OPENER'S reverse rebid shows 17+ "playing points" a strong offensive hand with aces and kings and a singleton or void. The most experienced bridge teachers farm this topic out to their student teachers and go drink themself senseless

Hi Mark,  Hope all is well with you.  I wonder if you would look at this holding and suggest bidding for N/S - North deals, E/W passing throughout.      

 

North     S) 10 x     H) A Q J x     D) A 10 9 8 x x    C) A

 

 

South     S) A Q x x x x      H) K     D) Q x x     C) K 10 x

 

Assume North elects to treat the hand as belonging to the "minimum" category.

 

1D          1S

2D*         3C**

3H***      4D****

4H*****   4S*****

5C*****   6D

 

* treating hand as minimum

   unbalanced, 6+ diamonds

** forcing, unlimited

*** showing strength in hearts, not necessarily 4

**** setting the trump suit, and confirming

        a good hand, since we've bypassed 3NT

***** cue bidding the heart A

***** cue bidding the spade A

***** cue bidding the club A

6D - shows respect for the initial 2D response,

       which limited the hand to 12-15 HCP

 

** Why 3C and not 3S?  Because 3S (in the modern style)  shows about 10 HCP, with good 6 spades

 

** Why 3C and not 3D?  Because 3D (in the modern style) shows about 10 HCP with decent diamonds, and suggests something about the

hand is wrong for 2NT

 

** Why 3C and not 4D?  Because 3C permits

opener the chance to rebid 3NT.

 

*** Why 3H and not 3NT? Just in case partner

has a really good hand. If partner were to rebid

3NT over 3H, North would accept it and sign off.

 

 

There is a lot going on here, but North has extras

for the 2D rebid, and South has extras too.

 

6D is not a GREAT contract, but it sure is not bad.

Not bad at all.

 

If the bidding were to start differently

 

1D    1S

2H    2S  (shows 5+ spades since 2H is 1005 forcing one round)

3D -----> (shape showing 6 diamonds, 4 hearts, no club stopper)

        4N  (ace asking with Diamonds the agree suit ... a direct leap to 6N is not wrong)