What should the rebid be?

[the hog]

" opener is not 4=2=5=2 "

Yep, quite right. Posted too quickly.

[Mbodell]

I prefer rebidding 1NT. I like to know whether opener is balanced, and I prefer methods where unbalanced hands tend to show and balanced hands tend to listen.

 

It's important to have a checkback method that lets you find your 4-4 fit when responder has 4S5H weak.

I agree. In partnerships where I don't play some form of checkback/nmf I bid 1♠. But I much prefer the partnerships where I have 2-way nmf and can then bid 1nt with no real problem.

[skjaeran]

I prefer rebidding 1NT. I like to know whether opener is balanced, and I prefer methods where unbalanced hands tend to show and balanced hands tend to listen.

 

It's important to have a checkback method that lets you find your 4-4 fit when responder has 4S5H weak.

I agree. In partnerships where I don't play some form of checkback/nmf I bid 1♠. But I much prefer the partnerships where I have 2-way nmf and can then bid 1nt with no real problem.

I'd say playing in 1NT vs a 4432 8-count is a real problem. It might not be that big a problem at IMPs (losing 4-5 IMPs when 1NT fail and 2♠ would make is a big problem to me, those 1-2 overtrick IMPs less of a problem), but at MP it's a MAJOR problem IMO.

[Codo]

I think that for B/Is it is MUCH easier to show the 4 spades.

If you rebid 1 NT you have too many ways to lose:

 

1. You miss a spade part score fit.

2. You don't have the tools to find a spade game fit.

3. If you have the tools, you need to remember them.

 

I have never seen any simulation or test which shows that surpressing the spades is winning or losing bridge in the long run. From my own experience I had seen no big difference. Both approaches have their obvious wins and losses.

 

So I really think that a quite simple up the line bidding is winning bridge for B/Is, because it is easier.

[helene_t]

I think that for B/Is it is MUCH easier to show the 4 spades.

I don't understand this.

 

Maybe the beginners will be frustrated when they loose the spade fit (just like the rest of us will) but in terms of ease I think bypassing spades wins:

 

The rebid of 1NT shows a balanced 12-14 and 1♠ shows spades and diamonds. Just like

1♠-2♣

2♦

 

If you bid up the line, responder will need to use judgement with a weak hand without four diamonds and without a club guard. Whereas those who bypass don't have to use judgment, they just follow simple rules: Take a false preference if you can't bid anything else.

 

Also, if responder has a strong hand, he will most often have to go through the dreaded fsf (is that GF or not?) if you don't bypass. While after the 1NT rebid he can usually place the contract. OK, with 4-4 majors he ought to use NMF or such, but not playing that there is nothing wrong with

1♦-1♥

1NT-2♠

3♥-3NT

pass

if responder is 4-4 in the majors.

 

Maybe it depends on the basic philosophy you are teaching. I emphasize captainship. Some might strive towards symmetry between opener's and responder's bidding.

[Codo]

I think the beginners I know have much more fun and success in thinking about the bidding then in remembering.

 

If responder in your example bids 1 Heart/2 Spade, this sounds like a two suiter, not like a (semibalanced) hand with just 4/4 in the majors. Now they must remember to bid 3 Heart with 3 Hearts and 4 Spades is madatory and does not show or deny extra strength. They must remember that 3 Spades is no cuebid, no control but a look for a 4/4 fit which denies 5 HEarts.

 

Of curse this is no problem for you and me, but it is for most of the B/Is I know.

 

If the bidding starts with 1 Club 1 Heart 1 Spade and you look at a 8 HCP hand with 3433 or the like, they just bid 1 NT and don't care too much about stoppers yet. If they are stronger, they need to remember wheter 4sf is gf or not. But to me this seems to me the lesser evil.