May 2020 - 45

Newer Players

Bidding Basics
BY LARRY COHEN

larryco.com

Responder's rebid after opener's reverse
In the previous installment, we responded on the one level. Partner, the
opener, made his second bid on the two
level, but he didn't show a strong hand
(he didn't jumpshift or reverse). This
episode, we are still responding on the
one level, but opener is going to show
a big hand. This month he will reverse.
Oh, dear.
Review of "What is a Reverse?"
Aspiring players need to understand
what a jumpshift by opener is and what
a reverse by opener is and the difference between the two. A jumpshift is
where the opener not only changes
suit, but skips a level. For example,
1♦-1♥; 2♠ or 1♣-1♦; 2♥ are jumpshift auctions because opener changed
suit and skipped a level when he could
have legally bid only 1♠ or only 1♥,
respectively.
A reverse is opener's two-level
bid (but not a jump) in a suit higher
ranking than the suit he opened. That
sentence needs to be read, reread and
digested. For example, 1♦-1♠; 2♥:
Opener's rebid was on the two level in
a suit (hearts) higher-ranking than the
suit opened (diamonds), but it was not
a jump. 1♦-1♠; 2♣ is not a reverse
because clubs are not higher ranking
than diamonds.
We are not considering auctions
where the response was on the two
level, for example, 1♥-2♣; 2♠. This is
a 2/1 auction, where most players using the modern 2/1 game-force system
don't consider these higher-suit rebids
by opener to promise strong hands. We
are considering auctions only where

the opening and response were on the
one level.
Opener's reverse shows a good
hand, i.e., a minimum of a good 16 or
17 points counting useful distribution. It is forcing, but only for one
round, not necessarily to game. Are
your eyes glossing over? You have to
read and reread the above to begin to
understand it. Furthermore, you can't
say you "don't play reverses." If opener
produces one of the auctions below,
like it or not, he has reversed. Here are
the auctions we are considering:
1♣-1♥; 2♦
1♣-1♠; 2♦
1♣-1♠; 2♥
1♦-1♠; 2♥
1♣-1NT; 2♦/2♥/2♠
1♦-1NT; 2 major
1♥-1NT; 2♠
In each case, opener's rebid was on
the two level in a suit higher-ranking
than the suit he opened. Note that
1♦-1♥; 1♠ is not a reverse because
opener's rebid is not on the two level.
After opener reverses
What happens after a reverse? This
is a tough area of bidding in that there
is no "standard." It requires study and
partnership agreement which is a lot
to ask from readers of this series. I will
explain here a simple (and also the
most common) way to handle followups to reverses. But it does take study!
If responder raises opener's suit(s),
it is natural and forcing to game. Examples: 1♦-1♠; 2♥-3♦ or 1♦-1♠;
2♥-3♥.

If responder repeats his own suit,
it shows at least five cards and it is
forcing one round. Examples: 1♣-1♠;
2♥-2♠ or 1♣-1♥; 2♦-2♥. If responder has a poor hand (up to about 7
points) and wants to maybe get out in
a partscore, he bids either notrump or
the fourth suit, whichever is cheaper.
That last bit is a mouthful. After
1♦-1♠; 2♥, which is cheaper: 2NT
or 3♣? Yes, 2NT comes first on the
bidding ladder, so that would be a way
to say, "Partner, I am broke-and might
pass your next bid."
Let's look at some examples of this
difficult situation. After 1♣-1♠; 2♦
(a reverse, yes), bid 2♥ with:
♠Q J x x ♥Q x x ♦x x x ♣J x x,
the fourth suit, to warn partner you
plan to drop him if he doesn't jump to
game. Bid 2♠ with:
♠A Q J x x ♥x x x ♦x x ♣x x x,
forcing for now. Bid 2NT, natural and
forcing, with:
♠K J x x ♥K Q x ♦x x x ♣x x x.
Bid 3♣, a forcing raise, with:
♠A x x x ♥x x ♦Q x x ♣K x x x.
Bid 3♦, a forcing raise, with:
♠K Q x x ♥A x ♦A x x x ♣x x x.
Bid 3♠, natural and forcing, with:
♠K Q J 10 x x ♥A x ♦x x ♣Q x x.
Let's examine one more auction with
examples. After: 1♦-1♠; 2♥, let's see
some follow-ups. Remember that a
reverse is forcing one round, so passing
is not an option.
May 2020 Bridge Bulletin

45
http://www.larryco.com
May 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of May 2020
