Opener’s 2nd bid called REBID often fairly reflects the shape and strength of his hand.
Important Notes:
- Responder’s 1st bid strength is classified as Minimum 6-9 points, Invitational 10-12 points and Game Forcing 13+ points. Add 6 to these limits to deduce opener’s 2nd bid strength. Therefore,
- Opener’s hand is Minimum when 12-15 points
- Invitational 16-18 points
- Game Forcing 19+ points
- We play reverses to show invitational strong opening hands. Plan your 1st opening bid in such a way that when you have 12-15 points minimum hand, the 2nd bid DOES NOT become a reverse. Wherever, such situations are unavoidable, bid your 2nd best option or 1NT.
Following chart chronologically lists various combinations of opener’s 2nd bid, when FIT is not achieved after responder’s 1st bid.
a, b, c are suit strains in the ascending order. NT – No Trump and x- Suit or NT
Single suited 6+ card long opening hand
| HCP of Opener | Opener’s 1st and 2nd bids | Responder’s 1st Bid-6+ points | Example | Notes |
| 12-15 Minimum | 1a : 2a | 1x | 1!D : 1NT : 2!D | Non Forcing |
| 16-18 Invitational | 1a : 3a | 1x | 1!D : 1!H : 3!D | Jump a level in own suit. Non Forcing |
| 19+ Game Forcing | 1a : 4a | 1x | 1!H : 1!S : 4!H | Double Jump |

Balanced Opening Hand
| HCP of Opener | Opener’s 1st and 2nd bids | Responder’s 1st Bid-6+ points | Example | Notes |
| 12-14 | 1a : 1c c is 4 Card Major | 1b | 1!C : 1!H : 1!S | Non Forcing. Show your Major at Level 1. Up-The-Line Bids |
| 12-14 | 1a : 1NT a is Minor !c/!d. Absence of 4 card Major. | 1b | 1!c : 1!H : 1NT | Non Forcing. If responder has 10+ HCP and 5+ of b (Major only) invitational hand? Responder’s 2nd bid is convention New Minor Suit Forcing |
| 15-17 | Reserved for 1NT opening | |||
| 18-19 | 1a : 2NT | 1x | 1!c : 1!h : 2NT | Non forcing Invitational Like above New Minor Forcing is applicable with 5+ Major but at 5+ points. Alternate bid-3NT. |
| 20-21 | Reserved for 2NT opening | |||
| 22+ | Reserved for convention 2!c |
1 Major (1!h/1!s) opening hands receiving 1NT forcing response
Such hands are required to be 100% forcing. Opener can’t pass. In situations where opener has nothing new to show, he can bid 3+ cards minor.
Bridge grammar has designed this protocol to facilitate 2 over 1 game forcing. As 2 over 1 game forcing requires 13+ points for bids at level 2 of a lower strain.

Regular opening hands
| 12-15 Minimum | 1b : 2c | 1x | 1!d : 1!s : 2!c | Non Forcing. Avoid reverse. |
| 12-15 Minimum | 1a : 2b | 1b | 1!d : 1!s : 2!s | Non Forcing b is 4+ cards and FIT is found with 4 cards in opening hand. |
| 16-18 Invitational | 1b : 3a | 1x | 1!h : 1!s : 3!c | Non Forcing. |
| 16-18 Invitational | 1a : 3b | 1b | 1!d : 1!s : 3!s | Invitational. Jump a level in responder’s suit. Opener has 4+ cards in b suit. |
| 16+ Invitational | 1a : 2c | 1x | 1!c : 1!s : 2!h | Forcing. Reverse Rebid |
| 19+ Game Forcing | 1b : 3NT | 1NT | 1!h : 1NT : 3NT | Game Forcing in 3NT |
Foot Note – After opener’s rebid, if the decision to bid a game is still inconclusive, two notable conventions can be used by responer: