Reverses

Why it promises extra strength

Partner responded at the one level and may hold six points. If you now bid a second suit they can't support, they need somewhere to go, and "back to your first suit" is the natural place.

Compare two auctions. After 1♣ — 1♥ — 1♠, partner can return to 2♣ and the partnership stops low. After 1♥ — 1♠ — 2♦, returning to hearts costs 3♥.

The second auction has pushed the partnership a whole level higher. Opener is committing a partner who may hold only six points to the three level, so opener needs extra values to make that level safe.

Recognising one: four auctions

Ask would partner have to bid at the three level to prefer my first suit? Whether the second suit is higher than the first isn't enough on its own.

• 1♦ — 1♠ — 2♥: a reverse. Preference to diamonds costs 3♦.
• 1♣ — 1♥ — 2♦: a reverse. Diamonds outranks clubs, and preference costs 3♣.
• 1♣ — 1♥ — 1♠: not a reverse. Spades is higher-ranking, but the bid is at the one level and partner can still return to 2♣. This auction is often mistaken for a reverse.
• 1♥ — 1♠ — 2♣: not a reverse. Clubs is lower, so preference to hearts is available at 2♥. It's an ordinary minimum rebid.

What a reverse promises

• About 17+ points, or a hand whose shape makes it worth that. Some partnerships play 16+ with good shape; agree a number.
• The first suit longer than the second: normally 5-4, sometimes 6-4 or 6-5. Never 4-5: with four of the lower suit and five of the higher, open the higher one.
• It's forcing. Responder may not pass.

What to do with the shape and not the strength

A 5-4 hand with 13 points is far more common than one with 18, so this comes up often. You have to give something up:

• Rebid your first suit at the two level. Partner won't hear about the second suit, and sometimes a 4-4 fit is missed. This is usually right.
• Rebid notrump with a balanced minimum and a stopper in the unbid suit, and let new minor forcing find the fit if partner is interested.
• Raise partner if you have three-card support for their major. A known eight-card fit is better than a possible 4-4 one.

Don't bid the second suit just because you have the shape. Partner will count you for 17 points and may bid a game that isn't there.

Responding to a reverse

You're now facing a hand of about 17 or more that has described two suits and is forcing you to bid. Game is likely and slam is possible.

• With support for either suit: raise. You're already close to game, so jump with any extra values.
• With a minimum and no fit: bid the cheapest notrump, or give preference back to opener's first suit at the three level. Both are weak.
• Fourth suit forcing is available and useful here (see fourth suit forcing). With three suits bid, a bid in the fourth asks opener to describe the hand further.