OPENER’S REBID AT THE TWO LEVEL
A “REVERSE BID” is the backbone of a “standard bidding structure”. It is not a special “CONVENTION” THEREFORE “it does not need to be alerted”!
TODAY, I will discuss “Opener’s Reverse” (there is also a Responder’s Reverse – another lesson)!
A reverse is always the second bid made by opener after partner has responded at the ONE LEVEL!
WHAT MUST YOU HAVE TO REVERSE:
- 17+ high card points
- a two-suited hand – longer in the first suit bid than the second suit mentioned (IN OTHER WORDS AN UNBALANCED HAND)
Look at these two bidding sequences:
OPENER: 1 HEART
responder: 1 spade
OPENER: 2 DIAMONDS
OPENER IS SHOWING 5+ HEARTS AND 4+ DIAMONDS AND A MINIUMUM OPENER
AS Responder, if you can SUPPORT hearts you can keep the bidding low if you have a minimum responding hand
OR
AS Responder you can pass diamonds with 4+ cards in that suit & a minimum hand —as opener has indicated he has a TWO-SUITED minimum hand as well!
Let’s look at this sequence:
OPENER: 1 DIAMOND
RESPONDER: 1 SPADE
OPENER: 2 HEARTS —this bid identifies that Opener has made “a reverse bid” by bidding a new suit, after Responder’s bid at the one level, that is higher on the bidding ladder than the one opener started with
NOW— IF YOU, THE RESPONDER WANT TO SUPPORT DIAMONDS YOU ARE FORCED TO DO SO AT THE “THREE LEVEL” —— YOU ARE BEING PUSHED!
OPENER HAS DONE A REVERSE ORDER FOR BIDDING HER TWO SUITS!!!!
SHE IS SHOWING LONGER DIAMONDS, THAN HEARTS AND 17+ POINTS AND THAT BID IS “FORCING” FOR ONE ROUND OF BIDDING EVEN IF YOU, AS RESPONDER, ONLY HAVE 6 POINTS!
IF YOU HAVE HEART SUPPORT – AND MINIMUM DO A SIMPLE RAISE if not you must bid again!
IS THIS SEQUENCE A REVERSE BY OPENER?
OPENER: 1 DIAMOND —- RESPONDER: 1 SPADE
OPENER 2 CLUBS
ANSWER: NO – AS OPENER’S 2ND SUIT RANKS LOWER THAN THE FIRST SUIT
HOW ABOUT:
OPENER 1 CLUB—RESPONDER 1 SPADE
OPENER 2 DIAMONDS
ANSWER: YES – OPENER’S 2ND SUIT RANKS HIGHER THAN 1ST AND IS PUSHING YOU TO THE THREE LEVEL IF YOU WANT TO CHOOSE TO PLAY IN CLUBS!
TRY A REVERSE NEXT TIME YOUR HAND QUALIFIES — YOU’LL BE AMAZED TO SEE THE LOOK OF SURPRISE ON YOUR PARTNER’S FACE!
