______ The first two bids by Responder and Opener set the tone that both players will adopt in moving towards the final contract. In uncontested auctions, these bids will be categorized as forcing and non-forcing. Forcing bids can occasionally be subdivided into game-forcing ("GF") and one round forcing. Non-forcing bids can be subdivided into invitational, forward-going and sign-off (this latter designation including pre-emptive bids).

______ If the opponents enter the auction, there is a third type of non-forcing bid, the competitive one, which does not invite game but merely competes for the part score. 1NT-2-2, for example, is natural and competitive.

Opener's Rebids After 1-of-a-Suit Openings
______ With a flat hand (5-3-3-2, 4-4-3-2 or 4-3-3-3 types) Opener will rebid in 1NT (13-14) or 2NT (18-19). In the former case, Responder's only forcing rebid is a jump in a new suit (e.g. 1:1H:1NT:3) or a reverse (e.g. 1:1:1NT:2). In the case of a 2NT rebid, everything by Responder is forcing, including a bid of a previously shown suit. For example, after 1:1:2NT, 3, 3, 3 and 3 are all forcing. If Responder wants to play in a part score, Responder must Pass the 2NT rebid. With any unbalanced hand Opener must endeavour to not rebid in No Trump.

• x AJxx K10xx AJxx


• After opening 1 and hearing 1, do not rebid 1NT. Partner might go "crazy" with 6 Spades, expecting at least 2-card support from you. Rebid 2 and await developments.

Rebids after a 1NT Response
______ A 1NT reply warns Opener not to expect a fit in any suit higher than Opener's. Hence, with any hand less than 17 points, Opener will either Pass 1NT or rebid a suit that is not higher than the opened suit. In this way, after 1:1NT, minimal Opener (13-16) can pass, rebid a 4+ card minor or a 6+ card Heart suit. Only with 19-21 can Opener jump in a new suit or reverse. Flat 18-19 point Opener will, of course, raise 1NT to 2NT. The only other invitational recourse for Opener is a jump in the opened suit (e.g. 1:1NT:3).


Questions
Question #1: Can't Opener jump in a new suit with an unbalanced 17-18 points? And, if not, does this mean that Responder has to raise a non-jump suit rebid (e.g. 1:1NT:2:3) with 8-9 points, in case Opener has 17-18 points?

Opener can jump with 17-18, so no need to raise with 8-9 points.

New suits by Opener are forcing, so one must raise.

Opener can't jump with 17-18, so we must raise with 8-9 points.

Question #2: What if Opener has 6 cards in the opened suit, and 4 cards in a lower ranked suit? Generally speaking, at IMPs, should Opener rebid the 6-carder or introduce the lower ranked suit?

Rebid the lower suit only if your hand is strongish.

Always rebid the 4-carder.

Always rebid the 6-carder.

Rebid the 6-carder if it's a major and the 4-carder a minor.