Reverse rebid

Reverse Rebid

/ Sunil Khanna

Reverse rebid is 2nd bid of opener or responder when it crosses one round of clockwise turn in uncontested auction at level 1.

In a reverse bid :

  • Next bid is at 1 level higher and also of a higher strain suit.
  • 1st bid suit is mostly, longer than the 2nd.  
  • Opening and responder bids are at level 1

Remember : Reverse is off when

  • It is a raise to responder’s 1st bid. E.g. 1!c-P-1!H-P-2!H
  • Responder has not used a convention like 2 over 1

Opener’s Reverse kicks in at 17+ points strong hand.This bid by opener is 100% forcing for one round and shows unbalanced distribution.

2!h of South is reverse rebid with 17 HCP and 19 total points.
Play this hand

Responder’s Reverse does not have minimum points restriction but must be able to confirm game. Hence, Reverse bid by the responder, is game forcing.

2!h by responder is reverse and is game forcing.
Play this hand

e.g. First bid 1!C then subsequent bid 2!D or 2!S and also 17+ points will be opener’s reverse except in a following situation

WestNorthEastSouth
1!cpass1!hpass
2!h
Here 2!H is a raise to partner hence not opener’s reverse. Rebidding 2!D  or 2!S would have been a reverse.

If you qualify a bid as REVERSE, then you also mostly, state that 1st bid is longer than the second irrespective of MAJOR or MINOR.

WestNorthEastSouth
1!cpass1!dpass
2!h
This example qualifies 2!H as REVERSE. Hence it 1!C means mostly, 5+ cards and 2!H 4+ cards (even though 4+4 is also acceptable).
WestNorthEastSouth
1!cpass1!dpass
1!h
shows 3+ Clubs and 4+ Hearts as the 1!h bid is not a reverse

Opener’s reverse. 1!d is longer than 2!s. Sometimes they can be equal in length. Reverses are designed to show strong unbalanced hands.
Play this hand