Opener's Rebid

Opener's goal with their rebid is to describe their shape and their strength. An opening bid of 1-of-a-suit has a wide point range: 12-21 HCP. Opener would like to categorize their strength and describe their shape with their rebid.

Category	Range
Minimum	12-14 (15)
Intermediate	15-17 (18)
Strong	18-21
Very Strong	22+

Note: It is rare for opener to have a 22+ point hand after opening 1-of-a-suit. However, when opener has a very powerful 2-suited hand, opening a strong 2♣ risks preemption, making it difficult for opener to show both their suits. So opener may prefer to bid 1-of-a-suit, planning to later show their strength and their 2^nd suit.

Showing a Minimum Opener

Opener can show a minimum by rebidding 1NT, 2 of their suit, or 2 of responder’s suit. The auctions below show a minimum opener (12-14),

South	West	North	East
1♦	Pass	1♠	Pass
1NT or 2♦ or 2♠

Showing an Intermediate Opener

To show the extra values of an intermediate hand (15-17), opener can use a jump rebid of their suit (6+ length) or their partner’s suit (4+ length). Opener can include Support Points when raising responder’s suit.

South	West	North	East
1♦	Pass	1♠	Pass
3♦ or 3♠

The range of pener’s jump to 2NT (if playing a strong 1NT opening) shows a balanced hand too strong to open 1NT and not strong enough to open 2NT. If playing a 15-17 1NT range and a 20-21 2NT range, the auction below shows 18-19 HCP.

South	West	North	East
1♦	Pass	1♠	Pass
2NT

A jump to 3NT doesn't show a hand too strong for a jump to 2NT. With a 20+ HCP balanced hand, opener would have began with 1NT or a strong 2♣. A jump to 3NT shows a strong trick taking hand with stoppers. On the auction below, South might have a hand like ♠73 ♥K2 ♦A2 ♣AKQ9743.

South	West	North	East
1♦	Pass	1♠	Pass
3NT

When opener's rebid limits their hand to a minimum opener, or an intermediate opener, their partner becomes the “Captain of the Auction.” The Captain of the Auction places the contract or asks questions to find the right contract.

Showing a Strong Opener

A jump shift by opener shows a strong, game forcing hand (18+ points). Opener typically has 4+ cards in their new suit and enough strength to force to game opposite a potentially weak responder.

South	West	North	East
1♥	Pass	1♠	Pass
3♣ or 3♦

Opener’s bid of a new suit at the 2-level which is higher ranking than their first suit shows a strong hand (16+ HCP, 4+ cards in the 2^nd suit, 1^st suit is longer). Opener’s reverse is forcing for one round. Responder must bid. Opener promises a 3^rd bid.

South	West	North	East
1♣	Pass	1♠	Pass
2♦ or 2♥

Opener can show a strong hand with a game forcing raise of responsder's major.

South	West	North	East
1♣	Pass	1♠	Pass
?

Tha table below lists opener's options for a game forcing raise.

Opener’s Game Forcing Raises	Description
4♣	4+ spades, with a long, strong club suit providing a source of tricks
4♦	Splinter Bid, 4+ spades, singleton or void in diamonds
4♥	Splinter Bid, 4+ spades, singleton or void in hearts
4♠	4+ spades, 18+ points, not appropriate for the above game forcing raises

Wide Ranging Rebids

The most difficult auctions are where opener rebids a new suit at the 1-level or a new suit at the 2-level which is lower ranking than their original suit.

South	West	North	East
1♦	Pass	1♥	Pass
1♠ or 2♣

These auctions are difficult because opener could have a minimum hand or an intermediate hand (12-17 HCP). Opener was strong enough to open the bidding, but not strong enough to force to game opposite a potentially weak responder. Since opener could have 17 points, a game may be available if responder has 8+ points. Responder should strive to keep the bidding open to allow opener to clarify their strength.

If responder has invitational values (11-12), responder makes an invitational bid, a jump raise, a jump rebid, or 2NT if feasible. <

If responder has an opening hand, responder should make a forcing bid. It is wise to play 4^th Suit Forcing to game. Responder’s bid of the 4^th suit is artificial and forcing to game. Responder’s rebid of 1NT, 2 of their suit, or 2 of opener’s suit show a less than invitational hand.

Other rebids by responder, such as a preference for opener’s 1^st suit or a raise of opener’s second suit have a wider range. Responder could have invitational values with a flaw for making a clearly invitational bid. Responder could have a less than invitational hand, and could be quite weak.

When responder’s initial bid is 1NT, responder has limited their hand, typically 6-10 points. Opener becomes the Captain of the Auction.

South	West	North	East
1♠	Pass	1NT	Pass
?

Similar rules apply to categorizing opener’s strength.

Opener’s Rebid	Description
2♣	4 clubs, minimum to intermediate
2♦	4 diamonds, minimum to intermediate
2♥	4 hearts, minimum to intermediate
2♠	6+ spades, to play
2NT	18-19 HCP, balanced, inviting 3NT
3♣	4 clubs, strong 18+, game forcing
3♦	4 diamonds, strong 18+, game forcing
2♥	4 hearts, strong 18+, game forcing
3♠	6+ spades, intermediate
3NT	Strong based on stoppers and a source of tricks
4♠	6+ spades, strong 18+

2/1 Game Force Auctions

Please note that 2/1 Game Force auctions are an exception to this discussion. Responder’s bid of a new suit at the 2-level is unconditionally game forcing. Opener is obligated to describe their shape, not their strength. The discussion below focuses on how opener uses their 2^nd bid to describe their shape and their strength after responder’s bid of a new suit at the 1-level.

Bidding is most accurate when one partner limits their hand, making their partner the “Captain of the Auction.” The Captain of the Auction places the contract or asks questions to find the right contract.

It is rare for opener to have a very strong hand after opening 1-of-a-suit. Sometimes opener has a very powerful 2-suited hand, but doesn’t want to open a strong 2♣ because they are worried about preemption and want to show both their suits.

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