ACOL SYSTEM
Rebids by the Opener
The rebids by the opener in the Acol System have
different meanings set aside for different bidding sequences. It is important to
remember also the Level of the rebid, since this also conveys information to the
responder, who may have to establish the Contract or seek possible Slam Contracts.
There is also the element of the partnership agreement, which must be considered,
since there are various interpretations given to the different bidding sequences
by the partnership.
The following represents the general conveyed
information and normal understanding within the partnership by the opener to the
responder using different rebids. The significance of the rebids, as mentioned above,
are by no means etched in stone, and are to be considered general and/or guidelines
used within the Acol system.
Opener's Rebids
1. A No Trump rebid shows 15 to 16 high card points. This rebid systemically
denies a 4-card major suit that could have been shown at the one level, unless both
partners agree to play 2 Clubs as a bid similar to the guidelines of the Stayman
convention.
2. Two of any suit, as a rebid, is considered
to be non-forcing unless the rebid shows a reverse.
3. A 2 No Trump rebid is game forcing, but
the main purpose for this rebid is to play in a contract other than 3 No Trump. It
does not show a genuine Two-Suiter.
3. Three of a suit, as a rebid, is a natural
game force. The responder is not allowed to pass.
4. A jump to 2 No Trump, as the rebid, shows
17-18 high card points, and systemically denies a 4-card major that could have been
shown at one level as mentioned above.
5. A rebid of Three Clubs is a Wolff Sign-off by the opener, which forces a 3 Diamond response from the responder.
After the Wolff sign-off, and the 3 Diamond
response, the opener can do any of the following. These rebids are called continuations,
which is the same as keeping the bidding process alive.
1. A rebid of a major suit, which is considered
a sign-off.
2. A rebid in an unbid major which shows values
and indicates concern about the unbid suit, but neither asks nor shows any feature.
3. A 3 No Trump rebid shows a 4-card major
unless this is, by inference, impossible. In this case, the rebid then shows concern
about the other major, again neither asking nor showing. However, both continuations
which show concern imply a suitable fit for opener's minor suit.
The following sequence can help to illustrate
this point:
|
Opener
|
Responder
|
|
1 
|
1 
|
|
2 NT
|
3
|
|
3 
|
3 NT
|
This bidding sequence by the opener shows that it is impossible for him to have 4-card Heart suit, and therefore shows concern about the Hearts. The distribution is typically 4-1-4-4 or 4-2-3-4.
4. A 3 Diamonds rebid or higher is game forcing.
5. Any bid of 4 No Trump is the Blackwood convention.
6. A non-jump 2 No Trump rebid shows 15 to 20 high card pointss, and it is game forcing, but the opener is not yet willing to set the contract at 3 No Trump.
7. A jump to 3 No Trump, as a rebid, from the two level shows 15 to 16 high card points and a doubleton in responder's suit.
8. A jump to 3 No Trump, as a rebid, from the one level shows 19 to 20 high card points and absolutely no interest in any other possible game contracts.
9. If the opener opens with any major suit, and the responder responds only one level higher in the bid major suit, the responder shows a normal 5 to 9 high card points. Any new suit bid by the opener is a Long Suit Trial. Any further raise to the three level of the first bid major suit is preemptive.
10. If the opener bids any minor suit and the responder bids a major suit, which the opener can support, a rebid by the responder of 2 No Trump is a game try, a possible slam attempt, and is definitely forcing. The responder will then bid another suit, possible showing a feature, with maximum values knowing that the partnership has already agreed on the trump suit. With minimum values the responder will raise the major suit with a 4-card trump support, and the opener will attempt game with maximum values.
Single Jumpshift by Opener
There are four different holdings after a one level response to be considered.
1. Any rebid by the opener on the one level is not generally considered to be absolutely forcing, but any jump shift by the opener is definitely forcing. Any jump shift strongly indicates a powerful two-suited holding, such as the following:
|
Opener |
|
Responder
|
|
|
AQJ65 |
|
|
|
|
Q |
|
|
|
|
4 |
|
|
|
|
AKJ952 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1
|
|
2 |
|
|
2. A jump shift by the opener indicates a game forcing hand with strong support for responder's suit, and becomes a fragment bid, as in the following example:
|
Opener |
|
Responder |
|
|
AK7 |
|
|
|
|
AQ94 |
|
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
|
AJ1095 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
|
The bidding sequence
| Opener |
|
Responder |
| 1 |
|
1 |
| 4 |
|
shows 19 to 20 support points for Hearts |
3. By partnership agreement, if the responder makes any bid on the one level and the opener jump shifts showing 19-20HCPs, then the opener is not showing a 4-card support for his partner's suit, but rather a good 3-card support. The following examples should illustrate this.
|
Opener |
|
Responder |
|
|
AK5 |
|
|
|
|
KQ3 |
|
|
|
|
A85 |
|
|
|
|
A1087 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
|
|
Opener |
|
Responder |
|
|
75 |
|
|
|
|
AJ1096 |
|
|
|
|
KQ7 |
|
|
|
|
AJ5 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
|
4. By partnership agreement, a jump shift to the two level by the opener can signify a long minor with excellent values, as in the following example.
|
Opener |
|
Responder |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
43 |
|
|
|
|
AK8 |
|
|
|
|
AKQJ874 |
|
|
|
1 |
|
1 |
|
2 |
|
|
Responses to a Single Jump Shift by Opener
Over a two level jump shift by the opener, every bid of the auction is then considered forcing. Any response of 2 No Trump or a response in the unbid suit shows a holding as illustrated in the following, which are the examples given above for the opener, but which now describe the holding of the responder.
|
Opener
|
|
Responder |
|
1
|
|
1 |
|
2
|
|
2 NT |
a rebid of 3 Clubs shows a holding by the responder of:
A rebid of 3 Diamonds shows a holding by the responder of:
A rebid of 3 Hearts shows a holding by the responder of:
A rebid of 3 Hearts shows a holding by the responder of:
If the opener jump shifts to the three level, the responder has several options. The responder can show a 3-card support for the opener's first bid suit, or the responder can rebid a 5-card major suit to indicate a first round control or a stopper.
|
Opener
|
|
Responder
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
3
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
3 NT
|
1. a rebid of 3 Diamonds shows a feature in Diamonds, but denies a 3-card Heart support and a 5-card Spade suit.
2. a rebid of 3 Hearts shows a 3-card support for Hearts.
3. a rebid of 3 Spades shows a 5-card Spade holding, but denies a 3-card support for Hearts.
4. a rebid of 3 No Trump indicates that the responder is unable to make any cheaper bid to describe his holding.
Under these bidding circumstances, a rebid of 3 No Trump by the opener promises a holding with either a 5-card Heart suit or a 3-card support for the major suit bid by the responder, as in the following examples:
|
Opener
|
|
Responder
|
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
3
|
|
3
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
3 NT
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
1. a rebid of 3 Spades shows a 3-card support for responder's first bid suit.
2. 3 No Trump would show only a 4-card support in Hearts, and therefore only a 3-card holding in Spades.
3. any rebids of 4 Clubs, 4 Diamonds, or 4 Hearts are then cuebids for Spades.
4. 4 Clubs or 4 Hearts would show a 5-card support for Hearts.
After a Two Level Response
If the responder first bid is on the two level, a jump shift rebid by the opener is a fragment bid and establishes the responder's suit as trumps.
Double Jump Shift by Opener
Any double jump shift by the opener into a new unbid suit, after the responder's first bid is on the two level, shows a void and slam interest, but also establishes the responder's bid suit as the trump suit, as illustrated in the following example.
If the bidding remains on the one level, a rebid by the opener of 3 Spades or 4 Diamonds shows a void in each suit respectively, strong support in responder's suit and slam interest.
Any rebid of a minor suit opened promises a strong 6-card suit and a 4-card support for the suit bid by the responder and overall good high card strength. The following bidding sequences are examples:
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
shows a strong 6-card Club suit, a 4-card support in the suit bid by the responder, and good values.
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
shows a strong 6-card Diamond suit, a 4-card support in the suit bid by the responder, and good values.
However, the bidding sequence of 1 No Trump - 4 Diamonds shows a 6-card Heart suit and a 4-card Diamond suit, and good values.
These bidding sequences establish the responder's suit as the trump suit, and any further bids are to be considered cuebids.
Jump Shifts in the Fourth Suit
A single jump shift is always a fragment bid, whereas a double jump shift always promises a void and establishes the last bid suit as the trump suit.
|
Opener
|
Responder
|
|
|
1
|
1
|
|
|
1
|
3
|
a fragment bid showing a 4-card Spade support |
|
|
4
|
shows a void and a 4-card Spade support |
Fragments
A fragment shows control of the fragment suit, meaning either the Ace or the King. However, a possible exception is a fragment after a one level response where under certain circumstances the opener may be forced to fragment without any control. A fragment guarantees at least a 4-card support for the last bid suit.
Problem Minor Hands
After the bidding sequence of one of a minor suit and the responder bids 1 Spade, the opener must consider another bid with a holding that may have justified a jump shift otherwise. Following is an example of a holding which would be described by the specific bidding sequence.
| Opener |
|
Responder |
| 1 |
|
1 |
| 2 |
|
|
| Holding |
|
|
| 5 |
|
|
| 74 |
|
|
| AK7 |
|
|
| AKQJ875 |
|
|
would signify a marginal jump shift rebid.
There are other features to be considered in the Acol system regarding the rebids by the opener, but this general outline with the particular bids and certain bidding sequences should assist the bridge player in attaining a working understanding of the basics and beyond. As with all bidding systems and sequences, it depends very much on the partnership agreement as to the specific meaning of any bid or rebid, and therefore an agreement should be signed, sealed and delivered to your partner before using any of the guidelines mentioned above.
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.