I put some thought into bidding a reverse and make sure that the first suit is longer than the second and there is 17+ pts.  This weekend a couple of bidding sequences were discussed by our opps and by my partner and I regarding reverses.

 

S        W      N     E

pass   pass   1H    pass

2C     pass   pass  pass

 

N didn't want to bid 2S thinking it would be a reverse so passed.  S thought her 2C bid was forcing and that pard should have bid 2S and it would not have been a reverse...

 

S      W      N     E

pass  pass  1C    2D

pass  pass  2S    pass

pass  pass

 

I was N and purposely bid this as a reverse.  Partner said it is not a reverse and not forcing for one round...

 

Are there instances when a reverse is not a reverse and if so, I would like a couple of bidding examples and an explanation why not!  Thanks-Julie