Rebid By The Responder

The learning bridge student must be made aware of the fact that it will be inevitable that a bridge instructor in Los Angeles will provide similar guidelines as a bridge instructor in New York. However, the learning bridge student should realize that both instructional methods are based on the same concept, but may be delivered differently. This should not become an obstacle for the learning bridge player. In time the learning bridge player will ascertain that not all teaching methods are identical, but that the concept of the teaching material is. Our presentation for all four series are based on one concept, which can serve as a foundation, from which to stray later when understanding the bidding and play of 52 cards.

 

The rebid of the responder is considered by many to be the most critical of all bids after the opening bid. Therefore, it is important to adhere to the Basic Guidelines and to the Partnership Agreement. After an exchange of descriptive information by the three previous bids.

The Opening

The Response

The Opener's Rebid

 

The Rebid of the responder will:

1. Show weakness

2. Display interest in Game

3. Bid Game

4. Temporize with a Forcing Bid

5. Place the Contract

One thing is self-evident: Once a partner has limited his hand in any way, the other partner becomes Captain, deciding, establishing and setting the final contract.

After one partner limits his hand, the other partner must lead and direct the partner, who has limited his hand.

The following guidelines are the Basic Guidelines of Bridge for the rebid of the responder and they should become your foundation.

 

Notes to the wise:

There are some freak hands which cannot be handled by these Basic Guidelines.

However, the Basic Guidelines will help you master the freak hands better.

Conventions have been invented to treat freak hands with some intelligence.

 

With Weakness 6 to 9 high card points:

1. Pass

1.	if you are satisfied to play where you are.
2.	if you have realized that your partner has limited his hand.

2. Take a Preference to the First Bid Suit of the opener.

3. Rebid Your Own Suit cheaply with a 6-card suit or longer.

4. Bid 1 No Trump with a balanced hand and no suit fit with partner.

 

With Invitational Values 10 to 12 high card points:

Remember, this is your Gray Zone, where things are unclear.

1.	Raise the second suit of the partner with 4-card support or better.
2.	Raise his first suit if he rebids it.
3.	Or "Re-Raise" in your own suit, if partner has supported you.
4.	Take a Jump Preference to the first bid suit of the opener.
5.	Jump Rebid in your own suit with a good 6-card suit or longer.
6.	Bid 2 No Trump. This is your last escape, if a fit after 3 bids has not been found.

 

Remember: No Fit = No Trump

 

With Game-Going Values of 13 high card points or more:

1.	Jump To game in one of the suits of your partner. Majors: generally 25-26 points. Minors: generally 28-29 points.
2.	Jump To game in your own suit, if partner has supported you.
3.	Jump To game in No Trump, if no Suit Fit has been found.
4.	Bid a New Suit forcing opener to describe his hand more fully.

 

That, in essence, covers all Basic Guidelines of Bridge.

Following are several reminders necessary to jolt your logical reasoning.

If the rebid of the opener shows extra strength, the responder needs correspondingly less strength to bid again, maybe as few as 8 high card points.

Slam is quite possible if responder has an opening bid opposite extra strength of the opener.

 

Many times the responder will limit his hand early. After making such a bid, he/she will do one of the following.

1.	Accept or reject game attempts by the opener.
2.	Show a suit he had to suppress earlier.
3.	Prefer one of the suits of the opener.
4.	Make an additional descriptive bid.

 

These are the Basic Guidelines for the responder when he makes his second bid. However, there are several other categories below which cover certain circumstances. These categories have names and these Treatments can be included in your partnership agreement, if desired. Take a look at them and decide for yourself, whether or not you find them interesting enough to include in your partnership agreement. They all pertain to the second bid of the responder.

Bart Convention		Delayed Game Raise		Fourth-Suit Forcing
New Minor Forcing				Golden Rule

 

 

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.

 

 

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