RainBow Series – Lesson III

Rebidding Strategies

       The first two bids by Responder and Opener set the tone that both players will adopt in moving towards the final contract.
In uncontested auctions, these bids will be categorized as Forcing and Non-Forcing.
       Forcing bids can occasionally be subdivided into Game-Forcing and One-Round forcing.   Non-Forcing bids can be subdivided into Invitational and Sign-Off (this latter designation including pre-emptive bids).
       If the opponents enter the auction, there is a third type of Non-Forcing bid, the competitive one, which does not invite game but merely competes for the part score.  1NT-2♦-2♠, for example, is natural and competitive.

       With a flat hand (5-3-3-2, 4-4-3-2 or 4-3-3-3 types), Opener will rebid in 1NT (13-14) or 2NT (18-19). 
       In the former case, Responder's ONLY forcing rebid is a jump in a new suit (i.e., 1♦:1♥:1NT:3♣). 

1	1
2NT	??

c        In the case of a 2NT rebid, everything by Responder is forcing, including a bid of a previously shown suit. 
For example, after 1♣:1♠:2NT,  3♣, 3♦, 3♥ and 3♠ are ALL forcing.  If Responder wants to play in a part score, Responder must pass the 2NT rebid. 
       With any Non-Balanced hand, Opener must endeavour to NOT rebid in NoTrump. 

x

A J x x

K 10 x x

A J x x

After opening 1♦ and hearing 1♠, do NOT rebid 1NT.  Partner might go "crazy" with 6 Spades, expecting at least 2-card support from you.  Rebid 2♣ and await developments. 

       A 1NT reply warns Opener NOT to expect a fit in any suit higher than Opener's.  Hence, with any hand less than 17 points, Opener will either pass 1NT or rebid a suit that is no higher than the opened suit. 
       In this way, after 1♥:1NT, minimal Opener (13-16) can pass, rebid a 4+ card minor or a 6+ card Heart suit.  Only with 19-21, can Opener jump in a new suit or reverse.  With flat 18-19 points, Opener will, of course, raise 1NT to 2NT.  The only other invitational recourse for Opener is a jump in the opened suit (i.e., 1♣:1NT:3♣). 

1	1NT
2	3

      (1)   Can't Opener jump in a new suit with an unbalanced 17-18 points ?   And, if not, does this mean that Responder has to raise a non-jump suit rebid (i.e., 1♥:1NT:2♣:3♣) with 8-9 points, in case Opener has 17-18 points ? 
      (2)   What if Opener has 6 cards in the opened suit, and 4 cards in a lower ranked suit ?   Should Opener rebid the 6-carder or introduce the lower ranked suit ?        Any new suit by an unpassed Responder is forcing for one round and unlimited, promising 6+ points.  In such auctions, SAYC and 2/1 GF are identical. 
      Bear in mind, though, that a new suit bid by Opener is NOT forcing.  For the most part, Opener will strive to introduce any suit that Opener can bid at the 1-level. 

New Suit 1 1 1

Jump shift 1 1 2

      With less than 19 points, Opener will usually introduce a new suit without jump (i.e., 1♦:1♥:1♠ or 2♣). 
      To show a 19-21 point hand, Opener may jump bid in a new suit (i.e., 1♦:1♥:2♠ or 3♣). 
      When raising Responder's suit, Opener will do so How many trumps does Opener need to make such a raise ?   Usually four.  But with 3 and a ruffing value (a doubleton, singleton or void), Opener can raise a major-suit response. 
      Opener should NOT raise a 1♦ reply to 1♣, if Opener has a 4-card major.  Better to show the major FIRST, in case Responder has 4-card support for it. 

Rebid

1	1
2

      Opener will rebid a minor with a 6+ card suit OR with 4 cards in an intermittent suit and 5 cards in the rebid minor.  1♦:1♠:2♦, then, shows either 6+ Diamonds OR 4 Hearts and 5 Diamonds. 
      Responder can force the bidding with any new suit rebid — including a bid of the 4th suit. 

1	1
1	3

      Failure to bid a new suit Limits Responder's hand.  1♣:1♥:1♠:3♠ may sound forcing, but the failure to bid 2♦ (a 4th Suit Force) means that 3♠ is a Limit raise of the 4-card spade suit. 

1 2 2

Jump Rebid 1 2 3

      If Responder replies in 2-of-a-lower-ranked suit, Opener will often rebid the opened suit to show a minimum.  1♦:2♣:2♦, then, does NOT show extra Diamond length — and may even be only four diamonds with exactly 4-4-4-1 distribution !
      With 16+ points and a single-suited hand, Opener will Jump rebid the opened suit (i.e., 1♠:2♦:3♠).

Reverse 1 2 2

High-Level Reverse 1 2 3

      Only with 16+ points (enough to force game opposite the anticipated 10+ points from Responder for the 2-over-1 response), can Opener afford to force game with a reverse, including a High-Level Reverse (a 3-over-2 rebid).  1♥:2♦:2♠ and 3♣ both show such strong hands. 

      Balanced Openers will rebid

opposite the 2-over-1 reply.

Rebid Major

1	2
2

      The only exception to this is a major suit rebid with a 5-3-3-2 type, 13-14 points.  1♥:2♣:2♥ and 1♠:2♣:2♠ permits responder to rebid 2NT with 10-12 HCPs, putting the pair in a better position to judge the chances of 3NT than if Opener were permitted to rebid 2NT with, say, 13-16 points.

1	2
2

      In all other cases, failure to make a rebid in NoTrump (i.e., 1♦:2♣:2♦, 1♥:2♣:2♦, etc.) marks Opener with 2 or more Short Suit Points (an unbalanced holding). 

Rebid Major

1	1NT
2

      So bear in mind: Opener's rebid of hir major after a ONE level response (1♥:1♠:1NT, 1♥:1NT:2♥ or 1♠:1NT:2♠) shows a good 6+card suit; a rebid of hir major after a TWO-level responses does NOT.

Ask Stoppers

1	3
3

      If the partnership finds a Minor-suit fit, new-suit bids below the 3NT level are NoTrump guards, hoping partner can rebid 3NT with a stopper in an unbid suit.  1♣:3♣:3♦, then, invites Responder to bid       If one's major is raised to the TWO level, a new suit is a "long suit game try", asking partner to sign off in the agreed trump suit, unless partner has a full maximum and/or a "fitting honour" in the bid suit. 

1 2 3

1 1 2 3

1♥:2♥:3♣, then, asks Responder to bid 3♥, unless Responder has 9-10 points OR ♣Ace, ♣King or ♣Queen.  Similarly, 1♦:1♥:2♥:3♣ asks Opener the same question. 

Cuebid

1	3
3

      Starting at the 3♥ level, any non-trump suit bid (once a major suit has been established as trump) is a CUEBID, seeking slam.  1♥:3♥:3♠, then, shows a control (♠A, ♠K, singleton or void) in Spades, looking for slam.  Remember: an immediate bid of 4♥ or 4♠ is NOT a cuebid if that suit has been bid by the pair.  1♥:1♠:3♠:4♥ is NOT a cuebid.  Rather, it is to play !          The North American style of cuebidding is to endeavour to cuebid First-Round controls (Ace or void) for the most part.  This is unfortunate, in that the pair may have difficulty determining if they hold a Second-Round control (King or singleton) in a suit. 

Opener:	J x	A K Q x x	A x	A K x x
Responder:	K Q x	J x x x	K x x x	Q x

Opener	Responder	Explanation
1	3	LIMIT Raise.
4	4	No Ace to cuebid.
Pass	—	No knowledge of ,

The superior European style of cuebidding shows all controls indescriminately "up the line".  FAILURE to cuebid a suit DENIES a control of any sort in that suit, alerting partner to the need for control there.  Only on the second round of cuebidding, after trump has been bypassed, are Aces distinguished from Kings.  The above hand would be bid:

Opener:	J x	A K Q x x	A x	A K x x
Responder:	K Q x	J x x x	K x x x	Q x

Opener	Responder	Explanation
1	3	LIMIT Raise
4	4	Control of and (else and )
4NT	5	One Ace.
6	—	Enough controls and Aces for slam.

 

      1.  Which style of cuebidding should I presume a new partner on OKBridge is using ?
      2.  When should I use cuebids and when should I use Blackwood ?
      3.  Are cuebids not also used as a general slam try ?  Opposite one of my cuebids, can't partner refuse to cuebid and return to the trump suit to show a minimum ?       A reverse is any rebid which bypasses one's first bid suit in order to introduce a 2nd one.  This shows a good hand, since it forces the bidding up one more level in order for partner to show a preference for the first bid suit.

Reverse

1	1
2

      1♣:1♠:2♥, then, shows a good hand since, with a preference for Clubs, Responder must bid 3♣ ... even if Responder is weak. 
      A reverse by Opener opposite a ONE level reply shows 18-21 points.  It is a matter of controversy as to whether such a reverse is forcing.  I consider them "99%" forcing, meaning that I will pass with an utterly unpromising 6-point hand and no good fit for either suit.
      A reverse by Opener opposite a 2/1 response shows 16-21 and is Game Forcing. 
      1.  Why does a reverse opposite a 1-level reply show a better hand than opposite a 2/1 reply ? 

 

Responder's
Reverse

1	1
2	2

      A reverse by Responder (i.e., 1♦:1♥:2♦:2♠) shows 13+ points — enough to force game. 
The reverse ostensibly shows the bid suit (and greater length in the 1st bid suit) but *may* simply be a manufactured bid to start a game-forcing auction.  How does opener know the difference ?   Opener doesn't, yet.  Opener bids as if the reverse were natural, raising as appropriate, and sees if Responder rebids in NoTrump or the 1st bid suit (both indications that the reverse is bogus). 

      1.  Why does Responder need less to reverse than Opener ? 
      2.  After 1♦:1♥:2♣ is 2♠ a reverse or a 4th Suit Force ?   Does it promise Spades ?        A bid of the 4th Suit by responder is forcing for ONE round in SAYC.  Unless Responder rebids the 4th Suit itself, the auction becomes game-forcing.  Many pairs play the 4th Suit bid as GAME-FORCING in all cases, but this is NOT SAYC.  1♣:1♥:1♠:2♦, then, is forcing for ONE round in SAYC, and Responder's ONLY non-game-forcing rebid will be 3♦. 
      1.  What can a weak (6-12 points) Responder do with 5-5 or better in the majors after an auction such as 1♦:1♠:2♣, when a 2♥ bid will be a 4th suit force ? 
      2.  What would a strong (13+ points) Responder do with 5-5 or better in the majors after an auction such as 1♦:1♠:2♣ ? 
      1.  After 1♦:1♠ what should Opener rebid with:

HAND A:	A Q x	K J x x	K 10 x x x	x
HAND B:	x	K J x x	K 10 x x x	A Q x
HAND C:	x	A Q x x	A Q J 10 x	A Q x
HAND D:	Q x	A x	A K J 10 x x	A x x
HAND E:	J x x	K Q x x	A K Q x	K x

      2.  After 1♦:1♠:2♣ what should Responder rebid with:

HAND A:	K Q x x x	Q x x	x x	x x x
HAND B:	A x x x	J x x	x x	A J x x
HAND C:	A K x x	J x x	Q x	A J x x
HAND D:	A K x x x x	K x x	x x	x x
HAND E:	A J x x	K Q x	J x x	x x x

      3.  After 1♠:2♦ what should Opener rebid with:

HAND A:	6 5 4 3 2	A Q x	Q x	A J x
HAND B:	K J x x x	K x x	x	A Q x x
HAND C:	A K x x x x	A x x	x	A J 10 x
HAND D:	A x x x x x	A Q x	J x	A K
HAND E:	A K x x x x	A x	Q J x x	A

RAINBOW Series

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