Reverse

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Reverse

Many players have trouble with the concept of Reverses. The first problem is the name. To keep this bid in the same general idea as the Jump Shift, which shows a maximum hand, Reverses should be called something like “Voluntary 2-level Shifts”. Just to clarify things, however, it was originally called a Reverse because with a Reverse you reverse the order in which you normally bid suits. Normally you bid your higher ranking 1st suit at the 1-level and your lower ranking 2nd suit at the 2-level so that partner can pass you in your lower suit or correct back to your higher suit without getting above the 2-level. However, with a Reverse, you voluntarily bid at the two-level in a suit higher than the one you opened in at the 1-level. This has to show extra points because why would you voluntarily force partner to the 3-level by mentioning a suit she has already chosen not to bid at the 1-level, unless you have extra points.

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So the rules for Reverses are:

1. Bidding Sequence - A Reverse is:

a. A non-jump bid;

b. Made on opener’s first rebid (even in competition);

c. Made at the 2-level;

d. Made when responder responded at the 1-level (Reverses are off if responder responded at the 2-level); and

e. Made in a new suit (not NT and not a suit already bid by opener or responder) that is higher than the suit opener opened at the 1-level.

2. Strength – A Reverse shows 16-21 HCP if only 5-4. For each extra card in length, opener may have one fewer HCP. ( e.g. With 6-4 distribution, opener may have only 15 HCP.)

3. Length – The suit opened at the 1-level must be longer than the suit rebid by opener at the 2-level.

4. Distribution – The reverse is usually an unbalanced hand (contains a singleton or void) or else opener likely would have opened 1NT with 16 or 17, rebid 2NT with 18 or 19, or opened 2NT with 20 or 21. Occasionally, opener can have 2-2-4-5 distribution where opener opts to reverse rather than bid NT due to worries about stoppers in one or both of the doubletons.

Here are the only 10 possible reverse auctions:

Auctions that are not reverse auctions:

Reverse to Show Extras

Reverse or Jump Rebid?

Game Forcing Hand

When not to Reverse

Don't reverse with a minimum hand.

Responder’s Second Bid (the simple way)

Opener's reverse is forcing for one round - you must bid again, even if you have a very weak response. In general, you should base your rebid on your picture of partner's hand (he's shown at least 5-4 in his suits) and try to support one of his suits if possible. Here are some simple meanings for your second bid.

• Raise of partner's second suit (1C-1S-2H-3H) = 4-card support not forcing (6-7points)
• Bid of partner's first suit (1C-1S-2H-3C) = 3+-card support (6-7points)
• Rebid of your own long suit (1C-1S-2H-2S) = forcing for at least one round at least 5 card suit.
• 2NT = weak response (6-7 pts.) with out support for partner's suit.
• 3NT = good values (8-11 pts.) with stopper in the unbid suit.
• The unbid suit (1C-1S-2H-3D) = forcing and could be artificial, usually without support for partner's suits. Like "4th Suit Forcing", a bid of the fourth suit can be used when you have a good hand (8+ pts.) and want to find out more about opener's hand.

- Raise of partner's second suit = 4-card support not forcing (6-7points)

- Bid of partner's first suit = 3+-card support (6-7points)

- Rebid of your own long suit (1C-1S-2H-2S) = very weak hand (6-7 pts.) with preferably 6 cards suit.

- 2NT = weak response (6-7 pts.) with out support for partner's suit.

- 3NT = good values (8-11 pts.) with stopper in the unbid suit.

- The unbid suit = Like "4th Suit Forcing", a bid of the fourth suit can be used when you have a good hand (8+ pts.) and you want to find out more about opener's hand.