<p>With SAYC a balanced hand would <a href="http://www.onent.com/handouts/natural_notrump.htm" rel="noreferrer">normally be bid</a> as follows:</p>

<ul>
<li>13-14 points - open 1 of a suit then rebid 1NT</li>
<li>15-17 points - open 1NT</li>
<li>18-19 points - open 1 of a suit then rebid 2NT</li>
<li>20-21 points - open 2NT</li>
</ul>

<p>Your rebid should be 2NT. If you bid this, your partner has a very good idea of what you've got and can then decide how best to proceed.</p>

<p>It's also worth noting that when your partner responded he should have been "<a href="http://home.comcast.net/~kwbridge/up.htm" rel="noreferrer">bidding up the line</a>". So if he had the same number of hearts and spades, he would bid hearts rather than spades. A heart fit is therefore unlikely.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-19T14:50:48.750Z
+1: 2NT is the right bid. Even with 5-4 spades-hearts, partner can always bid 3H to find a heart fit.
Aryabhata
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-20T11:41:27.920Z
@Tom77: why unlikely? Assume he has 5 spades, and 4 hearts. He bid spade first (according to your link (http://home.comcast.net/~kwbridge/up.htm):  "If you have suits of unequal length, you should still show your longer one first.")).
user5185
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-20T13:54:45.483Z
Note that 3NT is NOT generally bid with stronger hands than 21 balanced points. As these would have been opened either 2NT or 2C, 3NT can be reserved for a game-forcing system bid showing spade support of some sort.
Forget I was ever here
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-20T14:52:50.963Z
@PieterGeerkens: No, 3NT is "usually" rebid with a long club suit (at least in SAYC I think).
Aryabhata
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-20T15:11:00.930Z
(long club suit which you expect to run, that is).
Aryabhata
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-19T12:37:15.147Z
2013-04-19T12:37:15.147Z
Tom77
<p>You should rebid 2NT. Your partner is unlikely to have 4 hearts, though it is still possible for 5-4 or 5-5 majors. He should have bidden 1&hearts; for 4-4 majors.</p>

<p>The 2NT rebid often makes you the declarer, hiding your strong hand. You will not lose 4-4 heart fit since he can bid 3&hearts; for 4 hearts (and hence 5 spades). If your partner were the declarer, 4M is <em>less scary</em> than 3NT.</p>

<p>Consequently, 2&hearts; reverse is for <strong>unbalanced</strong> hands. With an unbalanced hand, you dislike dangerous 3NT. This also promises 5+ clubs. (With 0-3 spades, 4+ hearts, 2-4 clubs, the hand is either balanced or an 1&diams; opener.)  You are more likely to go to a correct club contract, such as 5&clubs; or slams.</p>

<p>I also suggest 3&hearts; jump reverse for 6 clubs and 5 hearts without game-forcing values. It takes up much space, but it precisely describes hands difficult to bid. With game-forcing values, you have unambiguous "2&hearts; reverse then 3&hearts;".</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-19T19:14:27.600Z
2013-04-19T19:14:27.600Z
jdh8
<p>I'm playing/studying SAYC. So I know that game in major comes first then notrump then game in minors.</p>

<p>When I open with 1 Club partner responds with 1 Spade -- I have 18PTS and 4 hearts and NT distribution, should I bid 2Hhearts, 3Hearts, or 1NT?</p>

<bridge><bidding>
Opener rebid priority
user5185
# Opener rebid priority

(Asked by: username_0 on 2013-04-19)

I'm playing/studying SAYC. So I know that game in major comes first then notrump then game in minors.

When I open with 1 Club partner responds with 1 Spade -- I have 18PTS and 4 hearts and NT distribution, should I bid 2Hhearts, 3Hearts, or 1NT?

**Tags:** bridge, bidding


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2013-04-19. Score: 5

With SAYC a balanced hand would [normally be bid](http://www.onent.com/handouts/natural_notrump.htm) as follows:

* 13-14 points - open 1 of a suit then rebid 1NT
* 15-17 points - open 1NT
* 18-19 points - open 1 of a suit then rebid 2NT
* 20-21 points - open 2NT

Your rebid should be 2NT. If you bid this, your partner has a very good idea of what you've got and can then decide how best to proceed.

It's also worth noting that when your partner responded he should have been "[bidding up the line](http://home.comcast.net/~kwbridge/up.htm)". So if he had the same number of hearts and spades, he would bid hearts rather than spades. A heart fit is therefore unlikely.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: +1: 2NT is the right bid. Even with 5-4 spades-hearts, partner can always bid 3H to find a heart fit.  
> **username_0**: @username_1: why unlikely? Assume he has 5 spades, and 4 hearts. He bid spade first (according to your link (http://home.comcast.net/~kwbridge/up.htm):  "If you have suits of unequal length, you should still show your longer one first.")).  
> **username_3**: Note that 3NT is NOT generally bid with stronger hands than 21 balanced points. As these would have been opened either 2NT or 2C, 3NT can be reserved for a game-forcing system bid showing spade support of some sort.  
> **username_2**: @PieterGeerkens: No, 3NT is "usually" rebid with a long club suit (at least in SAYC I think).  
> **username_2**: (long club suit which you expect to run, that is).  

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### Answer by username_4 on 2013-04-19. Score: 2

You should rebid 2NT. Your partner is unlikely to have 4 hearts, though it is still possible for 5-4 or 5-5 majors. He should have bidden 1♥ for 4-4 majors.

The 2NT rebid often makes you the declarer, hiding your strong hand. You will not lose 4-4 heart fit since he can bid 3♥ for 4 hearts (and hence 5 spades). If your partner were the declarer, 4M is *less scary* than 3NT.

Consequently, 2♥ reverse is for **unbalanced** hands. With an unbalanced hand, you dislike dangerous 3NT. This also promises 5+ clubs. (With 0-3 spades, 4+ hearts, 2-4 clubs, the hand is either balanced or an 1♦ opener.) You are more likely to go to a correct club contract, such as 5♣ or slams.

I also suggest 3♥ jump reverse for 6 clubs and 5 hearts without game-forcing values. It takes up much space, but it precisely describes hands difficult to bid. With game-forcing values, you have unambiguous "2♥ reverse then 3♥".


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