Opener's second bid

Opener’s Second Bid: Unbalanced Hands

You've seen in the video about rebidding balanced hands how informative opener's second bid can be, and it's no different with unbalanced hands.

Try some hands

Hand 1

As the dealer, you must first choose your opening bid, and then the rebid that best describes your hand. When you see the dummy, it looks as though you have one loser too many in your hand, but there is an easy way to dispose of one.

Hand 2

This time you need to decide what the best rebid is when you have support for partner’s suit. Your partner will then choose the final contract.

Hand 3

After partner shows good support for your suit, you must pick the right contract. Once the opponents miss their club trick on the opening lead, you need to get rid of it before they wake up!

Hand 4

Can you find the rebid that shows both your shape and your strength in a single bid? After that, your partner will bid the final contract. Make sure that you guarantee your contract early rather than relying on chance.

Back

Opener’s Second Bid: Unbalanced Hands

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.