respond 1NT, and partner rebids 3S. What is your rebid?

10   K86   AJ843   10832
    4S. The ace and king are valuable cards. Partner has a very strong suit, so don’t worry about your trump support. You need a stronger hand and better outside stoppers to bid 3NT.

Partner opens 1H, you respond 1S, and partner rebids 2C. What is your rebid?

Q10543   J5   A63   742
    2H. Partner has at least 9 cards in his two suits (5 hearts and 4 or more clubs), so his hand doesn’t have much room for spade support. Your choice is between a 5-2 heart fit and a 4-3 club fit. When in doubt, choose the 5-2 fit, especially if it’s a major and you have a good doubleton as here. Your 2H rebid does not show extra strength. It says you have a minimum response and prefer partner’s first suit.

AQ642   3   765   KJ103
    3C. Partner could have up to 17 points, so try to find one more bid if you have a good response and a fit. Your raise shows 4+ clubs and around 9-11 points. Your spades are not strong enough to bid twice.

AQ65   62   K107   Q643
    2NT. When you have close to game-level strength but your only fit is a minor, always consider a notrump contract. Your 2NT rebid shows invitational values (10-11 points) and stoppers in the unbid suit(s).

Partner opens 1C, you respond 1H, and partner rebids 2D. What is your rebid?

QJ102   AJ92   J73   105
    3NT. Partner’s second suit is higher in rank than his first, so he is making a reverse rebid, which shows 16-17+ points. This rebid promises at least 9 cards in his two suits (5+ clubs and 4+ diamonds). Your 9 points is enough for game, and with double stoppers in both of partner’s short suits, your hand is perfect for 3NT.

AQ43   A982   2   K1065
    6C. Your hand is more powerful than its high-card points because it has aces, extra trumps (giving you a 9-card fit) and outside shortness (partner can take extra tricks by using your clubs to trump his diamond losers).
Or
, if you play Lebensohl 2NT rebids, you can set the trump suit by raising to 3C (forcing), then using Blackwood to check on aces and kings. This may help you find a grand slam of 7C.


    ©  Karen Walker