[Yzerman]

I wanted to start a new thread completely isolating this topic for discussion for this has been touched upon in other threads.  A few comments and questions I pose for this discussion.

First of all here is the scenario -  You are playing with a NEW partner and have agreed upon 2/1 as system.

1)  What is the standard approach for openers rebid after a forcing NT?

2)  What is the standard approach for responders rebid after an initial 1NT bid?

My understanding of the "standard";

1a)  Openers rebid of 2m after 1NT require => 3 cards (ONLY exception is 4522 if not playing Flannery).  Both 2c and 2d rebid MAY ONLY CONTAIN 3 of that specific suit.

1b)  Opener rebid of 2M is minimum with => 6 cards AND does NOT deny 4 card minor holding HOWEVER the major suit is playable opposite a singleton and in comparison the repeat of the major is more important than introducing the minor.

1c)  Opener rebid of 2N promises 18-19 balanced and in the case of opening 1S this denies 4 hearts but may contain 5242 or 5224 if the minor is of poor quality.

1d)  Opener rebid of 2x THEN 2NT describes 15+ to 17.

1e)  Opener rebid of 3N promise minimum of AKQxxx in spade suit and 7 1/2 tricks if minimal hcp (6 spades, side ace and side king) and in general a balanced hand.

1f)  Jump shifts are FORCING TO GAME with the ability to escape into 4m ONLY under dire circumstances.  *  Jump shifts are not only a descritption of hcp and playing strength, JUMP SHIFTS ALSO PROMISE VERY GOOD SUITS.

1g) Rebids of 3M describe an invitational hand (obviously) and in general require some "help" in the spade suit and denies a good 4+ card side suit.

1h) Rebids of 4x (not 4c or 4d) are self sufficient splinters in which hand can play opposite a void in the major but flawed for a 2C opener.

1i) Rebids of 4M are 4-4/12 loser hands with lots of offensive potential and are lacking in side suit controls (hence the responder can bid on with a sufficient combination of aces and/or kings).

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2a)  Under NO circumstance is responder to PASS 2m rebid by opener with 2 of the major and 4 of the minor.

2b)  2N rebid after any rebid by opener is invitational hand of some sort (may contain in certain hands 3 of the major - most likely 3 small).

2c)  Direct raise of 2m to 3m require decent values and 5 pieces IF only 2 of major and under may contain 4 GOOD pieces IF <= 1 of major.

2d) PASS is only allowed under extreme circumstances.  Since opener can still have a VERY good hand, pass would be defines as a minimum hand (~7/8 hcp with minor fit, 5 pieces if 2 of major or 4 pieces if <= 1 or major).  IF GOOD HOLDING IN THAT MINOR (AQJXX or AQxxx with side card then rebid is MANDATORY whether it is 2M or 3m).

3e)  3N - After 2x response by opener, 3N would describe a hand not good enough for 2/1 but too good for invite.

3f)  3M - After 2x response by opener, 3M is 3 card limit raise (obviously).

3g)  4M - He,He ... I would assume this is mixed 4 or 5 card trump raise (not good enough for limit raise but too good to NOT bid game, typically would have a defensive value).  This is unlikely bid, but I think worthy of discussion as to what people would assume standard.

3h)  After jump shift by opener;
       
i) Direct 4 level bids are weakest bids can make (direct minor suit raise or jump to 4M).

ii) 3NT = descriptive, slam improbable.

iii) Introduce new suit is either (a) suit or ( advance cue-bid in support of one of partners suit.  The meaning of the bid will be further defined after next bid.

iii) 4NT would be BW for that minor.

iv) 3M then 4NT would be BW for the major.

* Now this is what I would personally consider the standard.  After some feedback regarding standard I will post some of my personal preferences on treatment.  I would additionally find it valuable if other people could post some of their preferences or arguments to my understanding of "standard".

[inquiry]

Hi,

I agree with most all of your numbered comment.  The ones I think most people will either disagree with you or fail to realize that there is even a standard are....

1a.  Some people will follow the theory that bidding 2C over the forcing NT occurs on all 5-3-3-2 hands, regardless of where the "two" are (they will rebid 2C on a doubleton with AKQ tripleton in diamonds, for instance).

1b. Some people rebid any moth-ridden 6 card major, simply because they have six. With a weak major, I prefer rebidding the three card minor appoach unless I am 3-6-2-2 with 3 in other major.

1c and 1d are a problem for a ton of people. The reason why is those guys refuse to open 1NT with balanced 15-17 with a five card major. On your 1d, my 1NT rebid DENIES balanced, hand, I would be short in partner's suit... Think 1H-1N-2C-2D-2N. I will surely probably not be 5-3-2-3 as I open that 1NT. I see in another post that you let the major quality sway your 1NT/1M choice, I am not so clever... with balance 15-17 I almost always open 1NT.

Now to RESPONDER's reply.....

I agree with 2a, to that, I will add responder is never to pass 2m with only three card support...  

your 2b needs to be edited to say a 2NT rebid by responder, not opener.

In general I disagree with your 3e (which should be 2e I guess). I play jump to 3NT as a hand good enough for a 2/1 but without a five card suit to bid it in. My treatment may not be all that standard here, because I like to play sorter (immediate 3NT balanced limited raise of the major).

To this I would add a special auction you left out...
1H-1N-2m-2S <--- I play this 2S as a really good raise to 3 of the opener's minor, while the immedate 3m raise is just following your rule 2d that responder can pass 2m only when really weak. So I break my "m" support after 1H-1NT-2m into three categories... PASS (5 cards, go bust), 3m (good 7-bad 10 pts five card support), 2S (good 10 to bad 12 points).