Lesson 1 of 2
In Progress

218 – Opener’s Suit Rebid

218

Opener’s Suit Rebid

If you open the bidding and responder changes suit , this is a “forcing bid” on opener, meaning that you must keep the auction going by bidding at least one more time, there are exceptions but we will learn about this in later lessons. Opener must make a second bid.
Opener’s Suit Rebid

Overview

As the opening bidder you have choices but it is always a good idea to plan what your second bid (rebid) will be before you make your first bid.

Decisions are Determined by Openers Point Count and Card Distribution

Opener Has A Minimum Hand – 11-14 Points

1. Rebid your opening suit if it has 5 or more (written ‘5+’) cards in the suit
2. If you only have 4 cards   and with bid another 4 card suit of a lower rank than the first suit. This is called bidding down the line
3. With 4 cards or more in partner’s suit show support by raising their suit to the 2 level.
4. Rebid your second suit at the minimum level.

NOTE: If you have only two four card suits BID THE LOWER RANKED ONE FIRST, this is how you show that the first bid suit is NOT longer. This is called bidding up the line.

Opener has a Medium Hand – 15-17 points

1. With 4 or more cards in partners bid suit rebid their suit but jump a level and bid at the the 3 level limit bid
2. Rebid your 5+ card suit but jump the bidding a level

Opener Has a Strong Hand – 18+ points

1. With two 5-card suits, you have already bid the higher ranked suit for your first bid, your rebid you should bid the lower ranked of your two 5 card suits
2. With two 4-card suits you have already bid the lower ranked suit first, so for the rebid rebid your higher ranked suit. This is a reverse bid.
3. With a five card suit and a 4 card suit opener can make a jump shift bid. Bid the 5 card suit first and jump to the 3 level to rebid the 4 card suit.





Instant Progress Quiz – Check all correct answers


 


  Pass

  1NT

  2D

  2H

  3H



North opens the bidding 1

Partner responds with 1, what is openers rebid? Remember responder has changed suit which is a forcing bid, so you must bid again

  • 8 5
  • K J 10 7 6
  • A 6
  • A Q 4 3

Answer: Open 1 and rebid 2. You could rebid your hearts 2after partner’s 1 but then partner only knows about your 5 heart cards.
Bidding 2 shows your hearts suit is longer than your club suit.

With two 4 card suits you would bid the lower ranked club suit first and then your heart suit (ascending order)




Responses

The Acol Bidding System

*If you live in the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand Acol is the most widespread system Acol has the following characteristics:
  • It is a natural system: most opening bids, responses and rebids are made with at least 4 cards in the suit bid, and most no trump bids are made with balanced hands.
  • It is a four-card major system: only four-card suits are required to open 1 or 1, unlike Standard American and many other systems where five-card suits are typically required.
  • It makes extensive use of limit bids: limit bids describe the hand so closely, in terms of high card points (HCP) and shape, that the one who makes the limit bid is expected to pass on the next round, unless partner makes a forcing bid.
  • Understanding and correct use of limit bids and forcing bids is fundamental to applying the system: all no trump bids below the level of 4NT are limit bids, as are all suit bids that merely repeat a suit already bid by the partnership; changes of suit may be forcing or not depending on the approach bids.
  • The level of the 1NT opening bid influences other bids: the normal choice is between a “weak no trump” (12–14 HCP) and a “strong no trump” (15–17 HCP).
  • All 1 of a suit opening bids then promise at least 4 cards in the bid suit
  • Notrump follow-up conventions include Stayman, Jacoby transfers Blackwood and Gerber Convention.