[inquiry]

Methods I currently play.

OPENER’S Rebid in a new minor

After a major suit opening, opener’s new minor rebid after a 1NT or 1S response can be three card suit, and is non-forcing. But after a minor suit opening, a rebid in the other minor by opener is forcing in theory with one exception (1D-1N-2C is non-forcing).

1minor-1any-2other minor (one exception)
After 1 minor – 1 new suit, I play jumps to 2NT as huge fit and force. I play 1m-1M-3m to show six card minor and three card support for the major (and a good hand), but this is not forcing. So, the normal meaning of jump rebid and jump to 2NT are removed from my arsenal. This means, 1C-1D-1NT is the 17-19 balanced hand, and with balanced 11-13, I will rebid 3 card major if I have too on this auction. This also means I have to have a way to show the normal 2NT rebid (balanced 17-19) and the normal jump rebid (great suit, but without the three card support for the major). We use new minor by opener as forcing. There are two way this minor rebid can be made. One is as a reverse the other as a non-reverse. There are two big differences between these two bids: the reverse is never a weak hand, but the non-reverse can be extremely weak. Second over 1D-1any-2C, responder can rebid cheaply in 2D. After 1C-1M-2D, he can not.

Let’s deal with 1C-1M-2D first, as that is easiest. Opener will have only one of three hand types. 1) balanced 17-19 (most common reason), 2) 8.5 to 9 tricks with club one suiter (not strong enough for 2♦), 3) strong hand with longer clubs (with 5+D’s not strong enough for 3D opening bid).

Reverse Auctions
1♣ - 1♥
2♦
NEW minor forcing by opener. Three types of hand, true reverse hand, with diamonds and clubs, balanced 17-19, 8.5-9 trick hand with just clubs.

For this we have artificial auctions… see below. There is no weak option here

• 2♥ weak not willing to go further than 2♥ opposite 17-19 bal, opener’s rebids
  • pass, balanced 17-19, or strong 3 card raise not worth 3♥ bid now
    
  • 2NT, real minor two suiter reverse (no need for natural 2NT given 2♥ response) but not as strong as 3♦ opening.
    
    
  • 3♣ club one suiter, not forcing
    
    
  • 3♥ strong 3 card raise, but passable
  
  
• 2♠ artificial, one round force, but responder may be very weak, unsuited for a 2♥ rebid or a signoff in a minor. In which case he is planning on passing openers rebid.
  • 2NT 17-19 balanced
    
    
  • 3♣ = club one suiter
    
    
  • 3♦ = diamond/Club two suiter
    
    
  • 3♥ = strong three card ♥ raise, not balanced, not 3/4 ♠’s
    
    
  • 3♠ = three card spade suit, very short hearts, maybe even void
    
    
  • 3NT = spade stopper, semi-balanced, long clubs
  
  
• 2NT = rubenshol after reverse, transfer to 3♣ attempt to signoff in clubs or invite in another suit
  • 3♣ wait for partner to say
    • Pass to play 3♣
      
      
    • 3♦ diamond invite
      
      
    • 3♥ game try in ♥’s
      
      
    • 3♠ five hearts, balanced 9 to 12 (defined to help slam hands)
      
      
    • 3NT good spade stopper, five ♥’s, game values
    
    
  • 3♦ not willing to stop in 3♣, auction can die in 4♣’s
  
  
• 3♣ transfer to 3♦ as a signoff, promises 4+♦s. Opener can pass with good clubs or refuse to accept transfer with great diamonds (agrees diamonds as trumps). Since opener can pass, never bid 3♣ with invite+ hand
  
• 3♦ transfer to 3♥, game force (to invite, bid 2NT then rebid 3♥, if balanced 14+).
  
• 3♥ transfer to 3♠, one round force, shows real spades, GAME force, long spades
  
• 3♠ transfer to 3NT, balanced 12-13 with 5 hearts (compare with 2NT/3NT)
  
• 3NT balanced, with 4 hearts, 9-12 points. Bigger hand balanced use 2♠, with longer hearts same range, use 2NT then 3♠, or immediate 3♠.

.
1♣ - 1♠
2♦
Forcing may not be a real ♦ suit,

• 2♥ artificial, balanced strong, waiting can be weak, or invite fit in either minor
  • 2NT 17-19 balanced
    
    
  • 3♣ = club one suiter, very strong
    
    
  • 3♦ = diamond/Club two suiter, strong
    
    
  • 3♥ = strong three card ♥ raise, not balanced, not 3/4 ♠’s
    
    
  • 3♠ = three card spade suit, very short hearts
    
    
  • 3NT = spade stopper, semi-balanced, long clubs
  
  
• 2♠ weak, no game opposite balanced 17-19 unless superfit.
  
• 2NT = attempt to signoff in clubs or game invite in other suit
  • 3♣ wait for partner to say
    • Pass to play 3♣
      
      
    • 3♦ diamond invite
      
      
    • 3♥ game try in ♥’s
      
      
    • 3♠ five hearts, balanced 11 to 12
      
      
    • 3NT good spade stopper, five ♥’s, game values
    
    
  • 3♦ not willing to stop in 3♣ (hard to imagine)
  
  
• 3♣ transfer to 3♦ to signoff, promises 4+♦s. Opener can pass with good clubs or refuse to accept transfer with great diamonds (agrees diamonds as trumps). Since opener can pass, never bid 3♣ with invite+ hand
  
• 3♦ transfer to 3♥, game force (to invite, bid 2NT then rebid 3♥)
  
• 3♥ transfer to 3♠, one round force, shows real spades, GAME force, long spades (to invite start with 2NT)
  
• 3♠ balanced five card suit, GF, opener to choose. Limited to 11 to 12 hcp
  
• 3NT balanced, with 4 spades 11-12, bigger hand use 2♠, with longer spades, use 3♠.

Non-Reverse Auction
1♦ - 1♥
2♣

New minor forcing. Hand type, minor two suiter weak or strong, strong diamond one suiter, balanced 17-19, or strong hand with three card support.

• 2♦ = can be false preference, but not by a lot. This is a bid that can be passed by all non-strong hands with diamonds. But opener with better than minimum hand with clubs, can rebid 3♣ to assure best strain is reached.
  • 2♥ = 15-16 three card support
    
  • 2♠ = strong minor two suiter, very strong but 6/5-4 in the minors, looking for natural 2 NT/3NT by responder
    
    
  • 2NT = 17-19 balanced
    
    
  • 3♣ = clubs and diamonds, but better than minimum
    
    
  • 3♦ = Strong ♦ one suiter
  
  
• 2♥ = weak signoff, no real tolerance for ♦’s
  
• 2♠ = this time shows real values, since 2♦/2♥/2NT and yes, even pass despite the forcing nature of 2♣ cover all the true weak hands
  
• 2NT = transfer to 3♣ (signoff) or invite in some other suit (opener not allowed to pass)
  
• 3♣ = transfer to 3♦, this time game invite strength or stronger in diamonds or hearts (may rebid 3♥ to show invite in ♥’s)
  • 3♦ = weak minor two suiter (reject game invite)
    
    
  • 3♥ = strong hand with three card support
    
    
  • 3♠ = looking for spade stopper (minor two suiter, no heart fit)
    
    
  • 3NT = 17-19 balanced
  
  
• 3♦ = transfer to 3♥, Game force in hearts, not balanced, or too strong for 3♠ bid
  
• 3♥ = transfer to 3♠, shows real ♠ suit, game force
  
• 3♠* = transfer to 3NT but shows five hearts, 14-16 hcp (note stronger than on the reverse auction because opener can be weaker)
  
• 3NT* = balanced, four ♥’s, 14-16 hcp, note is stronger than on the reverse auction, because opener can be weaker).

1♦ - 1♠
2♣
New minor forcing. Hand type for opener, minor two suiter weak or strong, strong diamond one suiter, balanced 17-19, or strong hand with three card support.

• 2♦ = can be false preference, but not by a lot. This is a bid that can be passed by all non-strong hands with diamonds. But opener with better than minimum hand with clubs, can rebid 3♣ to assure best strain is reached.
  • 2nt = BALANCED 17-19
    
    
  • 2♠ = strong 3 card support,
    
  • 2♥ = minor two suiter, strong (with 1444 too weak for 2♣ opening bid, rebid 1NT or open 1NT, or open 1♥ on the four card suit), 6/5-4, looking for natural 2NT/3NT by responder
    
    
  • 3♣ = minor two suiter, weak
    
    
  • Pass = willing to play 2♦
  
  
• 2♥ = weak signoff
  
  
• 2♠ = shows some some value, 1 round force
  
  
• 2NT = transfer to 3♣ (signoff) or invite in some other suit (if responder bids again over 3♣ or opener’s 3♦ rebid, it shows invite hand.
  
  
• 3♣ = transfer to 3♦, invite strength or stronger in diamonds or hearts
  • 3♦ = weak minor two suiter
    
    
  • 3♥ = strong hand with three card support
    
    
  • 3♠ = looking for spade stopper (minor two suiter, no heart fit)
    
    
  • 3NT = 17-19 balanced
  
  
• 3♦ = transfer to 3♥, Game force shows real hearts
  
  
• 3♥ = transfer to 3♠, shows spades, unbalanced or stronger than 16 if balanced
  
  
• 3♠* = transfer to 3NT but shows five spades, 14-16.
  
  
• 3NT* = balanced, 14-16 four spades

*note: 4th suit then 3NT is weaker than this. 4th suit then rebid 4th suit can be stronger than if balanced.