OPENER’S SUIT REBIDS ‘ABOVE THE BARRIER’ OPENER REBIDS A NEW SUIT - POINT RANGE 12-15 OR 16-19? We know that all jump rebids show 16-19 points. ALSO any new suit rebid that is higher than your first suit at the next level up shows 16-19 points. 1y 2w shows 12-15 points 2x but Your rebid 1y 2w shows 16-19 points 2z Your opening 3y 3x 3w 2z 16-19 2y 2x 2w 1y 12-15 Imagine a ‘barrier’ just above your first suit at the next level up. Any new suit rebid above the barrier shows 16-19 points. In the example above the opening is 1y so the barrier is between the 2y and 2z rebids. Any opener’s rebid of a new suit above the barrier is forcing. All other opener’s rebids are not forcing. Another way of remembering whether partner’s rebid show 12-15 or 16-19 is that all NON JUMP suit rebids show 12-15 points except when opener rebids a new suit (that neither side has bid before), and it is ‘Above the Barrier’, then this shows 16+ points. Look at the examples below to see how this works: 1y 2y 1y 2z 1y 3w 1x 1z 1z Opener has 12-15 points. Not a jump and not a new suit. 1z Opener has 12-15 points. Not a jump and not a new suit (same suit as partner bid). Opener has 12-15 points. Not a jump and not a new suit (same suit as partner bid). Opener has 12-15 points. Opener’s rebid is at the one level. It is not ‘Above the Barrier’. (After a 1x opening the ‘Barrier’ level is 2x. Only a new suit ‘Above The Barrier’ shows 16+) Opener has 12-15 points. It is a new suit but it is not ‘Above the Barrier’ (After a 1y opening the ‘Barrier’ level is 2y. Only a new suit ‘Above The Barrier’ shows 16+) Opener has 16+ points. It is not a jump BUT a) Opener has bid a new suit that neither side has bid and b) It is ‘Above the Barrier’ (After a 1y opening the ‘Barrier’ level is 2y) Opener has 16+ points. It is not a jump BUT a) Opener has bid a new suit that neither side has bid and b) It is ‘Above the Barrier’ (After a 1y opening the ‘Barrier’ level is 2y) 2w 1y 1y 2w 1z 1y 2z 2w 1y 3w 2x In all the examples opener is showing 5-4 shape. In the last two examples, if opener had only 12-15 points he simply rebids his first suit and is unable to show the 2 nd suit. © Leigh Harding 2009 2 www.nofearbridge.co.uk