Jeff Tang: scubasteve1975 "@" hotmail.com © 2007
Home > Bidding > Impossible Negative

The Impossible Negative is a convention used by players responding to a Precision (or other strong club) 1 opening. It uses the 1 response, which usually denies 8+ points, to show any 4-4-4-1 hand pattern that does contain 8+ points. Thus the 1 response can be made on either type of hand.

There are two rebids the Impossible Negative bidder can make to disclose his shape and values:

  1. He can make a jump rebid in his singleton suit, assuming opener has not rebid the suit naturally. If opener has rebid in responder's singleton suit, responder can jump in notrumps. Examples:

    1! : 1!
    1 : 3! Showing 4-4-1-4 shape. (4 spades, 4 hearts, 1 diamond and 4 clubs.)

    1! : 1!
    1NT : 2NT! Showing 4-1-4-4 shape.

  2. He can make a jump rebid in the suit below his singleton, assuming opener has not rebid the suit naturally. With a singleton in opener's suit, responder jumps in notrumps; he does not jump bid the suit below opener's. That rebid is reserved for showing a singleton in the suit ABOVE opener's. (If opener's suit is spades, a jump bid in hearts shows a club singleton.) Examples:

    1! : 1!
    1! : 2NT! Showing 1-4-4-4 shape.

    1! : 1!
    2 : 3! Showing 4-4-4-1 shape.