Opening unbalanced hands

When you have 11 points and an unbalanced hands, consider opening if your points are concentrated in your long suits.

There are two rules about opening unbalanced hands:

RULE:        OPEN YOUR LONGEST SUIT.

With two 5-card suits, open the higher ranking suit.

RULE:        PLAN YOUR REBID.

With two 4-card suits, open ONE HEART with both majors, ONE CLUB with both minors. With three 4-card suits, open ONE HEART with a black singleton and ONE CLUB with a red singleton as this will help your rebid.

It is a common mistake to open your shorter suit and rebid a longer suit in order to show strength (a reverse) - just remember that distribution is more important than strength, so opening your longest suit is always correct.

When you rebid a suit, this denies a balanced hand and confirms that the first suit is at least as long as the second suit.

S KQxx

H KQxx

D KQx

C xx

Open 1H, planning to:

  • Raise 1S response to 2S
  • Pass 1NT response
  • Rebid 2NT over 2C or 2D

S Q

H Axxx
D AKJxx
C xxx

Open 1D, planning to:

  • Raise 1H to 2H
  • Rebid 2D over 1S
  • Pass 1NT
  • Rebid 2D over 2C

S Axxx
H x
D AQxx
C QJxx

Open 1C, planning to:

  • Raise 1D to 2D
  • Rebid 1S over 1D
  • Raise 1S to 2S
  • Pass 1NT

S AKxx
H Ax
D x
C AQJxxx

Open 1C, planning to:

  • Rebid 2S over 1D, 1H responses
  • Rebid 4D (splinter) over 1S response
  • Rebid 2S over 1NT response

S Kx

H KQxx

D KQxx

C AJx

Open 1H, planning to:

  • Rebid 2NT over 1S, 1NT responses
  • Rebid 2NT (forcing) over 2C response

S Qx

H Ax
D KJ
C AKJ10xxx

Open 1C planning to:

  • Rebid 3NT