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What’s Standard? by David Lindop

This series is based on Grant WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH Standard, a set of conventions and 1o agreements that are in popular use Pass 1m Pass ? today, such as 15-17 1NT openings, Opener’s Here we have 17 m A 3 five-card majors, and weak two- high-card points and n bids. A summary chart of Grant Reverse an unbalanced hand A K J 8 o K Q 8 7 3 Standard and the corresponding — two doubletons. p 9 4 convention card can be found at We open in the long www.AudreyGrant.com . The site suit, 1 o. Partner responds 1 m. We also has Grant Basic, a simpler set What Does a Reverse Show? now have enough strength to reverse of agreements. Since responder could have as few into 2 n. The partnership has at least Earlier articles in this series as 6 points for a one-level response, 23 combined points (17 + 6), so we appeared in the Bridge Bulletin and and opener’s reverse into a suit that don’t mind potentially getting the can also be found under ‘Articles’ at responder is unlikely to hold could partnership to the three level. We have www.AudreyGrant.com . push the auction to the three level, the classic distribution for this reverse: opener needs extra strength to make five diamonds and four hearts. This hand is even ne standard bidding concept a reverse over a one-level response. m K J 8 stronger. We have 18 that often leads to confusion Opener is expected to have at least n A K 10 4 high-card points and Ois the ‘reverse.’ So let’s see 16 high-card points for a reverse. o A Q J 7 3 what this term is all about. Opener will typically have either a three-card support for p 4 medium-strength hand of about 16 –18 partner’s spades. If What Is a Reverse? points, or a maximum-strength hand we count 3 dummy points for the The most common type of reverse is of about 19 –21 points. Since opener singleton club, we have enough to take a reverse by opener at the two level: could have as many as 21 points, the the partnership to game. However, modern style is to play that opener’s we don’t want to jump-raise spades OPENER ’S REVERSE reverse is forcing for one round . So right away, since responder could have a weak four-card suit. A reverse A non-jump bid at the two level in responder must bid again, giving n a new suit that is higher-ranking opener an opportunity to make an into 2 is perfect. It’s forcing, so there’s no danger of stopping short than opener’s first bid suit. invitational bid with a medium hand of game. It gives responder a further or get to game with a maximum hand. For example, suppose opener is South: opportunity to describe the hand. If Since opener is bidding two suits, responder rebids spades, we can be WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH opener is showing an unbalanced confident we have an eight-card fit. 1p hand. With a balanced hand, opener m n We have 17 high- Pass 1 Pass 2 would either have opened in notrump, m 5 We should notice the following card points in this n or rebid in notrump. Also, since hand, plus 1 length Q J 2 points about a reverse: opener bids the longest suit first, or o K Q J 9 3 point for the five-card p • Opener’s first bid was one-of-a- the higher-ranking of two five-card diamond suit, but it is A K J 6 suit. suits, opener’s first suit will always the wrong distribution for a reverse. • Opener’s second bid is in a suit be longer than opener’s second suit . After opening our long suit, 1 o, we responder bypassed — hearts. Typically, opener has five or more have to be content with a rebid of • Responder would have to bid at cards in the first suit, and four cards 2p, a lower-ranking suit at the two the three level to give preference in the second suit . level. We aren’t strong enough for a back to opener’s first suit —3p. jump shift to 3 p, which would So responder typically recognizes OPENER ’S REVERSE OVER A commit the partnership to game. ONE -L EVEL RESPONSE a reverse because it makes the auction The 2 p rebid is not forcing, since uncomfortable, especially when • 16 or more high-card points. it is not a reverse. Partner has to be responder has a weak hand. Opener • 5+ cards in the first suit and aware that we could have anywhere is bidding a suit for which responder four cards in the second suit. from about 13-18 points for this is unlikely to have support — since • Forcing for one round. sequence. Partner will only pass responder bypassed it — and the with a weak hand and a preference auction is already at the two level. Let’s look at some examples. for clubs rather than diamonds. BETTER 14 BRIDGE VOL . 13, N O. 4 MARCH /A PRIL 2009 BB WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH In standard methods, the popular Responder’s Actions After a 1o agreement is that opener’s reverse Reverse m Pass 1 Pass ? still shows extra strength , although When opener reverses, responder This hand has 18 m not necessarily 16 or more high-card must bid again, since the reverse is 10 4 points. Responder’s 2/1 response high-card points, too n A K 6 2 forcing . With a weak hand, about 6- strong to open 1NT, so o has not committed the partnership 7 points, reponder can: o A Q 7 3 to game, but when opener reverses, we start with 1 . When p K Q 4 • Rebid a five-card or longer responder bids 1 m, we the partnership must have enough major suit at the two level. describe the hand with a jump to combined strength to go for game. n • Raise opener’s second suit to the 2NT, not a reverse to 2 . A reverse When playing 2/1 Game Force, the three level with four-card support. shows an unbalanced hand, not a popular agreement is that opener’s • Return — give preference — to balanced hand. reverse at the two level does not opener’s first suit at the three level. What about missing an eight-card require any extra strength , since the • Bid 2NT. heart fit? Responder would have bid partnership is already committed to 1n with four hearts and four spades, at least the game level. However, there These bids are not forcing. With a bidding ‘up the line.’ Responder are differing opinions about this, so medium-strength hand, opener can either doesn’t have four hearts, or it’s best to consult with partner. now pass. With a maximum hand, opener can bid again. has five or more spades and four or WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH more hearts — in which case, 1n When responder has about 8 or responder can check back for a Pass 2o Pass ? more points, the partnership should heart fit over our 2NT rebid. have enough combined strength for Playing standard m A J 7 3 game. Responder can: This hand has only 13 high-card methods, we would n points, not nearly m A Q J 6 4 • Jump in a six-card or longer J 6 rebid 2 n with this o 6 4 enough for a reverse. n major suit to the three level. A J 7 2 hand, since 2 m would p 7 3 That’s no problem. o K J 9 2 show extra values and • Jump raise opener’s second suit m p Over partner’s 1 Q J 4 be forcing to at least game. Playing with four-card support. response, we describe the hand with 2/1 Game Force, we can rebid 2 m to • Jump raise opener’s first suit with a rebid of 1NT. describe our distribution, since the three-card or longer support. This is the type of hand that pres - partnership is committed to game. • Bid 3NT. m ents us with a rebid 8 High-Level Reverse • Bid the unbid suit — fourth suit problem after we n K Q 7 3 — to get further information. o After a 2/1 response, opener’s bid of open 1 and partner o A J 9 4 2 WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH responds 1 m. We p K 4 2 a new suit at the three level without 1o Pass 1m don’t want to rebid 1NT with an a jump is often referred to as a high- Pass 2n Pass ? unbalanced hand, and we must not level reverse. In this case, opener’s n n We can’t pass 2 , reverse into 2 with a minimum second suit will be lower-ranking even though we have a m J 7 4 2 opening bid . That would be forcing, than the first: weak hand. Instead, we n K 6 2 and would get us too high when WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH should give preference o Q 6 5 responder has a weak hand. 1n back to opener’s first p 9 8 3 So we must settle for a rebid of Pass 2o Pass 3p suit by bidding 3 o. The key is to 2o. Partner will expect a six-card This auction gets the partnership to remember that opener has at least suit, but should be aware we might the three level before any fit has five diamonds and only four hearts. have a hand like this. Alternatively, been found, so in both standard With 9 high-card we could rebid 1NT, treating the hand methods and 2/1 Game Force it m p points, we have enough Q J 9 3 as balanced, or rebid 2 , treating shows either extra strength or extra for game after opener n 8 5 2 the clubs as a four-card suit. distribution and is forcing to game. has shown the values o J 5 Reverse After 2/1 Response WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH to reverse. With no fit p K Q 8 4 m The situation is somewhat different 1 for either of opener’s suits but n when responder bids a new suit at Pass 2 Pass ? strength in spades and clubs, we can With 16 high-card suggest playing game in notrump. the two level. Now responder has m A K J 7 3 10 or more points. In fact, if the points, South has n 2NT would not be forcing. enough to bid 3 p 7 Bidding after a reverse can be a partnership is playing 2/1 Game o J 5 4 over the 2 o response. little awkward, so some partnerships Force, responder has 13 or more p A K 8 6 points, and we are committed to at With a weaker hand, prefer conventional approaches such least game. Does opener still need South would have to choose as Ingberman and Lebensohl, but extra strength to reverse? between rebidding 2 m or 2NT. these are not standard. BETTER 15 BRIDGE VOL . 13, N O. 4 MARCH /A PRIL 2009