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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing

Quiz: Deal # Tuesday
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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

Suggest a different 4+ card suit if you can't support your partner's opening suit:

with 6-15 points, bid at the lowest level available
only go to the 2 level if you have 10+ points
a 2 level Major bid requires 5 cards

Your change of suit forces opener to rebid - so you'll get another chance later to show if you're very strong.

But with 16 points, jump shift to new suit, provided you have 6 cards.

Plan ahead if you have 2 suits that you could bid: going through your 'responder's barrier' might promise 12+ points. Your barrier is in the same suit as your first bid, at one level higher.

Suit lengths also make a difference

Print cribsheet

Bridge Venue

+	West
	10 9 4 2
	K J
	K 7
	J 10 8 5 4

+	North
	K
	A Q 9 8 7 6 4 3
	8
	A 9 6

+	East
	A Q 8
	10 5 2
	Q 9 6 4 3
	Q 7

	South
	J 7 6 5 3

	A J 10 5 2
	K 3 2

Example Deal

You: South
Dealer: West
Vuln: none

# 126018

Thinking ahead to responder's barrier
..
Go to quiz (& full page) of deal # 126018
***

Click the + buttons to peep

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

Question 1

Your partner, North, opens 1H. You have all the other suits covered, and you have 9 points. Sounds as if you could play in NT ? Do you agree ?

Question 1

Your partner, North, opens 1H. You have all the other suits covered, and you have 9 points. Sounds as if you could play in NT ? Do you agree ?

Answer

Definitely do NOT bid no trumps. You are void in your partner's suit, so expect severe transport problems in NT. What's more, the opposition could have lots of them, and make your life hell. You should choose a suit.

Question 2

So, which suit should you bid ? You've got two 5-card suits to choose between, one a Major and one a minor.

Question 2

So, which suit should you bid ? You've got two 5-card suits to choose between, one a Major and one a minor.

Answer

You need to think about your eventual second bid. Of course, other things being equal, it would be better to offer the Major suit, since that gives you a better chance of game. But what if your partner then rebids his heart suit, as is likely given your void ? You would then bid diamonds of course. But you'd have to bid at the 3 level, which would signal having 12 points or more, as you would need to go through your "responder's barrier".

So, bid your diamonds first, and plan to rebid spades. This also has the benefit of showing your strength... you'll have to bid 2 diamonds, and you just have the power to do it with your 5-card suit.

Question 3

Take a look at North's hand. Seems as if you have to rebid your suit, having 8 of them ! But at what level ?

Question 3

Take a look at North's hand. Seems as if you have to rebid your suit, having 8 of them ! But at what level ?

Answer

4 Hearts. Your partner's bid tells you he has 9+ points and good diamonds. Maybe you'd have preferred to hear Spades to improve your singleton King, but his HCP, your 5 loser hand and his presumed 8 loser hand should encourage you, with your 8 Hearts, to go straight to 4 and hopefully collect your game bonus points. (Of course you do have an "8-card fit" - even if partner has a somewhat unlikely void, so use the LTC).

As it turns out, he DOES have the 1 in 10 unlikely void, so this time you may go one off. (But the next 9 times you'll get the lovely bonus).

Some subjects to follow up on
Choice of two suits
Responders reverse
After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit
Unbal, 12 to 19 HCPs, 1 suit
Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25"

#1	+	<-- click the + to show/hide one possible Bidding Sequence
West			North	East	South
p			1H	p	???
					2D
p			4H	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
2D	After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit
4H	Bidding Objectives = "8 and 25"



			Hand evaluation

#3	+	<-- click the + for ideas on the Opening Lead
Opening Lead: East , 4 Reasons, when playing in Suit contract: 1. don't under-lead an Ace, when playing suits. 2. avoid minimally protected honours 3. all other suits -ve 4. I've got 1 honour, 3-card suit

« 0041 »

Responder 1st bids. After 1 Suit, No fit, but alternative suit

Tell your partner you've got 5 or 4 of a new suit, and something about how many points. Here's how:

41. Reply to 1 Suit opening. No fit, but alternative suit
Points	6-9	9	10-15	16+	16+
The bidding lets you reply at the one level
cards	4			4+	6
bid	1 of new suit			1 of new suit	2 of new suit
The bidding forces you to reply at the two level
cards	4	5m, 5M	4m, 5M	4m, 5M	6
bid	dustbin 1NT	2 of new suit	2 of new suit	2 of new suit	3 of new suit
Add to your customised cribsheet

2-over-1

Fundamental point number 1. Have you spotted that changing suit at the 2 level promises 5-cards if you bid a Major ? It means opener can support your new suggestion with only 3 cards.

Fundamental point number 2: Bid at the lowest level available.

Fundamental point number 3: But if you have to bid at the two level to change suit, then you are promising 10+HCP. You can only break this rule if you have extra good length in your suit, which entitles you to some distribution points. For example, you might be tempted to respond 2 with only 8HCP if you had a 6-card suit, or 9HCP and a 5-card suit. This is known as the "Rule of 14".

Jump shift on 6-16

With 16 points things get interesting. Not only is game certain, but a Slam could be there. So, if you also have lots of cards (6+) tell your partner immediately, by "jump shifting". Change suit, and at the same time jump raise the bidding (so, bid 3 clubs for example, when you could bid 2).

This is code for “Partner darling, we're in the money. I have 16+ points, 6-card suit. Do your arithmetic, and get back to me ! With your 12-19 points, we could be in slam territory here”.

If you only have a 5-card suit, generally change suit (bid at the lowest level available) and show your impressive 16+ HCP strength to your partner next time round. You will get a chance, because your change of suit was a forcing bid. See "jump shifting" for exceptions.

Forcing

Suppose you have a wonderful hand with 16+ points and a lovely suit that's not your partner's suit. But suppose you also have 4-card support for the suit your partner opened with. Since you and your partner have 8 cards in this suit of your partner's, and tons of points, should you support your partner's suit?

It might be best not to. Not yet, anyway. That's because supporting your partner's suit is not forcing. He might simply pass. So even though you might (hopefully) at least have raised to game, you could miss a Slam if partner stops bidding. However, shifting to a new suit is forcing. You can go on to support partner's suit next time. Jump-shifting does not deny 4-card support for opener's suit.

Responders reverse

When you have two suits that you could bid, you need to think about your second bid (before you open your big mouth with the first bid !). This is similar in concept to the opener's reverse, and will allow you to be more accurate with the information about the strength of your hand. Your partner will then be better positioned to judge what to bid next.

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Quiz: Barrier-Reversing