December 2010 - 46

Play & Learn

Pat Harrington

Opener's unbalanced hands
While it's nice to be able to narrow
your strength to a specific range early
in the auction, it isn't always possible.
Unbalanced hands could take several
bids before that happens. Consider
this auction:
West
North East
South
1
Pass
1
Pass
1
What do you know about respond‑
er's strength at this point? Not much.
The 1 response shows a wide
range - from 6 points up to enough
to insist on slam.
What do you know about opener's
strength after hearing the 1 rebid?
You cannot pinpoint opener's strength
either, but can rule out a maximum
19-21 point hand. Why? Opener did
not jump shift to 2 to show 19 to
21 points. Opener still could have as
much as 18 points, a fact that is often
missed by newer players who expect
opener to do something more dramat‑
ic with a hand that good.
The problem with auctions like this
one is that non‑jump new suit bids
are not all that descriptive. A new
suit can often be bid with a mini‑
mum hand up to 18 points. What do
you think about opener's 1 rebid
in the above auction? Is it forcing or
non‑forcing?
46 Bridge Bulletin December 2010

After a one-level opening bid and
a one-level response, opener's new
suit bid is not forcing, provided it is
lower than two of his first suit.
So, 1 is not forcing.
How do you picture opener's dis‑
tribution in our sample auction? We
advocate bidding four‑card majors up
the line. Responder's 1 bid didn't
deny four spades so opener is still
exploring for a spade fit with four
spades and many possible distribu‑
tions and strengths.
What does the auction below tell
you about opener's hand? Is opener's
rebid forcing?
West
1
2

North
Pass

East
1

South
Pass

After a one-level suit opening bid
and a one-level response, opener's
new suit bid on the two level tends to
show an unbalanced hand.
In the above auction, opener has
shown at least four clubs and prob‑
ably five diamonds, but opener might
even bid this way with 1=4=4=4
distribution (in suit order with the
singleton in spades). Opener's 2 bid
is not forcing. It is a new suit lower
than two of his first suit and may be
only a minimum opening hand.
Look at your rebid as West in this
auction:
West
North East
South
1
Pass
1
Pass
?
1. J K Q 9 7 2 7 6 3 A K 9 4
2. 2 K Q 9 4 2 K Q 4 A Q 6 3
3. 2 A J 9 4 2 A Q 4 A K J 3
Hand No. 1 is a minimum with 13
high‑card points. With no spade fit,

you must rebid at or below two of
the suit you opened (2 ). The best
description of your hand is 2. A
1NT rebid would show your minimum
strength, but could encourage partner
to rebid spades.
With 16 HCP, No. 2 is a medium
opener. Again, 2 is your best rebid.
It's tempting to bid 1NT with all re‑
maining suits covered, but there are
two reasons not to do that. Most
important is that any notrump bid
will distort your strength. Rebidding
1NT says you have a minimum hand
and rebidding 2NT says you have 18
or 19 points. Also, rebidding 1NT or
2NT would show at least a doubleton
spade and could encourage partner to
rebid spades.
Notice that you make the same
rebid with No. 1, a minimum opening
hand, as No. 2, a medium hand. You
describe your strength by bidding an
old suit (one previously bid by you
or partner) or notrump, but neither
of these choices describes the first
two hands. Opener has to settle for
a non‑forcing new suit bid. Although
it isn't as descriptive about your
strength, it does describe your distri‑
bution.
No. 3 is a maximum opening hand
with 19 HCP. When you hold a maxi‑
mum opening hand, you must make a
forcing rebid. As discussed, 2 is not
forcing. Opener's jump shift describes
an unbalanced 19 to 21 point hand.
Make a game‑forcing 3 rebid. Again,
rebidding 3NT might seem like a good
alternative, but it could encourage
partner to place the contract in 4
expecting better support from you.
After 3, partner must bid again,
and you still have room to get to 3NT
without misleading him.
r
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2010
