Opener's reverse shows a strong hand and is forcing for one round.
North |
East |
South |
West |
1♣ |
Pass |
1♠ |
Pass |
2♥ |
Pass |
? |
|
On the above auction, South might have a weak hand like ♠K873 ♥K2 ♦9652 ♣974. South would like show a weak hand with a preference for clubs. If South bids 3♣ with a weak hand, what should South bid with a better hand likely to make game opposite North’s strong hand (e.g. ♠K873 ♥K2 ♦9652 ♣K74). You cannot bid 3♣ with both hands.
Since there isn’t enough room for natural bidding to describe responder’s hand, you need to give up a natural bid and use it as a switch to clarify the meaning of other bids.
We recommend playing Blackout to clarify responder’s strength and their major suit length. Blackout uses the cheapest unbid strain (the 4th suit or 2NT) as an artificial switch, announcing a weak hand with a 4-card major. Use of the Blackout bid tells opener that responder is willing to stop below game opposite a minimum reverse, and may pass opener’s next bid.
A responder with a 5+ card major, repeats their major. This bid is forcing for one round, and says nothing about responder’s strength. Responder has the option of passing if opener shows a minimum reverse. If responder has the values for game opposite a reverse, responder will take another call.
Any other call by responder is game forcing. On the auction below, any bid other than 2♠ or 2NT is game forcing. When 2NT is the Blackout bid:
-
bidding the 4th suit at the 3-level is a game forcing hand with a 4-card major which lacks clear direction.
-
A jump in the 4th suit is a splinter bid in support of opener’s 2nd suit, showing 4-card support for opener’s 2nd suit, game forcing values, and a singleton or void in the 4th suit.
-
Other bids are natural and game forcing.
Here is a summary of responder’s rebids playing Blackout on the above auction.
Rebid |
Explanation |
Example Hand |
2♠ |
5+ spades, one round force |
♠K9853 ♥A87 ♦984 ♣42 |
2NT* |
Artificial, shows a 4-card spade suit since responder didn’t rebid 2♠. Shows a weak hand willing to stop below game opposite a minimum reverse. |
♠Q873 ♥J87 ♦984 ♣K64 |
3♣ |
Game forcing with club support |
♠A953 ♥874 ♦K82 ♣Q84 |
3♦ |
4-card spade suit. A game forcing hand without clear direction |
♠AKJ3 ♥Q83 ♦8742 ♣95 |
3♥ |
Game forcing with heart support, typically 5+ spades & 4 hearts |
♠AJ873 ♥K865♦J6 ♣72 |
3♠ |
Game forcing, good 6-card major |
♠AQJ752 ♥J86 ♦54 ♣Q74 |
3NT |
Natural, stoppers in the suits which opener has not shown |
♠AJ52 ♥862 ♦AQ5 ♣874 |
4♦ |
Splinter bid in support of opener’s 2nd suit. |
♠AJ752 ♥AT86 ♦5 ♣874 |
If responder rebids their major or uses the Blackout bid (2NT on this auction), there is no guarantee responder will take another call. If opener has a minimum reverse, opener will typically rebid their 1st suit (their longest suit). If opener has extra values, opener needs to avoid bidding their 1st suit at the cheapest level. Opener makes a bid which shows their extra strength and their shape.
On the auction below, responder can bid the 4th suit (hearts) at the 2-level.
North |
East |
South |
West |
1♣ |
Pass |
1♠ |
Pass |
2♦ |
Pass |
? |
|
So a 2♥ bid by responder is the Blackout bid, and a 2NT bid is natural, stopper showing, and game forcing. Here is a summary of responder’s options on this auction. A jump in the blackout suit shows a game forcing hand with at least 5-5 in the majors.
Rebid |
Explanation |
Example Hand |
2♥* |
Artificial, shows a 4-card spade suit since responder didn’t bid 2♠. Shows a weak hand willing to stop below game opposite a minimum reverse. |
♠Q873 ♥J87 ♦984 ♣K64 |
2♠ |
5+ spades, one round force |
♠K9853 ♥A87 ♦984 ♣42 |
2NT |
Natural, stopper showing, game forcing |
♠K873 ♥AQ7 ♦J84 ♣974 |
3♣ |
Game forcing with club support |
♠A953 ♥874 ♦K82 ♣Q84 |
3♦ |
Game forcing hand with a diamond fit |
♠AQ73 ♥J84 ♦T652 ♣Q84 |
3♥ |
Game forcing with at least 5-5 in the majors |
♠AJ973 ♥KQ984 ♦T6 ♣84 |
3♠ |
Game forcing with a good 6-card suit |
♠AQJ752 ♥J86 ♦54 ♣Q74 |
3NT |
Natural, stoppers in the suits which opener has not shown |
♠AJT3 ♥KQ6 ♦742 ♣842 |