User:Brian/Bridge/Rebids after opening one of a major

This page is incomplete.

Without interference

After a single raise

A single raise means that partner responded 2 of your major, showing 3+ card support and 6 to 10 points. Be sure to re-evaluate your hand now that a fit has been found.

I have 15- total points → Pass.

I have 16 to 18 total points and a weak side suit in which I'm concerned we might lose 3 tricks → Bid the weak suit. This is called a help suit game try.

I have 16 to 18 total points and a balanced hand → Bid 2NT.

I have 16 to 18 total points → Bid 3 of your major.

I have 19+ total points and no slam interest → Sign off in game.

I have 19+ total points including a small singleton or void in a side suit → Make a jump in the side suit (a splinter), showing slam interest. For example, after 1♥ - 2♥, the rebids of 3♠, 4♣, and 4♦ are splinters. After 1♠ - 2♠, the rebids of 4♣, 4♦, and 4♥ are splinters.

I have 19+ total points and I'm interested in slam → Start with a help-suit game try, possibly artificial, which is one-round forcing. After hearing partner's response, you can decide whether to pass, initiate control bidding, or bid 4NT, Blackwood.

After a double raise

A double raise means that partner responded 3 of your major, showing 4+ card support and 10 to 12 points. Be sure to re-evaluate your hand now that a fit has been found.

I have 13 to 14 total points → Pass.

I have 15+ total points and no slam interest → Sign off in game.

I have slam interest (typically 19+ total points) → Initiate control bidding, or bid 4NT, Blackwood.

After a 1NT response

Announce "semi-forcing"; this lets the opponents know that the 1NT bid by partner is possibly artificial, not necessarily showing a balanced hand, and is one-round forcing unless your hand is a minimum.

A 1NT response generally shows 6 to 12 HCP. Rebids should show both strength and distribution.

I have a one-suited hand with 16- total points → Rebid your major.

I have a one-suited hand with 17+ total points → Jump-rebid your major.

I have a lower 4-card suit with 18- total points → Bid your other suit.

I have a lower 4-card suit with 19+ total points → Jump-shift into your other suit (i.e., bid it at the 3 level).

I have a higher 4-card suit with 17+ total points → Bid your other suit. (This is called a reverse.)

I have a higher 4-card suit with 16- total points → Don't bid the other suit, i.e., spades; your partner's 1NT response has already denied 4 spades, and you are not strong enough for a reverse. Instead, keep reading...

I have a balanced hand with 17-18 HCP → Respond 2NT, which is an invitation to 3NT.

I have a balanced hand with 19+ HCP → Respond 3NT.

I have a balanced hand with minimum opening strength (12 to 14 HCP) → Pass. Your partner has 12- HCP, so you most likely don't have a game... so stopping in 1NT isn't the worst thing you can do.

Otherwise (intermediate strength with no lower 4-card suit) → Bid a lower 3-card suit. (Yes, bidding a 3-card suit sucks—it's the yucky part of the 2/1 system. Hopefully the auction works out in the end.)