10 June 2011

When is a reverse not a reverse?

I know a lot of people have strong feelings about what "standard bidding" means. Sometimes I think it should have a capital letter. Here's your chance to give your opinion on what turned out to be a much more contentious issue than I anticipated.

I'm reasonably confident the range of your NT won't be a factor here but strong club players might not have the same views Here's the auction:

NorthEastSouthWest
1♣ 1♠ 2♦ Pass
2♥

I'm interested in any and all points of view on this. I think 2♥ is always forcing but does it show the extras of a reverse and is it game forcing? Would it make a difference if South were dealer and North had opened after two passes?

I'm asking is the above auction most similar to this:

NorthEastSouthWest
1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass
2♠

Or this?
NorthEastSouthWest
1♥ Pass 2♣ Pass
2♦
Posted by Daniel Skipper

5 comments:

  1. Paul GipsonJune 10, 2011 at 9:14 AM

    Definitely not a reverse for me as 2♦ is forcing for one round. You need some way to show a hand that would have rebid 1♥ over a 1♦ response if they have been no interference.

    Those who play negative free bids, where 2♦ is non-forcing, will need extra values for 2♥. But I would regard this as non-standard.

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  2. UnknownJune 10, 2011 at 4:43 PM

    My opinion is that when 2H is the cheapest possible rebid to a forcing 2D call, it can hardly promise extra values.

    For opener's second bid to promise extra (what some people call "reversing") values, the rebid must be higher than a minimum rebid of the opened suit. In your example, the minimum level of clubs that opener could rebid is 3C; because 2H bid is below 3C, it is not a reverse.

    In an uncontested auction by a 2/1 gf pair, the definition of a reverse is not altered, but whether all reverses promise extra values is a matter of partnership agreement.

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  3. MattBJune 11, 2011 at 11:38 AM

    Agree with both the above. It's the cheapest available bid, it can't possibly be a reverse.

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  4. Bob LakeJune 13, 2011 at 5:18 AM

    Forcing, but doesn't show extra values. If Hearts not bid here, we could miss a 4-4 Heart fit. Certainly not a reverse showing extra values in 2/1 and I believe the same is true in "Standard American".

    ReplyDelete
  5. Daniel SkipperJune 13, 2011 at 10:18 AM

    Thank you all for your comments! They back up my interpretation that when you force partner to bid you can't expect them to have values.

    Interesting that 2/1 players agree, I hadn't considered that angle.

    ReplyDelete

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