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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday
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Basic
strategy
0000). How to use 0001). Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25" 0002). 28 for minor 0003). 33 for NT slam 0004). Suit slam 0005). Importance of length 0006). Convention card 0007). ACOL and American Standard, differences 0008). A-Z Glossary 0690). A-Z Glossary
Hand
evaluation
0010). Balanced-Unbalanced 0011). How strong is your hand, HCP 0012). Distribution points 0013). Losing trick count 0014). Barrier-Reversing 0015). Selection of opening suit 0016). Showing shape 0017). 4441 distribution 0018). The skip over principle 0019). Rule of 20 Opening 1 of a suit 0019a). Rule of 25 Opening 2 of a suit 0019b). Rule of 500 Max penalty risk on preempt if doubled 0019c). Law of total tricks 0019d). Rule of Protective bidding
Opening
bids
0020). Plan of attack 0021). Bal, 12 to 19 HCPs, weak NT 0022). Bal, 20+ points 0023). Bal, 15 to 17 HCPs, strong NT 0025). Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit 0026). Unbal, Strong 2s 0027). Unbal, Pre-emptive 0028). Unbal, Gambling 3NT 0029). Benji Strong 2s
Responder
1st bids
0030). After 1NT, General principles 0031). After 1NT, Weak 0032). After 1NT, Getting out of trouble 0033). After 1NT, 11+ balanced 0034). After 1NT, 11+ 4-card major 0035). After 1NT, 11+ unbalanced 0036). After 1NT, 19+ 0037). After 2NT 0038). After 1NT, and Enemy has interfered 0039). 1 NT responses 0040). After 1 Suit, With fit 0041). After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit 0042). After 1 Suit, No fit, no new suit, probably balanced 0043). After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid 0044). After 1 Suit, Very strong 0045). After 1 Suit, Weak freak 0047). After 2 Suit, Strong 2s 0048). After 2 Suit, Weak 2s 0049). After 3 Suit, Responding to preempt
Openers
rebid
0050). Unbalanced, The general idea 0051). Unbalanced, You are weak 0052). Unbalanced, You are strong 0053). Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT 0054). Unbalanced, Delayed support 0055). Balanced
Responder
rebids
0060). Responder rebids, The general idea 0061). Choice of two suits 0062). Responders reverse 0063). After 1NT rebid
Basic
Convention
0080). Stayman 0081). Transfer 0082). Transfer after 2NT 0161). Minor suit transfer
Slam
bidding
0090). Slam, Spotting the chance 0091). Blackwood 0092). No-trump slam 0093). Gerber 0094). Extra slam techniques
Interfering
bids
0100). Overcalls, the basic idea 0101). Overcalls, in a suit, over a suit 0102). Overcalls, in a suit, over 1NT 0103). Overcalls, in NT, over a suit 0104). Overcalls, Jump overcall 0105). Overcalls, Double then bid a suit 0106). Overcalls, Bidding opponents suit 0107). Overcalls, Balancing (protective) 0108). Overcalls, Overcall a preempt 0109). Overcalls, Preemptive double jump 0110). Overcalls, To overcall, or to double 0111). Overcalls, Response to 1NT after suit overcall (Lebensohl) 0115). Defence after 1NT 0116). Competitive bidding 0117). Be cautious sometimes 0118). Sacrificing Be bold when non-vulnerable 0119). Sacrificing 0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0126). Doubles, Protective double
Doubles

0120). Doubles, Double a 1NT 0121). Doubles, Double for takeout 0122). Doubles, Doubling after opponent overcall 0123). Doubles, Negative double 0124). Doubles, Double a 1NT overcall 0125). Doubles, Double a suit over 1NT 0126). Doubles, Protective double 0127). Doubles, Responsive double 0128). Doubles, Double then bid a suit 0129). Doubles, Penalty 0130). Doubles, Support double 0131). Doubles, Lead directing double 0132). Doubles, Maximal double 0133). Doubles, Redoubling - coded meanings 0134). Doubles, Forcing Pass 0135). Doubles, Re-opening double 0139). Doubles, Index of doubles
Advanced
Convention
0150). Majors Jacoby 2NT 0151). Majors Splinters 0152). Majors Weak 2s 0153). Majors Weak 2 defence 0154). Trial bid 0160). NT and minors 4th suit forcing 0161). Minor suit transfer 0162). DONT Bidding When Opponents open 1NT 0163). Game tries 0166). Grand Slam Force 0167). Roman Keycard Blackwood 0168). Cue bidding for controls 0170). 2-suited Overcall Unusual 2NT 0171). 2-suited Overcall Michaels cue bid 0172). 2-suited Overcall Landy over 1NT 0173). Overcall Unassuming cue bid 0179). Very advanced

Quiz How much do you know about this page? Quiz

<= find/hide more deals exploiting this aspect

Quick summary

Easy things

Length before strength

Less obvious

55: highest first, always
44: lowest first, but
- first if intending to rebid NT

And a warning when changing suit:

Never break your barrier with <16
Always break it with 16+

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

+	West
	J 10 6 2
	A 8 6
	J 6 2
	A 9 8

+	North
	Q 7
	9 4
	9 8 7 5
	K Q 10 6 3

+	East
	9 8 3
	K 7 5
	A Q 4 3
	7 5 4

	South
	A K 5 4
	Q J 10 3 2
	K 10
	J 2

Example Deal

You: South
Dealer: West
Vuln: all

# 126014

Opening NT, with an unbalanced hand??
..
Go to quiz (& full page) of deal # 126014
***

Click the + buttons to peep

Click on "q1" below to see question 1, and on "A1" to see the answer.

Question 1

South is obviously going to open with Hearts. What possible rebids could he have ?

Question 1

South is obviously going to open with Hearts. What possible rebids could he have ?

Answer

Well, South has a 5-4 distribution in the Majors, and 14 HCP. Nice. The apparently obvious re-bid would be his 4-card Major, however with fewer than 16HCP South should not go through his "barrier" - limiting any rebid to no higher than 2 Hearts. Bidding higher than that, his partner would put him with 16+HCP, and all sorts of overbidding might occur! So 2 Spades cannot be his re-bid.
It will have to be rebid of Hearts. But that would promise a 6-card suit - or a very strong 5-card suit, which is questionable in this case.
The only other alternative is to open a weak 1NT - which I quite like, as it's possibly the "smallest lie" you can tell your sensible, stable and understanding partner. At least the extra doubleton has 2 honours! Some people though would go for the Heart opening bid and re-bid.

Question 2

Why doesn't North tell his partner about his longest suits ? With only 6 points, why doesn't he pass ?

Question 2

Why doesn't North tell his partner about his longest suits ? With only 6 points, why doesn't he pass ?

Answer

After the opening bid of 1 Heart, he would need to go to the 2-level to mention his minor suit, Clubs. But with only 7 HC points, he is too weak to change suit at the 2 level. You need about 10 HCP really. Also, he is too short to support Hearts, and he cannot switch to Spades with only 2 of them. The only bid left is 1NT, which he should bid just in case his partner is on maximum 18 or 19 HCP..... we wouldn't want to miss a game.

Question 3

Why does South leave it in 1NT, given that his Hearts are so good ?

Question 3

Why does South leave it in 1NT, given that his Hearts are so good ?

Answer

He knows his partner might only have 6 points, and 9 at the most, so game is not on, since we are well shy of 25. We've got good Hearts, but we don't have suit agreement in Hearts. We've got Spades covered, so the chances are high that our partner's limited strength is in the minors. So there are probably enough stoppers to be safe in 1NT. Probably better than 2H, where he could be short or even very short.

. . . .

Some subjects to follow up on
After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid
Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit
Selection of opening suit
After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit
Unbalanced, Partner replied with 1NT

#1	+	<-- click the + to show/hide one possible Bidding Sequence
West			North	East	South
p			p	p	???
					1H
p			1NT	p	p
p
-			System: Acol (Benji)
suggest a different Bidding Sequence

bid	explained at....
#2	+	<-- click the + for explanation of relevant Bidding Techniques
1H	Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit
1NT	After 1 Suit, 6 points, nothing to bid




			Hand evaluation

#3	+	<-- click the + for ideas on the Opening Lead
Opening Lead: East , 3 Reasons, when playing in No Trumps: 1. long suit 2. 4th highest, if lacking 3 honours 3. unbid suit

« 0015 »

Hand evaluation. Selection of opening suit

How to choose the first suit to bid

Sometimes it's not obvious which suit to bid first. The general guidelines for the opener are:

length before strength for your first bid

With equal length suits:

always bid down-the-line with 5 or 6-card suits - i.e. the highest denomination first, in the order
but bid up-the-line with 4-card suits. . .but
- bid a (but not a ) before a minor, if you plan to rebid NT

With two 4-card suits, its best to keep the bidding at the lowest denomination, to allow your partner the chance to mention a suit at the one level.

The exception to this is when you have a balanced hand 15 HCP+ intending to rebid NT, and one of your two suits is Hearts. You should bid the Hearts first, so that you have the highest chance of finding an 8-card Major match. If you were to open with your minor, you might fail to find your 8-card Heart fit if partner has 5-4 in Spades and Hearts. He'll bid 1, you'll bid NT, and that might be the end of it if he has a stopper in his two doubletons. You missed your 8-card Heart fit.

Another problem arises when you have two 5-card black suits, , and fewer than 16 HCP. For example, suppose you have this hand:

	Hand 1
	A K J 7 6		You have 12 HCP, and nice shape. What do you open with this hand, and what is your rebid after a reply in Diamonds ? Bidding 1 first then 1 shows 5-4, or conceivably 4-4, both of which are misleading. Bidding first shows 5-4 or 5-5, which is correct. But bidding 1 then 3 shows 16+ HCP, which you don't have.
	6
	9 2
	A 9 8 7 6

If you bid the highest ranking first, , then any bid in a new suit from partner other than 1NT will force you to break your barrier when you bid your second suit. With only 12 HCP, this could be misleading, even though you can count a couple of points for length. Such a bid give your partner the impression that you have 16+ HCP. On the other hand, with a LTC of 6, you might risk it. If not, you'll have to rebid your Spade suit instead, and not mention your clubs, which might mean that you don't find your fit if your partner doesn't have the strength to keep bidding. Alternatively, you could bid them the other way round, starting with Clubs, but this would leave some doubt in your partner's mind about the length of both of your suits, especially the Major - Spades. That could be a bad thing, since you'd generally rather be in the Major. In the end, it will come down to the relative merits of the two suits.

With the diamonds and clubs the other way around, it's easier - but only if you follow the guidelines and bid the higher ranking 5-card suit before you bid the lower ranking 5-card suit:

	Hand 2
	9 8 5 4 3		You have 12 HCP, and two 5-card suits, so open with the higher ranking suit, even though it has zero HCP. Remember... length is strength! You want to bid your Major suit first so you can find that 8-card fit when partner not infrequently has 3 Spades. If the auction goes 1-2-2-3-4 all is fine. But if you open 1, then, after the 2 reply, the Spade fit will be missed since by re-bidding 2 you would be promising 16HCP but only 4 Spades - neither of which is true.
	6
	A K J 6 4
	A 3

Procedure to follow

Look first at your suit distribution, or the "shape" of your hand. The table also shows which suit to bid second time round. For a discussion of the level of the second bid, which will tell your partner how strong you are, see "going through your barrier / reversing".

The rules for the responder are similar, but slightly different.

Showing shape with 5-5, 6-6, 6-5 hands, or 6-4 hands

Most people soon learn how to show their partner a 5-4 shaped hand. (Bid the long suit first, followed by the shorter suit, not forgetting the effect of the barrier). But not everyone learns how to show these other shapes, in some ways much more useful shapes. They therefore deprive their partner of essential information needed to choose the right suit for trumps.

Suit order for responder

There are very slightly different guidelines for the opener and the responder.

Mini-Quiz

You can try the main quiz for this subject through the link at the top left of the page. Meanwhile. . .

A. With 4432 distribution, and the following two 4-card suits which would you bid first ?

B. With 5521 distribution, and two 5-card suits, which would you bid first ?

15. Opener's bid - which suit ?
Distribution	HCP	opening bid	rebid
5xxx (x<5)		5-card suit (easy !)
5332		5-card suit (but see 6xxx)	repeat, unless 5=m & good 3-card M
54xx (mm/MM)		5-card suit	4 card suit reverse correctly !
54xx (mM/Mm)		5-card suit. (Responder would choose the Major at the one level before minor at the 2-level, even if shorter)	reverse correctly !
6xxx (x<5)		6-card suit	repeat twice, if chance arises
64xx		6-card suit	4-card, then 6-card again
65xx		6-card suit	4-card, then 4-card again
55xx		higher ranking suit	lower, then lower again
66xx		higher ranking suit	lower, then lower again & again
44xx unbalanced		lowest ranking suit
44xx balanced	12-14	1NT
44xx balanced	15+	if poss, or lowest ranking suit	NT
(M=Major, m=minor. See"showing shape" for details of bidding 6--6, 6-5, 5-5 and 5-4 hands.
Add to your customised cribsheet

Now try the quiz

Can you put all this into action ? Try the quiz for this subject by clicking on the link at the top left of the page, just below the main menu.
(You can try quizzes for any other subjects too while you're there. Look out for the thin red line).

Quiz answers:

A).

if you intend to rebid NT, otherwise

B).

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Thursday