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REVERSES.CVA
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1995-10-17
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REVERSES NOT-SO-FORCING
After a one-over-one response in "standard" bidding, reverses are
not only forcing but also promise another bid. And if the reverser
then raises responder's suit, that's forcing too! To avoid getting
too high when responder is very weak, opener must resort to less
descriptive rebids with only 16-17 HCP. After opening 1D with S-3
H-AJ32 D-AK873 C-A62, we are told that the "expert" rebid after a
1S response is 2C. Yuk! Such sequences often lead to a bad
contract. Is partner supposed to bid again with S-J8762 H-K854 D-6
C-Q83? And what if opener's minor suits are reversed (S-3 H-AJ32
D-A62 C-AK873)? Go ahead and rebid 2H after opening 1C and getting
a 1S response? Then partner has S-K875 H-654 D-Q64 C-Q65, and a
poor contract is reached because opener is not allowed to pass any
simple rebid (2NT, 3C) by responder.
Bad results are also common when opener has an extra-strong hand
such as S-4 H-AQJ2 D-AK873 C-AQ10, with no safe way of showing it
because jump reverses are played as splinter bids. The partnership
may easily miss a slam or, to avoid that, get too high.
There are three reasons for making a reverse forcing: (1) to avoid
a jump raise with only three-card support; (2) to safely show
three-card outside strength; and (3) to do away with space-
consuming jump reverses while freeing those bids for another
purpose (e.g., splinter bids).
(1) can be satisfied by making a reverse forcing if responder's
suit has five cards or more.
(2) is not compelling, because you can usually jump in the original
suit instead. With no secondary four-card suit, the first suit is
probably a six-carder or very strong five-carder. Bidding three-
card suits is a questionable practice anyway.
(3) is also debatable, because jumps to show powerful hands (e.g.,
strong jump takeout responses) send a message that simple forces
do not. Splinter bids are still available (at one level higher)
when jump reverses are natural.
And why should a reverse promise another bid? With Fourth Suit
Artificial (FSA - see previous chapter) available when responder
has a good hand, there is no need to make all of her rebids
forcing. Let's try a more playable approach:
-- Opener can reverse with as little as 16 HCP with decent suits
or three-card support for responder's major.
-- Reverses are forcing only when responder's suit has five cards
or more. Use the jump reverse to force. Responder may not pass a
reverse with 3-3 in opener's suits, with which she must prefer the
first suit. She generally passes only with four cards in the second
suit, but a pass with 3-1 in the two suits is acceptable with a
hopeless hand.
-- Reverser can pass 2NT or a minimum return to his first suit,
both of which show weakness, but jumps are forcing:
Opener Responder
1C 1S
2H 2NT/3C - weak, not forcing
3S/4C - forcing
-- Raise of reverser's second suit is forcing in hearts, invita-
tional in diamonds:
Opener Responder
1C 1S
2H 3H - forcing
Opener Responder
1C 1S
2D 3D - invitational
-- If responder's suit is a five-carder, she must bid the ranking
suit as a forcing relay, but may pass opener's next bid. The relay
is okay with a six-card suit provided responder is doubtful about
game. With a better hand, either jump rebid with a six-card suit
(if it is strong) or use FSA and then rebid the suit (both
forcing). The relay is also permissible with a very strong four-
card suit, possibly leading to a good 4-3 trump fit.
Usually the ranking suit bid is responder's original suit, but not
in one case:
Opener Responder
1C 1S
2D 2H - showing five spades
The partnership can stop at 2S if responder has a bad hand and
opener has a minimum reverse with three spades. Since 2H is a
relay, use 2S artificially for FSA in this sequence.
After a relay opener can bid notrump, raise responder's suit, or
otherwise clarify his hand, perhaps by jumping, perhaps by just
rebidding his first suit minimally. If the relayer doesn't pass
opener's rebid, her next bid may be passed if it is not encourag-
ing:
Opener Responder
1C 1S
2D 2H - showing five spades
2NT 3C/3D/3S - not forcing, weak
3H - forcing, probably 5-5
When an eight-card major fit has been found, however, a bid in any
other strain is forcing:
Opener Responder
1C 1S
2D 2H - showing five spades
2S 3S - not forcing
2NT/3C/3D/3H - forcing
Opener can pass the 3S bid if his reverse was a stretch: S-832
H-AQ82 D-AKQ102 C-6. His 2S bid was not quite forcing. Because the
bidding can stop in 2S, a light diamond-heart reverse is not out
of line when holding three-card spade support. Don't go too far
with this idea, because responder may have a weak hand and only
four spades.
-- With no convenient rebid, responder can use FSA. FSA denies
exactly five cards in the original suit, but responder could have
six provided she wants to be in game. FSA tends to deny a good
notrump bid (maybe Axx or Qx, but not a better holding in the
fourth suit). FSA at the two level does not promise another bid;
responder may pass if opener bids minimally. If the FSA bidder does
bid again, all non-game bids are forcing except a raise of opener's
last bid:
Opener Responder
1C 1H
2D 2S - FSA
2NT/3C 3D/3H/3S - forcing
Responder could pass 2NT or 3C, bids that imply a minimum or near-
minimum reverse. Responder's 3H bid shows a six-card suit, since
she would relay with five. A raise of 3C to 4C would not be
forcing.
FSA at the three level (3C, perforce) promises another bid if
opener does not bid game:
Opener Responder
1D 1S
2H 3C - FSA
3D/3H/3S - forcing
-- A jump to the three level in the fourth suit shows a real suit,
not a splinter. This means you must bid notrump when the suit is
clubs, because a jump to 4C is a splinter bid in support of
opener's second suit (which would have to be hearts):
Opener Responder
1D 1S
2H 3S - natural bid
Opener Responder
1D 1S
2H 4C - splinter bid