Subscribe
Share
Share
Embed
Welcome to "Bridge Basics," the podcast that makes learning bridge easy and fun. Each episode breaks down strategies, game dynamics, and teaching tips for beginners. Whether you're new to card games or looking to improve your skills, you'll find valuable insights to enhance your bridge experience.
Reversing in bridge bidding is when the opener rebids a new suit at the two-level that ranks higher than their original suit. This action shows extra strength and a specific hand shape. Typically, a reverse indicates that the opener has at least 16 points, though some players might consider 17 points as the minimum.
In a reverse, the opener will have at least five cards in their first suit and four cards in the second suit, with the first suit always being longer. For example, if the opener starts with one diamond and the responder bids one spade, a rebid of two hearts by the opener is a reverse. Here, hearts rank higher than diamonds, and this rebid forces the responder to bid at the three-level if they want to return to diamonds.
A reverse bid is considered a forcing bid for one round. This means the responder must continue bidding and cannot pass without risking missing a potential game. The opener's first suit is always longer than the second suit, which is a crucial aspect of this bidding strategy. If the opener doesn’t have enough strength, meaning less than 16 points, they should avoid making a reverse and choose a different rebid instead.
The term "reverse" comes from the fact that the suits are bid in an unexpected order. Instead of progressing from a weaker suit to a stronger one, the opener introduces a higher-ranking suit after starting with a lower-ranking one. This powerful bidding tool effectively communicates both strength and distribution, compelling the responder to keep the bidding alive.
Thank you for listening. Visit PodSights.ai to create a podcast on any topic.