September 2021 - 49

Newer Players
Bidding Basics
Opener's rebid after
responder's negative double
W
e've opened, our left-hand
opponent overcalled and
partner made a negative
double. What do we do next as opener?
Our rebid will follow a plan similar
to the one we would make after
opening and seeing partner respond.
Opener can bid a new suit (especially
one implied by the negative double),
rebid his own suit (typically showing
six or more) or bid notrump (natural).
With extras, opener must jump.
Here are examples with meanings.
We've opened 1', they've overcalled
1 and partner has made a negative
double (typically showing hearts).
1'-(1)-Dbl-(Pass)-?
Pass: Very unlikely. We'd end
up defending against 1 doubled!
Maybe if they are vulnerable, we can
try this unusual stunt with so mething
like:
K Q J 10 k9 lA 7 6 2 'A K 7 4.
1NT: Minimum balanced hand -
usually with spades stopped. Unlikely
to have four hearts. Examples:
Q 10 6 3 kK 2 lK Q 9 'K 7 6 2
Q 7 4 kJ 6 3 lA K 2 'Q J 10 7.
With a flat minimum, no heart
length and no spade stopper, opener
must come up with some lie.
2': Natural, usually six or more
clubs, minimum. Examples:
A 7 4 k6 3 l7 4 'A Q J 7 6 2
J 7 6 2 k9 lA K 'K J 8 6 4 2.
2l: Natural, four or more diamonds,
minimum. This is a situation
that rarely comes up (the opening
often would have been 1l), but if you
forced me to give an example, how
about:
7 6 2 kA lA Q 6 3 'Q 8 6 4 2.
I would have opened 1l, but some
players open 1'. This is not considered
a " reverse. "
2k: Natural - like raising a 1k
response to 2k. Examples:
7 4 kA Q 6 3 lA 7 4 'K 7 6 2
K 7 6 2 kK Q 6 3 l7 4 'A 7 4.
Note that this shows a minimum
opening and is not considered a
reverse.
2: Cuebid. Some big hand. Says
nothing about spades.
2NT: Natural, 18-19 with spades
stopped. Akin to rebidding 2NT after
a one-level response from partner.
Examples:
K Q J kA 9 lA J 9 'K J 7 6 2
A J 10 k7 6 2 lK Q 9 'A K J 9.
3': Same as 2' but with extras.
Invitational. Examples:
A 6 3 k9 lA 7 4 'A K J 7 6 2
6 3 kA 9 lA 9 'A Q J 8 6 4 2.
3l: Not a likely bid, but natural.
3k: More than a 2k bid. Similar to
1'-1k; 3k. Examples:
A J 9 kA Q 7 4 l9 'A 10 7 6 2
8 6 4 2 kK Q 10 2 lA 'A Q 7 4.
3NT/4k: To play (very strong
hands).
Here are examples after 1l-(1k)-
Double-(Pass) where responder
guarantees exactly four spades:
September 2021 | Bridge Bulletin |
Continued on page 50
49
BY LARRY COHEN
larryco.com
Pass: Too unlikely to consider
although there is an example above -
one is enough!
1: Likely four spades but could
be three if stuck. Minimum opener.
Examples:
Q 7 6 2 k8 6 3 lK J 6 2 'A Q
K 7 4 k6 3 lA J 7 6 2 'A 7 4.
1NT: Natural, presumably hearts
stopped, denies four spades, minimum
hand. Examples:
Q 7 kK J 6 3 lQ 7 6 2 'A J 2
K 2 kK Q 9 lJ 10 7 6 2 'K 10 5.
2': Both minors, minimum hand,
denies four spades, not suitable for a
1NT rebid. Examples:
7 4 kA 9 lK Q 10 6 3 'A 7 6 2
7 4 k7 6 2 lA K 7 4 'A Q 7 4.
2l: Natural, usually six or more
diamonds, minimum, denies four
spades. Examples:
K 2 kK 7 4 lA Q 10 7 6 2 '7 4
9 kA 7 4 lK Q J 7 6 2 'Q 7 4.
2k: Cuebid. Some big hand. Says
nothing about hearts.
2: As if it went 1l-1; 2, but
towards the high end. (Note some
experts play the 1 and 2 rebids by
opener a little differently, but we are
keeping it basic). Examples:
A Q 7 4 kA 9 lK 7 6 2 'J 7 4
K Q 10 7 k9 lK Q 10 7 4 'K 7 4.
http://www.larryco.com
September 2021

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