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96 Responder's Rebid26

When it is time for responder to make a rebid, opener has bid
twice, providing a good description of opener's hand. Responder
will usually be able to decide WHERE the partnership belongs. Any
bid by responder below the game level is stili forcing, so there's no
need to jump to game if there is uncertainty about the best contract.

Responder's options are:
• Agree on a trump suit if that hasn't happened already.
• Rebid a six-card or longer suit.
• Suggest notrump if there is no major-suit fit.
• Bid the fourth suit to get more information from opener.

AGREEING ON A TRUMP SUİT
Once the partnership can agree on a majör suit, the only remaining
decision will be whether to move toward slam.

Once responder raises spades, the trump suit has been .agreed.
With nothing extra, opener simply bids game. Responde
nothing more to say.

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Here responder has support for opener's second suit, hearts,
and shows this by raising to the three level. Responder musl have
ili Icast four-card support to raise opener's second suit. Responder
docsn't have to jump to game, since 3 heart is still forcing. Responder
has  a little extra, and there might be a slam. However, when opener
ıııakes no move toward slam, responder settles for game.
if  opener has raised responder's minör suit, it is still  possible that
ıl ıı partnership belongs in a majör suit or notrump.

With enough strength to take the partnership to game, but only three card support for opener's majör, responder starts with a new suit. Even  though opener shows support for diamonds, responder follows though by showing support for the majör suit. 4spade  is a much better contract than 5 diamond,  since there are three top losers: the spade A and heart A-K

98 REBIDDING A SUİT

If opener hasn't raised responder's suit, responder can bid it again to show a six-card or longer suit.

After opener rebids 2NT to show a balanced hand, responder rebids the heart suit to show the extra length. Opener now knows there is an eight-card major-suit fit and takes the partnership to the best game contract.

After opener rebids 2 Hearts responder can simply rebid the club suit to show the extra length. There's no need to jump to game, since the 3 spades bid is forcing. This would give opener a chance to rebid the hearts with a five-card suit. On the actual hand, opener can bid game in notrump with a diamond stopper. Responder comfortably passes, having already described the hand.

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