The second bid by the opening hand
A 1/1 change of suit is forcing. The opener is therefore obliged to rebid. His rebid will depend on his strength and distribution, but also on how high a priority "finding" a 4-4 major fit is.
The opener, being faced with an ambiguous situation, must start describing his hand more precisely, whilst taking into account some priorities:
- Raise
- New suit
- NT bid
- Repeat
The opener, being faced with an ambiguous situation, must start describing his hand more precisely, whilst taking into account some priorities:
- Raise
- New suit
- NT bid
- Repeat
Raises in responder's suit
The opener must prioritise raising a major. As responder has only promised 4 cards, the opener should only raise if he also holds 4 cards.
Non-jump raise: 4 cards and 12-14 HCP (12-16 distribution points + HCP).
Jump raise: 4 cards and 15-17 HCP (17-19 distribution points + HCP) and shortage for not having opened 1NT.
Double jump raise: 4 cards and 18-22 HCP (20-24 distribution points + HCP).
Please note that this rule also applies after a change of suit at the 2-level:
Bidding a new suit at the 1-level
Without 4 cards in the major bid by his partner, the opener is obliged to bid a major suit at the 1-level himself if he has 4 cards in it.
This bid doesn't specify the opener's strength: he may just as well have 12 or 19 points. However, this isn't forcing since his hand is limited to 19 points.
This bid doesn't specify the opener's strength: he may just as well have 12 or 19 points. However, this isn't forcing since his hand is limited to 19 points.
Examples
With all of these hands and after the auction starts with 1 - 1, you must respond 1, which means "I don't have 4 cards in but I have 4 cards in ". The same bid is made with very different hands.
Rebidding with balanced hands
To show his balanced hand and that he doesn't have a 4-card fit, the opener opts for a NT rebid.
With or without a jump, according to the strength of his hand:
With or without a jump, according to the strength of his hand:
1NT describes a hand with no singleton, without 4 cards in or , which is worth 12-14 HCP.
2NT describes the same distribution but shows 18-19 HCP.
Note: The 15-17 HCP range is not covered because otherwise the opener would have opened 1 NT.
Summary of balanced hands from 12 to 22 HCP:
12-14 HCP
1-level opening,
rebid.
15-17 HCP
opening.
18-19 HCP
1-level opening,
rebid.
20-22 HCP
opening.
Rebidding with single-suited hands:
A single-suited hand is a hand consisting of a suit with at least 6 cards and no other suit with at least 4 cards.
With this type of hand, you rebid your suit, showing your strength at the same time:
With this type of hand, you rebid your suit, showing your strength at the same time:
