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BRIDGE ARTICLE

2/1 – REVERSE BIDS

by Paul Thurston

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When a player makes a simple (non-jump) rebid of a new suit that bypasses the cheapest possible rebid level of his first suit, that is said to be a REVERSE and promises substantial extra values beyond what has already been shown.

Examples (the bid underlined is a reverse):

Opener Responder Opener Responder
1♦ 1♠ 1♣ 1♦
2♥ 1NT 2♥
1♥ 1NT 1♥ 2♣
2♠ 2♥ 2♠
1♠ 2♦
3♣*

*When it occurs at the 3-level like this the bid is said to be a “high level reverse”, whereas 2-level reverses are “simple reverses”.

Another way of describing a reverse is to say that it is a bid that forces partner to bid at the 3 level to prefer your first suit (second example of responder reverse).

NOTE:

  1. Opener reverses are forcing for 1 round and generally promise 16+ HCP.
  2. Responder reverses are gameforcing and generally promise 12+ HCP.

VERY IMPORTANT:

  1. The second bid suit will never be longer than the first but they may (rarely) be the same length while usually the second is shorter.
  2. There are no reverses at the 1 level.
  3. Jump reverses are unnecessary, wasteful of space and may be used for some other purpose (stay tuned), i.e. 1♦-1♠-2♥ = a forcing reverse so
    1♦-1♠-3♥ = unnecessary as a way to show hearts and create a forcing auction.

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