Opener's Rebid

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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 per the table below.  

Opener’s second bid describes their strength and their shape. 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.

An opening bid of 1-of-a-suit has a wide point range, typically 12 – 21 HCP. Opener would like to categorize their strength per the table below.

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.

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.

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),

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.

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.

A jump shift by opener show 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.

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.

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.

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.

Similar rules apply to categorizing opener’s strength.