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Vu-Bridge | Play like a Champion!

Rebids with a balanced hand by Paul Bowyer

We know that opening 1NT shows 12-14 points. How, then, do we deal with hands that are balanced but either too weak or too strong to open 1NT?

The answer is simple enough. We open with a suit bid and then rebid in No-trumps. We bid them at a minimum level to show 15-16 points and we jump a round of bidding to show a hand stronger than this (that is: 17-18 points). With a whole 19 points we leap to 3NT.

So, f'rinstance, 1 - 1 - 1NT shows 15-16 points (and a balanced hand, naturally)
1 - 1 - 2NT would show 17-18 points.
1 - 1 - 3NT would show 19 points.

Having made your rebid you have put your metaphorical cards on the table. You have made a LIMIT bid and now it's up to partner. He can Pass, bid game or do whatever best suits him (and his hand). The ball is firmly in his court.

Let's see if this quiz makes everything clear. Crystal clear.
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Question 1

  South
 K Q 6
 A J 5
 Q 10 8 3
 K 10 2
 
Q: 1 - What bidding best describes this hand to partner?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass1Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 1NT. You can't Pass 1 - that bid is forcing. (By opening the bidding you guarantee a rebid unless partner makes a limit bid). 1NT shows a balanced hand and 15-16 points. What happens next is up to partner.

Your result so far:
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Question 2

  South
 K Q 6
 A J 5
 Q 10 8 3
 K 10 2
 
Q: 2 - What bidding best describes this hand to partner?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass2Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 2NT. You can't Pass 2 - that bid is forcing. 2NT (the lowest bid you can make in No-trumps) shows the same hand as a 1NT rebid did in Q1 - a balanced 15-16 points. Again, what happens next is up to partner. He might bid a game, he might bid a slam! We know nothing about his hand (other than he has 10+ points) but he knows a lot about ours.

Your result so far:
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Question 3

  South
 A 9 6
 A J 5 2
 K J 3
 K Q 2
 
Q: 3 - What bidding best describes this hand to partner?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass1Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 2NT. A jump in No-trumps shows a hand too strong either to open or to rebid 1NT. That has to be 17-18 points. We have made a limit bid so the next move is up to North.

Your result so far:
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Question 4

  South
 A 9 6
 A J 5 2
 K J 3
 K Q 2
 
Q: 4 - What bidding best describes this hand to partner?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass2Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 3NT. After a response at the two-level we should jump to 3NT to show our extra values. 2NT (remember Q2?) would show 15-16 points. We know of at least 28 points between the North-South hands (North has promised us 10+ points for his two-level response) so we have every reason to take a pot at game.

Your result so far:
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Question 5

  South
 A K 9 6
 A Q J 5
 K 10 4
 J 6
 
Q: 5 - What bidding best describes this hand to partner?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass2Pass
?


 Your choice:
A: 3NT. You might want to bid 2 here but should not be seduced into doing so. Partner could have bid 1 over 1 but chose not to - the inference being that he does not have four Spades. A bid of 2 from you now would guarantee that your Hearts were a suit of at least five cards. Best is to show a strong balanced hand by jumping to 3NT. (Note that with 4-4 in the majors it is normal to open 1, breaking the normal "rule" of opening the higher of two four-card suits).

Your result so far:
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Question 6

  South
 K 9 6 5
 10 8 5
 A J 3
 9 7 2
 
Q: 6 - Your partner has rebid in No-trumps. What is your best action now?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass
1Pass1NTPass
?


 Your choice:
A: Pass. Add upp what you can see in front of your face to what partner has announced. In this case his 15-16 added to your 8 comes to 23-24 points. You don't have enough for game so should just throw in the towel and Pass. 2NT would only put temptation in partner's path - with a maximum he would bid 3NT and that will surely fail.

Your result so far:
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Question 7

  South
 K 9 6 5
 Q 8 5
 A J 3
 J 10 2
 
Q: 7 - Your partner has rebid in No-trumps. What is your best action now?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass
1Pass1NTPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 3NT. Add up what you can see in front of your face to what partner has announced. In this case his 15-16 added to your 11 comes to 26-27 points. You have enough for game so should just bid it immediately. Bidding decisions don't come much more easy than this one.

Your result so far:
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Question 8

  South
 J 9 8 4
 10 8 5
 A 10 4
 A 9 2
 
Q: 8 - Your partner has rebid in No-trumps. What is your best action now?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass
1Pass1NTPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 2NT. Add up what you can see in front of your face to what partner has announced. In this case his 15-16 added to your 9 comes to 24-25 points. You might have enough for game and might not. Your best effort is to pass the buck by bidding 2NT, leaving the decision to partner. With a maximum he will bid 3NT, with a minimum he will Pass.

Your result so far:
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Question 9

  South
 Q 9 6 5
 K 8 5
 Q J 3
 10 9 2
 
Q: 9 - Your partner has rebid in No-trumps. What is your best action now?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass
1Pass2NTPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 3NT. Add up what you can see in front of your face to what partner has announced. In this case his 17-18 points added to your 8 comes to 25-26 points. This may be a close run thing (strong hands facing weak ones can prove to be a struggle) but you must bid game.

Your result so far:
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Question 10

  South
 J 10 9 7 6 5
 
 K J 8 3
 K 10 5
 
Q: 10 - Your partner has rebid in No-trumps. What is your best action now?
SouthWestNorthEast
1Pass
1Pass2NTPass
?


 Your choice:
A: 4. First, add up what you can see to what partner has announced. In this case his 17-18 points added to your 8 comes to 25-26 points. So you are in the game zone. Now ask yourself "What game?" 3NT looks bizarre with your Heart void but 4 should be playable. Remember - partner has a balanced hand so has at least two Spades. You have (at least) an eight-card Spade fit, therefore, so should be perfectly safe.

Your result so far:
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What next? You may enjoy playing our prepared hands series.
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