The Retropoet
Structured Reverses
Black Text = OK for all partners
Azure Text = OK for partner C
Green Text = OK for partner B
Brown Text = OLD Methods, Now Discarded
Dark Red Text = NEW Methods, Proposed, DO NOT USE Without First Discussing With Your Partner
Opener's Reverse
Opener promises 17+ HCP, with an occasional strong 16 with 3 card support. Opener's 3rd bid is not forcing if it is not a jump and if responder has shown less than 10 HCP. Responder then places the contract.
When Responder's First Bid Was 1M (1M=1 of a Major)
Responder's duty is to tell opener the length of the major suit bid and responder's overall HCP.
The two most common rebids by responder to show less than 10 HCP are:
- 2M = Two of responder's major shows 5 or more of the major and less than 10 HCP.
- 2NT = Two notrumps shows 3 or 4 of the major and less than 10 HCP. (It may be that responder is unable to rebid their suit at the 2 level. Then 2NT may include a 5 card or longer suit, and less than 10 HCP.)
Less common bids the responder may make with less than 10 HCP are:
- Raise opener's 1st suit (Preference) = 5 cards in responder's suit and less than 10 HCP when unable to bid responder's suit at the 2 level and when the raise is cheaper than bidding 2NT.
- Bid 2NT = any hand of less than 10 HCP when responder is unable to bid their suit at the 2 level and 2NT is cheaper than a preference of opener's 1st suit.
What responder can bid to show 10 HCP or more:
- 3M = 5 or more of the major and 10 HCP or more.
- 3NT = 4 cards in the major and 13-15 HCP.
- Preference = 4 cards in the major with 10+ HCP and unable to bid 3NT or 4th suit (which see) (except as specified above when responder is weak and cannot rebid 2M).
- 4th suit = Natural, either 10-12 HCP or 16 upwards.
- Raise the Reverse Suit = 4 card support and 10+ HCP.
The positive response puts the partnership in the slam range if responder's hand fits well with opener's. It is at least a game force. No stopping at 4 of a minor.
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Structured Reverses / Retropoet / Geocities / retropoet@oocities.com / revised March 1998