KJ763
Q942 
K105
3In most auctions, the first few bids are an exchange of information about suit lengths and point count. The purpose of this early bidding conversation is to describe your hand, not to tell partner what the final contract should be.
Later bids in the auction tend to be stronger suggestions about the best trump suit and level for the final contract. The critical decision is often made by responder at his second turn to bid.
These decisions are easiest in auctions where partner raises your suit or shows a balanced hand by opening or rebidding notrump. In other auctions -- especially those where opener’s rebid shows a distributional hand -- you may have to continue searching for information.
The longer your auction, the fewer “rules” there are to follow. At your second and later turns to bid, you’ll need to use bridge logic and your picture of partner’s hand to choose your next action.
In general:
Partner may open a bit lighter than usual (11 to 12 pts.) when he has a distributional hand. He’s most likely to stretch when he has length in major suits rather than minors.
Remember that you show your point-count range anytime you bid notrump, raise partner’s suit or rebid your own suit. Be sure you choose the proper level when you make these rebids.
If you locate a trump fit, add in your distribution points to determine your full playing strength and the level for your raise.
New-suit bids force opener to bid again. If you need more information after an auction such as 1C-1S-2C, you can bid 2D or 2H to force. Your bid of a new suit at the 2-level or higher shows at least invitational strength and may be artificial. You don’t need length in the suit to use it as a force. See New Minor Forcing for more details on how to use new-suit bids to collect information.
Stop low on misfits. If you have 6-10 pts. with little or no support for partner’s suit, you may have to pass his minimum rebid. Never try to “save” him by running to notrump when you’re weak.
Here’s a quick summary of the distributional pictures opener is giving you with his rebids:
If opener bids his suit twice:
Low-level rebid [ 1H - 1S - 2H ]:
If you responded at the 1-level, opener promises at least 6 cards in his suit and minimum strength (11-15 pts.).
If you responded at the 2-level [1H - 2D - 2H], opener may have only a 5-card suit for his rebid. He may rebid his 5-card major if he can’t raise your suit or if his hand isn’t right for a 2NT rebid (he has shortness or no stopper in an unbid suit).
If opener bids the same suit three times, he usually has 7 cards (or a very strong 6 cards).
Jump rebid [ 1H - 1S - 3H or 1C - 1H - 3C]:
When opener makes a jump rebid in his suit, he's showing a very strong suit and a hand with the playing strength of 16-18 pts.
If he jump-rebids his major suit, you don’t need a good fit to accept it as trumps. His suit is usually powerful enough that he can play opposite a singleton or small doubleton in your hand.
If he jump-rebids his minor suit and you have enough strength for game, consider playing 3NT instead of 5 of partner’s suit.
Jump to game [ 1H - 1S - 4H ]:
Opener has a very long, powerful suit. He may have minimum point-count, but he has game-level playing strength.
Opener’ bid is a command that his suit is trumps. You can bid on if you’re interested in slam, but you shouldn’t try to play in any other trump suit.
If opener bids a second suit at the 2-level or higher:
Assume he has at least 5 cards in his first suit and at least 4 cards in his second suit.
Opener’s exact strength depends on the rank of his second suit and the level of his rebid.
If opener's second suit is lower in rank than his first suit [1H - 1S - 2C or 2D]:
If you have a bare minimum, opener wants you to choose one of his suits -- either by passing his second suit or by “retreating” to 2 of his first suit. You may have to take a preference to a suit where you have only a 7-card fit (you hold a doubleton in opener's first suit).
If you have a stronger hand, you can raise his second suit, bid notrump or force the auction by bidding the fourth (unbid) suit [1H - 1S - 2C - 2D].
Opener may have from 11 to as many as 17 high-card points, so try to keep the auction open for him if you have fair values (9+ pts.)
If opener's second suit is higher in rank than his first suit [1C - 1S - 2D or 2H]:
This is a strong reverse rebid, showing at least 16-17 high-card points, 5+ cards in his first suit and 4+ cards in his second suit. This auction forces you to bid at least one more time.
Be sure you bid up to game level if you have a good 8-9 points or more. Add in your distribution points if you’re raising one of his suits.
Opener usually has a singleton, so bid notrump only if you have good stoppers in the unbid suit.
If opener jumps in his second suit [1H - 1S - 3C or 3D]:
This is a strong jump-shift, showing 18-19+ high- card points. You cannot pass. You must keep bidding until you reach at least game level.
Partner opens 1C, you respond 1S, and partner rebids 2C. What is your rebid?
KJ763
Q942 K105
3
Pass. This hand rates to be a misfit, so give up on finding majors and stop low. Your spades aren’t long or strong enough to rebid, and a 2H bid would force partner to bid again (new suits by responder are forcing).
QJ10653
863 K94
3
2S. This is the suit quality you need to insist on your own suit. Your low-level rebid shows a minimum hand of 6-9 pts. Partner will usually pass.
AK862
742 AJ7
Q2
2D. You have game values, but which game? You can’t bid 3NT with no heart stopper, so try a new suit as an artificial force. Your problem will be solved if partner can bid 2S (showing “belated” 3-card support) or 2NT (showing a stopper in the unbid suit, hearts).
K1086
KJ4 AQ93
103
3NT. There’s no point in bidding your diamond suit. You have game strength and all suits stopped, so get to the final contract as quickly as possible.
Partner opens 1S, you respond 1NT, and he rebids 3S. What is your rebid?
10
K86 AJ843
J932
4H. The ace and king are valuable cards. Partner has a very strong suit, so don’t worry about your trump support. You need a stronger hand and better outside stoppers to bid 3NT.
Partner opens 1H, you respond 1S, and he rebids 2C. What is your rebid?
Q10743
J5 A65
742
2H. Partner has at least 9 cards in his two suits, so his hand doesn’t have much room for spade support. Your choice is between a 5-2 heart fit and a 4-3 club fit. When in doubt, choose the 5-2 fit, especially if it’s a major and you have a good doubleton as here. Your 2H rebid does not show extra strength. It just says you prefer partner’s first suit.
AQ642
3 765
K1093
3C. Partner could have up to 17 pts., so try to find one more bid if you have a good response and a fit. Your raise shows 4+ clubs and around 9-11 pts.
AQ65
62 K107
Q643
2NT. When you have close to game-level strength but your only fit is a minor, always consider a notrump contract. Your 2NT rebid shows invitational values (10-11 pts.) and stoppers in the unbid suits.
Partner opens 1C, you respond 1H, and he rebids 2D. What is your rebid?
QJ102
AJ94 J73
105
3NT. Partner’s second suit is higher in rank than his first, so his rebid is a reverse, which shows 16-17+ pts. Your 9 pts. is enough for game, and with double stoppers in both of partner’s short suits, your hand is perfect for 3NT.
AQ43
A982 2
K1065
4NT (Blackwood, to ask for aces). Your hand is more powerful than its high-card points because it has aces, extra trumps (giving you a 9-card fit) and outside shortness (partner can take extra tricks by using your clubs to trump his diamond losers). Don’t settle for anything less than 6C. If partner shows two aces, you'll bid 5NT to ask for kings and invite a grand slam.
Copyright © 2007 -- Karen Walker