Introduction
The opening bidder is the first player to make a bid. There is only one opening bidder. Other bidders are either overcallers or responders and use different conventions for bidding. Part 1 covered the rules for an opening bid. This lesson will cover responses and rebids.
The purpose of bidding is to determine if the combined partnership hands are strong enough and shaped properly for a game bid or a slam bid. If so, the goal of the partnership is to arrive at the bid. Otherwise, the partnership should settle for a lower bid or pass.
Members of the bidding team don’t see each other’s hands and only use strict bidding rules. A set of bidding conventions are designed to make the communication of hand strength and suit length to one’s partner so that the goal of reaching a profitable and makeable contract is reached. This and subsequent pages on bidding lay out a set of basic conventions and methodologies that should lead to successful Bridge contracts.
If you need a review of bidding rules, the 5-card majors convention refer to 1-Suit Opening Bid – Part 1.
8-Card Rule
When responding to partner’s suit bid, You show support of the suit by bidding the same suit at a higher level. When a player bids a suit, the player promises a certain number of cards in the suit. The 5-card Major rule is one example. Support of partner’s suit is determined by the 8-card rule.
A bidder makes a suit-bid and promises at least x cards in the suit.
If the responder has (8 – x) or more cards and a minimum number of points, then the responder can support the bid.
Application of the 8-Card Rule on 5-card major bids is as follows.
When the bid is 1 ♠, responder can support the suit with (8 – 5) = 3 cards.
When the bid is 1 ♥, responder can support the suit with (8 – 5) = 3 cards.
When the bid is 1 ♦, responder can support the suit with (8 – 4) = 4 cards.
When the bid is 1 ♣, responder can support the suit with (8 – 3) = 5 cards.
Analysis by the Responder
If the responder has less than 6 points, the the responder should pass. Otherwise, the responder should analyze the hand. Before doing anything, the responder must check for a partial score. If there is, then a partial score bid toward game may be makeable with as few as 9 points. The first step is to use the 8-card rule to decide if you can support partner’s bid or not. The second step is to assume that your partner has a 13 point opening hand to see whether the 2 hands are strong enough for game.
Your 6-9 points combined with partner’s minimum 13 yields 19-22 points. A 1-bid might be difficult.
Your 10-12 points combined with partner’s minimum 13 yields 23-25 points. Enough points to be invitational.
Your 13-15 points combined with partner’s minimum 13 yields 26-28 points. Enough points to be keep bidding open until you reach game
Your 15+ points combined with partner’s minimum 13 yields 28+ points. Enough points for a 5-bid or more
Bids by Responder
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2-partner’s suit shows 6-9 points and support in partner’s suit using the 8-card rule. Partner should invite to a no trump or major suit game with 18-19 points and bid game with 20,21 points. Otherwise, partner should pass. 1-NT shows 6-9 points and no 4-card suit of greater rank than partner’s suit. Partner should explore a game contract with 18+ points. Otherwise, partner should pass. 1-higher ranking suit shows 6-15 points, at least a 4-card suit, and no support in partner’s suit using the 8-card rule. This shows a potential for a game in any suit. Partner is required to rebid. 2-lower ranking suit shows 10-15 points, at least a 4-card suit, and no support in partner’s suit using the 8-card rule. This shows invitational points and a potential for a game in any suit, Partner is required to rebid. 3-partner’s suit shows 10-12 points and 8-card rule support. This shows invitational points. Partner should raise to major suit game with 14-15 points and minor suit game with 16-17 points. 2-NT shows 12-15 HCP, balanced hand, stoppers in unbid suit. Bidding should continue until reaching a game a game contract. 4-partner’s major suit shows 4-10 points, singleton or void, 5-card support. Partner should pass. A single raise in another suit followed by a jump to game after partner’s rebid shows 8-card rule support and an opening hand strong enough for a game bid. Partner passes with game points and rebids with 19+ points. 3-NT shows 16-18 HCP, balanced hand, stoppers in unbid suits. Partner should pass with 14 or less HCP. Jump-shift (1 ♥, 2 ♠) shows 16+ points and 5-card suit. Bidding should continue at least to game. |
Rebids by Opener
The opener should bid again with more than 15 points or when the responder makes an encouraging bid.
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12-15 points. invite to game when partner responds a possible 10+ point count (single raise in a different suit). 14-16 points. accept major suit game invitation when partner shows 10+ points. When partner bids at the 3 level in routine bidding and you have 15+ points, consider a game bid in a major suit or No Trump. 17-18 points. invite to game when partner responds with a minimum response. Jump to game when partner shows 10+ points. When partner bids at the 3 level in routine bidding and you have 18+ points, consider a game bid in a minor suit. 19-21 points. Jump-shift (2 ♥, 3 ♠). A minimum response is sufficient. 20-21 points. Jump-to game showing 20-21 points. A minimum response is sufficient. |
Rebidding Options
These rules are most applicable when partners are trying to agree on a suit.
When the opener rebids a suit it usually promises a 6-card suit. Since minor suits can be opened with as few as 3-cards, a rebid of a minor suit can only promise 5-cards. A rebid by responder usually promises a 6-card suit.
When the opener’s rebid is in No Trump, the opener promises stoppers in all unbid suits. When the responder’s first bid is 1 NT, The unbid suit requirement is not likely, but the No Trump bidder should have a stopper in the opponent’s bid suit. but a responder’s inviting rebid in No Trump promises stoppers in all unbid suit
In all cases, the responder bids the longest suit. With a weak hand containing (6-9 points), the responder chooses a major suit when 2 suits are the same length. With a stronger hand containing 10+ points, the responder uses the following rules that will show 5-card suits in many cases.
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Responder bids the longest suit first. The responder, with two suits holding 5 or more cards, bids down the line. Bid ♠, then bid ♥, for example. The responder, with two suits holding 4 cards, bids up the line. Bid ♦, then bid ♠, for example. Bidding down the line shows the first bid suit as a 5-card suit, and bidding up the line shows both suits to be 4-card suits. These bidding rules will show over half of the available 5-card suits in invitational responses. |
In the cases when another bid is required, the bidder may have difficulty finding a reasonable bid. The usual rebid in that case is the rebid of a 5-card suit. While such a rebid is not honest, it is the most recommended solution.
A Bidding Example
South starts the bidding. Can the players arrive at a reasonable 4 ♥ bid?
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South has 12 HCP and 14 points. South has 6 ♥, more than the minimum 5. and South is within the point range for a 1 ♥ bid.
North has 12 HCP and 13 points. Combined with 13 points promised by South, North should keep the bidding open until a game bid is reached. If North bids another suit, then South is obligated to bid. With 10+ points, North bids 2 ♣
South must bid again. With a 6-card suit, South can rebid ♥. With stoppers in the unbid suits, South can bid 2 NT. South chooses to bid 2 ♥.
South’s minimal bid shows 12-15 points, but a game bid is called for. North bids 4 ♥.
Review Questions
Some questions may have more than one correct answer.
North starts the bidding. Can the partners reach a bid of 5 ♦?
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Use the North and South hands to answer the next 3 questions.
1. What is North’s opening bid?
2. What is South’s response?
3. How should South answer North?
North starts the bidding. How can the partnership arrive at 4 ♠?
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Use the North and South hands to answer the next 3 questions.
4. North opens with what bid?
5. What is South’s response?
6. What is the fewest number of ♠ needed by North need to support South?
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♠ ♥ ♦ ♣