Just like in the previous step, there is a new concept that we need to introduce here, which will really help with rebidding these kinds of hands. Start by watching this video that explains what a ‘reverse bid’ is before moving on to opener’s second bid with unbalanced hands.
Before we look at opener’s second bid, there is an idea that we need to introduce, which plays an important part in making decisions about your second bid as opener. This is the concept of a forcing bid - a bid which your partner may not pass. We have already touched on this in the modules on responding to suit openings, where a change of suit by responder is forcing, but the video below will go into a little more detail. Once you have watched that, you can go on to watch the video about opener’s second bid with balanced hands.
Balanced hands that can open 1NT (15-17 points) or 2NT (20-22 points) convey a lot of information in their first bid, compared with those that open with a suit bid. If you have a balanced hand that falls outside those point ranges, your partner will need to wait until your second bid before they have all the information they need. Watch the video, then have a go at the quiz and the practice hands.
Penelope has opened 1♦ and Walter has responded 1♠. What should Penelope bid now?
Walter’s 1♠ response promises at least four cards in the suit, so with four in her hand as well, Penelope knows they have a fit in spades. When you find a major suit fit based on your partner’s response, you should always show the fit right away. The ‘balanced hands rebid NT’ principle is for hands that don’t have fit. Because she just has a ‘regular’ opening hand (12-14 points), Penelope should just raise by one level to 2♠. Jumping to 3♠ would show a stronger hand, typically 15-17 points that has not opened 1NT because it was unbalanced.
Penelope is less enthusiastic about Walter’s 1♠ response with this hand. As Walter has responded in a new suit, his bid is forcing. What should she bid now?
Whilst Walter may have five or more spades for his 1♠ bid, he is only promising a minimum of four, so Penelope cannot see a fit at this point. She should describe her hand with her second bid - remember 'balanced hands rebid NT'. She has a balanced hand that was not strong enough to open 1NT, which she has now shown - jumpinb to 2NT would show a hand that was too strong to have opened 1NT originally.
Penelope has a nice hand here! She has opened 1♦ and Walter’s 1♥ response is forcing, being a change of suit by an unpassed hand. What should Penelope bid?
Walter's response shows at least four hearts, and as he has bid a new suit, his response is forcing. Of course, with this hand, Penelope was going to bid again anyway. She has a lovely four card spade suit, but she remembers the maxim 'balanced hands rebid NT' that applies when you can’t see a major suit fit. If she were to bid spades at any level, that would show an unbalanced hand. By jumping to 2NT, Penelope shows that she has a balanced hand with 18-19 points.
Penelope has the same hand again, but this time, Walter has responded 1♠. What should she bid now?
Penelope is very enthusiastic about spades! She can see that they have a fit in that suit, so she must show that right away. With Walter having enough points to respond, she can also see that they should have at least 25 points between them, so they belong in game. If she were to raise to 2♠, that would show just a regular opening hand, and raising to 3♠ would show a better hand - about 15 to 17. Neither of these bids would be forcing, so Walter could pass and leave them in part score.
Penelope has opened 1♠ this time, and Walter has responded 2♥, which is a game forcing response, showing 5+ hearts. What should Penelope bid now?
In an auction where Walter could have shown his hearts at the one level (so if Penelope had opened 1♣ or 1♦) he would only be promising at least four cards in the suit. Because of the 1♠ opening, however, showing hearts requires him to go to the two level, where responding in diamonds or hearts shows 5+ cards, and is game forcing. So Penelope can see the fit in hearts even though she has only three, and she should confirm this by raising Walter's suit.
Penelope has opened 1♣ this time, and Walter has responded 1♠. What is Penelope’s best rebid?
Walter may well have five (or even more) spades but because he is responding at the one level, he may only have four. Penelope cannot therefore see a definite fit in spades, so she should just describe her hand in her second bid. She has a balanced hand, so she should rebid NT, and she does not have extra strength, so 1NT is the best description of her hand.
Another nice hand for Penelope, especially when Walter makes a game forcing response. What is her best rebid here?
5-3-3-2 is a balanced shape, so Penelope is going to rebid NT. Rebidding spades would show a six card suit. You might be tempted to say that she should jump to 3NT because of her extra strength, but when the partnership is already in a game-forced auction, there is no sense in taking up extra bidding space. Penelope can still bid 2NT to show a balanced hand. When she does that, Walter will not know she has extra strength (she would make the same rebid with 12-14, balanced), but she will have the opportunity to bid more after his next bid, so this is not a problem.
The links will take you to the Bridge Training website, where you can have a go at biding twice as opener. You will then be able to play the hands and see if you can make your contract. Have as many goes as you like if you don’t succeed the first time.
Find out how to maximise the information about the strength and shape of your hand, and reach the best contracts as a result.
Question 1/13
Penelope has opened 1♦ and Walter has responded 1♥. What should Penelope’s next bid be?
Penelope has seen the good news that she and Walter have at least an eight card major suit fit. She should tell Walter this right away, and at the same time, she can show how strong her hand is. With just 12-14 HCP, she raises by one level. With 15-17 (she would not have opened 1NT because her hand is not balanced) she would raise to 3♥ instead, to show her extra strength as well as the fit, and with 18+ she would raise to game.
Penelope has the same hand, and has made the same opening bid, but this time, Walter has responded 1♠. What should she bid now?
There are two possible correct answers here! If Penelope were to bid 2♥, that would mean that Walter would have to go to the three level to choose her first suit. So that would be a reverse. With only 14 points, Penelope knows her hand is not strong enough to do this, so she has two options to choose from. She can repeat her diamond suit, which will suggest that she is likely to have six of them, but the five she has are very nice, so she doesn't mind emphasising them. Alternatively, she could show a balanced 12-14 points by rebidding 1NT, even though her hand is not, strictly speaking, balanced.
This auction has started in the same way, but this time, Penelope has a stronger hand. What is her best rebid now?
Again, Penelope recognises that rebidding hearts would be a reverse, but this time her hand is strong enough. By rebidding 2♥, she is giving a very accurate picture of her hand: She must have longer diamonds than hearts (she would have bid hearts first if her suits were the same length) and at least 16 points. Bidding 3♦ would show 6 diamonds, which she doesn't have.
What should Penelope rebid here, where her partner has responded 1NT to her 1♠ opening?
Nice easy one. Penelope has no second suit to show, and extra length in her original suit, which she can show by bidding them again. She does not have extra strength, so rebidding her spades at the lowest available level is the best description of her hand.
Penelope has hearts this time, and Walter has not shown a fit. Which rebid best describes her hand?
Penelope wants to show that she has a single-suited hand, so just like in the previous question, she should do that by rebidding the same suit. This time though, she has extra strength as well as extra length. A jump rebid in your first suit shows 16+ points and at least six cards, so that works perfectly here. Remember, though, unlike a jump in a new suit, this is NOT forcing, even though it shows quite a strong hand.
Penelope has the same hand, and has made the same opening bid, but this time Walter has responded with a game-forcing 2♣. What should she rebid now?
Walter's two over one response is game forcing. The beauty of this system is that there is no need to make jump bids, which take up valuable space in the auction, because you know that partner won't pass below the level of game. Penelope can just repeat her heart suit and wait to find out more about her partner's hand. Although she now knows that they have the strength for game, it would be a mistake to jump to 4♥, as this may not be the best contract and it would also make exploring slams more difficult.
Penelope has opened 1♠, and Walter’s response shows a weak hand without spade fit. What should Penelope bid now?
With an unbalanced hand, you should always show your second suit if you can afford to do so without reversing. Partner might have no fit at all with your first suit but a big fit with your second, and it's always best to describe the shape of your hand where you can. Penelope has a nice, easy rebid of 2♣, which gives Walter a good picture of her hand: At least five spades and at least four clubs, and not strong enough to make a jump rebid, so up to about 16 or 17 points maximum.
Penelope has a nice hand, and a great heart suit. What should she bid after Walter’s 1NT response?
Again, Penelope has a two-suited hand, so she should show her second suit. With 18 points, she does not want to risk Walter passing her second bid, so she makes a jump rebid in clubs. A jump in a new suit (as opposed to opener's original suit) is FORCING. Note that if showing her second suit meant reversing, the jump would not be necessary as all reverse bids are forcing.
Good student that she is, Penelope is planning the auction before making her first bid. She spots that her hand is one of the problem shapes. What should she do?
With 15 points, Penelope is within the range for a 1NT opening, and her hand is fairly balanced. It's better to open 1NT than to show a stronger hand by reversing. If Walter has four hearts and an invitational or better hand they will still find their heart fit. Opening 1♦ and rebidding 1NT would be downgrading the value of her hand, which is never a good idea.
Is Penelope’s rebid forcing here?
Penelope has shown her second suit at the lowest available level - her rebid is not a jump. Walter can show preference for her first suit, hearts, at the two level, so her rebid is also not a reverse. This kind of economical rebid, which is neither a jump nor a reverse is non-forcing. Walter could pass if he has at least two more clubs than hearts in his hand.
How about here? Forcing or not?
Penelope has shown her second suit at the lowest available level, so it's not a jump rebid. However, if Walter were to want to show preference for her first suit, clubs, he would have to bid them at the three level, so this is a reverse, and Walter must bid again.
And here? Forcing or not?
Penelope has made a jump rebid here, showing extra strength (16+ hcp), as well as at least six cards in her suit. However, she has jumped in the same suit, so even though she is showing a strong hand, the bid is not forcing.
Last one. Forcing or not?
This time, Penelope has made a jump rebid in a new suit. She could have shown clubs at the two level. Bidding a new suit at the three level is 100% forcing and Walter must bid again.
The links will take you to the Bridge Training website, where you can have a go at bidding twice with unbalanced hands to practice this topic. You will then be able to play the hands and see if you can make your contract. Have as many goes as you like if you don’t succeed the first time.
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