Consider these two auctions:
i) 1D 1S - 6+ points, 4+ Spades.
2H - Ostensibly, 4+ Hearts.
ii) 1D 1NT - 6-9 or a bad 10, no major.
2H - Ostensibly, 4+ Hearts.
In the first auction the pair *may* have a 4-4 Heart
fit. Hence, the 2H bid is always natural here: 4+ Hearts.
After 1D:1NT:2H, though, the pair *cannot* have a 4-4
Heart fit. While a 5-3 Heart fit *is* possible if Opener
rebids 3H on the next round, 2H is often a "sustaining
bid" with a strong Opener, aiming at 3NT or 5D. Either
of these Openers might rebid 2H:
a) S- xx H- AKx D- AKQJxx C- xx
b) S- x H- AKxxx D- AKJ10xx C- x
Now let us ponder this auction:
1D 1NT - 6-9 or a bad 10, no major.
2C 2H - Say, what?
What is 2H here? It cannot show 4+ Hearts; Responder
denied a 4+ card major with 1NT. It is an "Impossible Bid"
in the sense that it cannot be a search for a 4-4 fit in the
bid suit. 2H in this sequence shows a hand that Responder
feels is too good for a mere 3C raise. Responder holds
9-10 HCPs, very good Club support and, most likely, stronger
Hearts than Spades (else 2S instead of 2H).
We see similar sequences when Responder reverses into
a major after Opener rebids 1NT:
i) 1C 1D
1NT 2H = Game force, Heart strength.
ii) 1C 1D
1NT 2S = Game force, Spade but not Heart strength.
In the above two sequences Responder is merely reversing
into a "better major" in order to force game. Yes, Responder
may have 5+ card length in the bid major in a massive 5-6
two suiter, but the pair will wait until Responder rebids
the major to make that clear. More often, the reverse is
merely a way to force game before setting the final suit.
iii) 1C 1H
1NT 2S = Game force without 4+ Diamonds (else 3D).
iv) 1D 1H
1NT 2S = Game force without 4+ Clubs (else 3C).
These two reverses also force game, but tend to deny
length in the unbid suit. If we did have length in that
unbid minor suit we might jump in it (e.g. 1D:1H:1NT:3C).
Here is a very common variation on this theme:
v) 1H 1NT = Forcing in 2/1-GF, not so in SAYC.
2H 2S = Heart raise OR 5-5 in the minors.
2S here makes most sense as a "two-way" bid:
EITHER a signoff with 5-5 (or better) in the minors OR
as the strongest possible raise to 3H. Opener rebids
hir better minor OR 2NT (with 2-2 in the minors, so that
Responder can play in hir 6-card suit with 6-5 or better
in the minors). Any 3H rebid by Responder will be a
STRONG invite, stronger than 1H:1NT:2H:3H.
In the case of a forcing or semi-forcing 1NT,
1H:1NT!:2H:2S demonstrates that Responder was ALWAYS
going to make a limit raise. Hence, 3 Hearts and 10-12
points. So 1H:1NT!:2H:3H would show 2 Hearts, 10-12
points, inviting 4H or 3NT.
In the case of a non-forcing 1NT, 1H:1NT:2H:2S is
far more likely to be the minor 2-suiter but CAN be a
Heart raise with 9-10 points and 2 Hearts...MAYBE 3
Hearts if Responder is the type to reply 1NT with
3=3=4=3 or 3=3=3=4 distributions.
These second round actions are called Reversing
Impossible Bids or "RIBs". Since some might not consider
1H:1NT:2C:2S to be a Reverse, 2S might be termed a "Really
Impossible Bid" (still, a "RIB") instead.
Just as common are Belated Impossible Bids or "BIBs".
These are usually made by Opener in a suit in which the
pair can no longer have a 4-4 fit. Here is a simple case:
|
|
| Responder |
 AQ |
 xx |
 KQxxxx |
 Axx |
|
| Opener |
Responder |
| 1 |
2 |
| 2 |
3 |
| 3 |
--- |
|
| Comments |
| 10+ points, Diamonds. |
| Forcing. 0-3 Spades (else 2 here). |
| Cannot be a search for a 4-4 Spade fit. |
|
vi) Opener: S- J10x H- AKJxx D- x C- KQxx
Responder: S- AQ H- xx D- KQxxxx C- Axx
1H 2D
2H 3C = Forcing, 0-3 Spades (else 2S here).
3S = Cannot be a search for a 4-4 Spade fit.
Opener could have rebid 3H with long Hearts, 3D
with a preference for Responder's Diamonds OR rebid
3NT with no great love for either of Responder's suits.
But what if Opener liked CLUBs? 4C might get us past
3NT only to find that Responder was only USING the 3C
bid to force things along--perhaps hoping Opener could
belatedly show Diamond support. If Opener REALLY had
4 Spades and no fit for either minor, we would would
expect to hear 3NT over 3C. So 3S becomes "available"
to show the one hand that we cannot show otherwise:
support for Partner's last bid suit (i.e. Responder's
Clubs in this example).
These Belated Impossible Bids are most common
when Opener rebids 1NT over Responder's major suit
response. Hoping for 3-card support for hir major
suit, Responder needs to make a forcing rebid
below the 3NT level--often with the idea of "bailing
out" in 3NT if Opener lacks 3-card support for the
major. Bear in mind that jumping in an "old" suit
(e.g. 1C:1H:1NT:3C or 3H) will NOT be forcing here.
Hence, if it is a minor, Responder may be jumping
in a suit in which Responder may not have length.
Consider this auction:
vii) 1D 1S = 4+ Spades.
1NT 3C = 0-3 Hearts (else 3H here).
As for Clubs, who knows? Now:
3NT = 2 Spades, no interest in Clubs.
3S = 3-card Spade support.
3H = 2 Spades, interest in Clubs.
3D = 2 Spades, 5 Diamonds (2=3=5=3).
In saying "no" to Partner's Spades, then,
Opener also addresses the issue of the second suit
that Responder has bid.
Many pairs extend these bids to include suits
bypassed by Opener after a 2-over-1 response.
Traditionally, an auction such as 1S:2C:2S might
NOT deny 4+ Diamonds or 4+ Hearts if Opener holds
a minimal 6-4 two suiter. Some modern pairs play
that such an auction DOES deny 4+ cards in any
suit bypassed. If so, these pairs can play any
subsequent rebid of such as suit as "impossible".
viii) 1S 2D = 10+ points, natural.
2S 3C = Forcing, not always 4+ Clubs.
Now we might see:
3NT = No support for either minor.
3S = 6+ Spades.
3H = Support for Clubs, minimum.
3D = Natural, support for Diamonds.
Are Belated Impossible Bids always made by
Opener? Not quite. It is possible to fashion
a sequence where Responder makes a third round
impossible call:
ix) Opener: S- x H- AKxx D- AKQxx C- KQx
Responder: S- Axx H- xx D- xxx C- Axxxx
1D 1NT
2H 2NT
3C 3S = Impossible, with 4+ Clubs.
Consider also this auction, where both partners
make an Impossible bid of sorts:
x) Opener: S- Kxx H- Ax D- AQxx C- J109x
Responder: S- AJ H- KQxxx D- J10x C- Axx
1D 1H
1NT 2S = A reverse, denying 4+ Clubs (else 3C).
3C = Impossible, 3=2=4=4, 14 points.
In this latter case, 3C is "Impossible" in the
sense that the pair cannot have a 4-4 Club fit. Opener
is merely showing a hand too strong to rebid 2NT here.
Impossible bids do not require any memory
work. We need only bear in mind:
1. They might not be a natural search for a fit
in the bid suit.
2. We need some way to support Partner's last
bid suit without going past 3NT.
