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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:

  1. bidding the 4th suit at the 3-level is a game forcing hand with a 4-card major which lacks clear direction.

  2. 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.

  3. 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 K865J6 ♣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
4-card card spade suit since didn’t rebid 2♠

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





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