Opener's second bid answers two questions for partner: how strong is your hand, and what shape is it? First place your hand in one of three ranges, minimum (12-15), medium (16-18) or maximum (19-21). Then pick the rebid that shows that range and your shape: notrump with a balanced hand, a raise with four-card support, or your own suits.
Your opening bid said little: one suit and about 12-21 points. The rebid narrows it down. A good rebid lets partner decide on game at the next turn.
The ranges here are for 2/1 Game Force, the system this course teaches, where a balanced 15-17 opens 1NT (Standard American uses the same ranges). Notes for Acol players follow below.
How Strong Is Your Hand?
Count your points again after partner replies. A fit adds value; a misfit takes some away.
| Range | Points | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum | 12-15 | Make the cheapest descriptive bid |
| Medium | 16-18 | Jump once, or make a strong new-suit bid |
| Maximum | 19-21 | Jump to game, or jump in a new suit to force |
A cheap rebid does not deny strength completely. A new suit at the one level, such as 1♦ then 1♠, can be anywhere from 12 to about 18. But a minimum hand must never jump.
What Shape Is Your Hand?
Balanced hand: rebid notrump.
- 1NT = 12-14. You opened one of a suit because you were too weak for a 15-17 1NT.
- 2NT (a jump) = 18-19. Too strong for a 1NT opening, too weak for 2NT, which shows 20-21.
Four-card support for partner: raise. Partner's one-level reply promised four cards, so your four make eight.
- 1♦, 1♠, 2♠ = minimum. 3♠ = medium. 4♠ = maximum.
Unbalanced, no fit: show your suits.
- Rebid your own suit with six or more cards: 2♥ after 1♥, 1♠.
- Bid a second suit of four or more cards. A suit lower than your first suit, such as 1♥ then 2♣, can be 12-18 and is not forcing.
- A second suit higher than your first at the two level, such as 1♦, 1♠, 2♥, is a reverse. It shows about 17 or more, because partner may need to go to the three level to choose your first suit.
Acol players open 1NT with 12-14, so their 1NT rebid shows about 15-17 and the jump to 2NT about 17-19. Many Acol players also open four-card majors, which changes which suit comes first but not the logic of the rebid.
When to Jump
A jump is the only way to tell partner you have more than a minimum without passing the decision to them. Each jump has one meaning:
| Rebid | Example | Shows |
|---|---|---|
| Jump in your own suit | 1♥, 1♠, 3♥ | 16-18, a good six-card suit |
| Jump raise of partner | 1♦, 1♠, 3♠ | 16-18, four trumps |
| Jump to 2NT | 1♦, 1♠, 2NT | 18-19 balanced |
| Jump in a new suit | 1♦, 1♠, 3♣ | 19 or more, forcing to game |
| Jump to game in partner's suit | 1♦, 1♠, 4♠ | 19-20 with four trumps |
A jump in a new suit is called a jump shift. It is the strongest rebid you have, and partner must not pass until game.
Watch It in a Deal
You are South and open the bidding. Plan your rebid before you open.
Your jump to 2NT shows 18-19 balanced; partner adds 6 and bids game.
You hold 19 HCP and a balanced hand with five diamonds. That is too strong for a 1NT opening, so you open 1♦ and plan the rebid now: the jump to 2NT shows 18-19 balanced. Partner replies 1♠, and you jump.
Partner holds only 6 HCP. Rebid a lazy 1NT and partner passes: you miss a game. After the jump, partner knows the total is at least 24 and bids 3NT. Double dummy, 3NT by South takes nine tricks, while 4♠ in partner's five-card suit takes only nine as well and fails by one. The jump told partner the one thing that mattered. You can see what the jump to 2NT means in every system.
A Habit for Your Second Bid
Rule of ThumbPlan your rebid before you open. Ask: if partner replies in the suit I expect, what will I bid next? If no rebid describes your hand, choose a different opening bid.
The bidding cheat sheet puts these ranges on one page, which helps while you learn.
Practice: Opener's Second Bid
You opened 1♦ and partner replied 1♥. Your rebid?
You opened 1♦ and partner bid 1♥. What is your rebid?
Your hand:
You opened 1♥ and partner replied 1♠. Your rebid?
You opened 1♥ and partner bid 1♠. What is your rebid?
Your hand:
Rebids are where most bidding errors start, so practice them on many hands. BridgeDummy bidding puzzles give you one call to choose, deal the hidden hands many times to fit the auction, and score every option double dummy, so you see what each rebid costs.
Previous lesson: Lesson 16: A New Suit in Reply. Next lesson: Lesson 18: Responder's Second Bid. Full course: Bridge lessons for beginners.