Reverse Bidding - Part 1

A "reverse" is part of standard bidding. All bridge players use it, whether they realize it or not. Understanding reversals is good for your bridge, your health and your safety.

So What is a Reverse?

Opener: Provided your partner has responded at the 1-level, the requirement to bid a new suit at the 2-level that ranks higher than your first suit, is 17+ points.

Reversing implies greater length in your first suit (usually 5-4, but maybe 6-4 or 6-5.) Reverses are forcing for one round.

The Second Negative - Part 2

The Second Negative gives opener no hope for slam, and he might be passed out if he repeats his first suit.

Partner                                  You

♠ Α Κ 10 9 6 2                     ♠ 5 4 

♥ A K Q                               ♥ 8 4

♦ 7 4                       ❏           ♦ J 9 8 6 5

♣ K Q                                   ♣ J 6 4 3

           Partner             You

          2♣                     2♦

          2♠                     3♣

          3♠                     Pass

When partner just repeated his suit, he indicates a minimum hand – pass is just right for you. What if partner was stronger? 

The Second Negative - Part 1

The “second negative” is also called the “double negative.” Don’t confuse it with the “negative double” – they are totally different bids.

Partner opens 2♣

When partner opens 2♣ and you have a crummy hand, you first respond 2♦. This is just a negative bid, showing 0 to 7 points. But if you are truly dreadful, you need to turn partner off from his lofty dreams by giving him a “second negative.”

Fourth-Suit Forcing and Artificial - Part 2

Opener’s Next Bid

You opened and then bid your second suit. Responder bids this “convention” by bidding the fourth suit. What next?

North:

♠ J 8 7 6                     North          South

♥ K 9                         1♣               1♥

♦ K Q 5                     1♠                2♦*

♣ A J 9 8                   ??          

*Fourth-Suit Forcing

Fourth-Suit Forcing and Artificial - Part 1

This is an important convention that comes in handy. 

Responder’s Second Bid

Modern bidding has a problem-child:

South:

♠ Q 8 7                      North       South

♥ A Q 9 8 7              1♦             1♥

♦ K J 6                     1♠              ??

♣ 5 4

South has a problem: He wants to bid NT, but not without a stopper in clubs, the only unbid suit. He should not jump in his 5-card heart suit (only perverts do that), and he should not raise opener’s second suit with only 3-card support. There is a nice solution to this dilemma: