2/1 Reversing: A General Schema

[gurgistan]

Hi,

 

As you know, I have only been playing 2/1 since July.

 

I am trying to clarify reversing seqq.

 

Here goes:

 

1m 1M, reverse shown at 2 level.

1m 1N, reverse n/a.

1m 2m, reverse n/a.

1M 1M, reverse shown at 3 level.

1M 1N, reverse shown at 3 level.

1M 2M, reverses n/a.

 

2/1 seqq: find where to play and then show extra values if appropriate?

 

The not applicable seqq are because partner uses blackwood, control bids, etc to find best place for contract?

 

If I have got it wrong can someone say so please.

 

Many thanks.

[Stephen Tu]

Reverses are showing two suits without jumping, but uneconomically so partner's preference to your first suit is at a higher level. This normally requires extra values but it's feasible to not require them in some cases.

 

1m 1M, reverse shown at 2 level.

1d-1s-2h is a reverse. 1d-1s-2c isn't. It's a reverse when the second suit is lower ranking than partner's bid, higher ranking than your opening bid.

 

1m 1N, reverse n/a.

1d-1nt-2h is still a reverse, and still shows extra values. The main difference here is that 1nt was limited, so you don't need as much gadgetry to sort out responder's strength range. Also the 4-4 heart fit isn't possible, though you still want to find 5-3 heart fits (opener's 6-5), and sometimes a 4-3 4M is best if a suit is unstopped.

 

1m 2m, reverse n/a.

1M 2M, reverses n/a.

Reverses don't apply after a raise because the trump suit is basically set and new suits are interpreted as game tries/stoppers, not usually as potential places to play, with minor exceptions.

 

1M 1M, reverse shown at 3 level.

1M 1N, reverse shown at 3 level.

Sequences like 1h-1s-3c and 1h-1nt-3c are called "jump shifts", not reverses. They are also stronger than reverses, being forcing to game.

 

2/1 seqq: find where to play and then show extra values if appropriate?

 

After a 2/1, reverses are sequences like 1h-2d-2s, 1h-2d-3c (a "high reverse"). These are ones where some subset of players allow this action without extra values. But many (most good?) players still require extras (not as much as over a 1/1), because limiting hand strength is still quite valuable to help decide whether to explore slam or not. This is especially important when dealing with minor suits, because when one partner is minimal, bypassing 3nt is dangerous as it may be the last making game, two tricks fewer required than 5m. It's especially bad at MP where getting to 5m instead of 3n can be a disaster even when 5m makes.

[kenberg]

To add just slightly to what Steven says, I find it useful in discussion to sort reverses into three categories:

 

2 level suit reverse over a 1 of a suit response. There are four of these:

 

1♣-1♥-2♦; 1♣-1♠-2♦; 1♣-1♠-2♥; 1♦-1♠-2♥

 

 

Reverses after a 1NT response. There are six of these, for example 1♦-1NT-2♥. The sequence 1♥-1NT-2♠ is perhaps a little different since 1♥ promised five hearts from the start and since the 1NT was forcing, but I would still regard it as a good hand with five hearts and four spades.

 

 

Reverses after a 2/1 such as 1♦-2♣-2♥ or 1♥-2♦-3♣.

 

In discussing reverses with your partner, I believe it is useful to discuss each of these three classes separately. In the first two classes, much or all of the discussion is independent of whether you are playing 2/1 since no one made a 2/1 call and 1♥-1NT-2♠ is pretty much just as if 1NT was not forcing. In the third case it does matter, and, as Steven said, you will get different opinions on the matter from different schools. If one school were clearly right, everyone would play it that way so I recommend discussing this with your partner and keeping an open mind.

[lexlogan]

The specific sequence 1♦-2♣ deserves its own treatment. The Standard American logic that required extra strength for rebids of 2♥ or 2♠ was based on 4 card majors, where you might open 1♥ with a minimum 4-5 hand, and fairly low requirements for the 2♣ response, possibly 8 hcp and a singleton.

 

Nowadays, the 2♣ bidder promises the values for 3NT (or possibly 5 of a minor) and there is no reason why 2♥ or 2♠ must show extras. Some players never respond 2♣ with a four-card major, but that practice makes it harder for responder to describe his shape or to reach slam in clubs.

 

Given that responder will often have a four-card major, it saves bidding room for opener to simply make his first natural bid up-the-line:

2♦ shows any five diamonds

2♥ shows 4 hearts, typically without 5 diamonds

2♠ shows 4 spades, without 4 hearts and typically without 5 diamonds

2NT shows a balanced hand with typically 4-3 or 4-4 in the minors.

3C shows 4+ clubs, unbalanced (so 5-4 minors) or perhaps with an unstopped major suit (Axx xx KQxx KJxx, for example.)

 

Finding a 4-4 major fit is easy this way; sequences like 1♦-2♣-2♥-3♥ establish hearts as trumps and leave a full level of bidding below game to explore for slam. Compare to 1♦-1♥-2♥-3♣, which is not clearly game forcing, and ambiguous about whether the fit is actually 4-4 if opener sometimes raises on 3.

 

The requirement that 2♥ or 2♠ show extras forces opener to rebid 2NT with any balanced hand, leaves no obvious rebid with 4441 shape, and prevents establishing a major suit as trumps below the 4 level: 1♦-2♣-2NT-3♥-4♥.

 

An alternate scheme is for opener to rebid 2♦ as a default, not promising any extra length; this strikes me as being unnecessarily artificial and would seem to make finding a 5-3 diamond slam more difficult.

 

Bidding trick: with a genuine "reverse" such as Ax AQxx AQJxx xx, opener can rebid 2♥ over 2♣, then follow with an "impossible" diamond rebid to show the shape and strength.

[lexlogan]

Additional note on the sequence 1♦-2♣:

 

With a hand such as xx Kxxx QJx AQ10x , most players would respond 1♥ to 1♦. But with a sensible rebid scheme, the bidding will go smoother if responder starts with 2♣. 1♦-2♣ establishes the game force, shows the club suit to be well-stopped for notrump purposes, and does not interfere with finding a 4-4 major fit.

 

Consider interference by fourth hand: 1♦-1♥-(3♠)-? What should opener do with four-card heart support? Pass and find responder has 5 or 6 hearts, or bid and find only 4 trumps and no business declaring for 10 tricks?

 

Now compare 1♦-2♣-(3♠)-? If a heart fit exists, it's only 8 trumps, and the hand belongs to our side. We can double, bid 3NT, or proceed in either minor. We may lose the 4-4 heart fit, but then given the preempt, the chances of a bad trump break are surely greater than normal.

 

Absent interference, 1♦-2♣-2♥-3♥ is a beautiful auction, as is 1♦-2♣-2♦-3♦, etc. With simple, sound agreements, 1♦-2♣ changes from one of the most confusing sequences in modern bridge to one of the most efficient and productive. So, whether you choose to treat 1♦-2♣-2♥ as a strength-showing sequence or not, make sure opener does not rebid 2NT with a four-card major.

[aguahombre]

Additional note on the sequence 1♦-2♣:

 

With a hand such as xx Kxxx QJx AQ10x , most players would respond 1♥ to 1♦. But with a sensible rebid scheme, the bidding will go smoother if responder starts with 2♣. 1♦-2♣ establishes the game force, shows the club suit to be well-stopped for notrump purposes, and does not interfere with finding a 4-4 major fit.

 

The flaw, here, as I see it: with our opening bid criteria, this is not a game-forcing hand. It is a NT invite with 4 hearts. Make it a bit stronger, and some people who don't feel 1D-2C should promise 5+ would agree with you.

[peachy]

Whether you play 2/1 or not, has nothing to do with how you handle reverse auction sequences or what agreement you make about auctions where opener has reversed. This is your first error.

 

Secondly, you seem to be confused what a reverse is. Opener's jumpshift is not the same as reverse. They are handled differently and they promise different things. Again, does not matter at all whether your system is 2/1 or not.

 

1H-1S-3D = GF jumpshift, not a reverse

1C-1H-1S = not a reverse because opener's second bid was still on the one-level. opener needs no extra strength.

1D-1S-2C = Not a reverse because opener's second suit is lower-ranking so that if responder wants to give preference to opener's first suit, he can do so on the 2-level. Opener needs no extra strength.

1C-1S-2D, 1D-1S-2H = Reverses, because opener's second suit was bid on the two level and the second suit is higher ranking than the first suit. Opener must have significant extra strength and at least 5-4 in the two suits.

[lexlogan]

Additional note on the sequence 1♦-2♣:

 

With a hand such as xx Kxxx QJx AQ10x , most players would respond 1♥ to 1♦. But with a sensible rebid scheme, the bidding will go smoother if responder starts with 2♣. 1♦-2♣ establishes the game force, shows the club suit to be well-stopped for notrump purposes, and does not interfere with finding a 4-4 major fit.

 

The flaw, here, as I see it: with our opening bid criteria, this is not a game-forcing hand. It is a NT invite with 4 hearts. Make it a bit stronger, and some people who don't feel 1D-2C should promise 5+ would agree with you.

Right, make it xx Kxxx KJx AQ10x or stronger. I still open a lot of shapely 11 counts, so I, too, would be leary of game-forcing with my original example, but most players these days force to game with 12+ hcp.