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 cannot 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 forced the partnership a whole level higher with no extra information about strength.

That is what the extra values pay for: you are unilaterally committing a partner who may have nothing to the three level, so the three level had better be safe.

Recognising one — four auctions

The test is never "is the second suit higher than the first" on its own. It is would partner have to bid at the three level to prefer my first suit.

• 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 is the one that catches people.
• 1♥ — 1♠ — 2♣ — not a reverse. Clubs is lower, so preference to hearts is available at 2♥. 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 is forcing. Responder may not pass.

What to do with the shape and not the strength

This is the practical question, because 5-4 hands with 13 points are far more common than 5-4 hands with 18. The honest answer is that you have to give something up:

• Rebid your first suit at the two level. Partner will not 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 beats a possible one.

Bidding the second suit anyway because you "have the shape" is the mistake. Partner will add 17 points to their own hand and bid a game that is not there.

Responding to a reverse

You are 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 are already close to game and there is no need to be shy.
• 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 — because with two suits shown and one bid by you, the fourth is exactly the question outstanding.