By Responder After Opener’s 2NT Jump Rebid

Presented by Mike Savage

When you have a hand too big to open 1NT but not quite big enough to open 2NT and you

are the opening bidder, you often have to open one of a minor, planning to rebid 2NT over a

1-level response by partner. There are two hands that you might not choose to rebid 2NT. The

first is the hand when you partner responds one of your four-card major. Now you simply bid

four of that major, showing a balanced hand (no singleton or void) with enough values for game

and four-card support.

The second hand is when your partner responds one heart and you have four spades. You

don’t want to give up on a 4-4 spade fit but usually you want the bigger hand to bid no-trump

first and a one or two spade bid might result in partner being the declarer in a no-trump contract.

Also if you bid two spades, what kind of hand do you have? Balanced or not? The following is

a good way to check for 8-card major suit fits after a 2NT rebid; there are other approaches also.

1. 1C or 1D 1H 2S: Either sequence shows at least four, usually five, of the minor

1C 1D 2H or 2S: and at least four of the major (either 4-5⁺ or a three-suiter).

1C or 1D 1H 2NT: Shows a big balanced hand that may contain three hearts,

four spades or both.

1C or 1D 1S 2NT: Shows a big balanced hand that may contain four hearts,

three spades or both.

2. After a 2NT rebid by opener over responders one-of-a major response (all bids are forcing):

Bidding three of opener’s minor shows at least 4-card support and either slam interest in the minor or a shapely hand with support and doubt about playing no-trump or a fit in the minor along with a five-card major. Bidding the unbid minor asks opener to show 4-cards in the other major and failing that, to show 3-card support for the bid major. If you show 4-cards in the

other major and he now bids 3NT that means he has a 5-card major and you can bid four of

the major with 3-card support. This method finds a 4-4 major fit even when you have a 5-3 fit.

Examples: 1C P 1H P

2NT P 3D P

3S: Shows four spades, may have three hearts.

1D P 1H P

2NT P 3C P

3H P 3NT: Shows four spades and only four hearts.

1C P 1S P

2NT P 3D P

3S: Shows three spades, denies four hearts.

1D P 1S P

2NT P 3C P

3NT: Denies three spades or four hearts

Responses and Continuations

Bill Hall/Mike Savage Agreements

After one of a minor – 1 of a major – 2NT (all bids over 2NT are forcing):

3 of opener’s minor = Shows at least a 4-card fit, is forcing and may have a five-card major.

3 of responder’s major = Shows all hands with 3-card support for responder’s major.

3 of a new suit = Cue-bid with minor suit slam interest and denies 3-card major support.

3NT = To play without slam interest, denies 3-card major support or stopper problems.

3 of bid major = Shows at least a six-card suit and slam interest.

3NT = Denies A, K or Q in the major.

4 of a lower suit = Shows A, K or Q in the major & is lowest cue bid.

4 of the major = Shows two or more of the top three honors in the major bid.

3 of the other minor (denying a four or more card fit for opener’s minor) followed by:

3D (when available) = Shows a good five or six-card minor and denies a major fit.

3 of responder’s major = Shows 6-cards in the bid major, 4 in the other.

3 of the other major = A 3-card diamond fit with some slam interest.

4D = Roman Key-card for diamonds.

4C = Natural with a long suit and has slam interest.

3 of responder’s major (showing a three-card fit) followed by:

4 of the other minor = Natural with a long suit and has slam interest.

4 of the other major = Maximum with minor fit.

4 of responder’s major = To play: minimum

4NT = Maximum, without 3-card plus minor fit.

4 of opener’s minor = Artificial; balanced slam try in responder’s major.

4 of bid major = To play.

4NT = Roman Key-card for the bid major.

4NT = Roman Key-card for the bid major.

4S (over 3H, showing three) = Shows 4-4 in majors & is slam invitational. 4NT = Roman Key-card Blackwood for the bid major.

3NT followed by: 4 of opener’s minor = Shows slam interest with 6-4 in the majors.

4 of the other minor = Natural with a long suit and has slam interest.

4 of the unbid major = Stiff with 3-card support for opener’s minor.

3H (after 1 of a minor - 1S – 2NT) = Shows at least 5-5 or longer in the majors.

3S (after 1 of a minor – 1H – 2NT) = Shows at least 6-5 or longer in the majors.

4C = Gerber

4H or 4S (four of responder’s major) = These bids are to play with no slam interest what so ever.

4NT = Natural and invitational.