Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Fourth-Suit Forcing and Artificial - Part 2

Opener’s Next Bid
You opened and then bid your second suit. Responder bids this “convention” by bidding the fourth suit. What next?

North:
J 8 7 6                     North          South
K 9                         1♣               1
K Q 5                     1♠                2*
A J 9 8                   ??          
*Fourth-Suit Forcing


North’s best bid is 2 NT showing a minimum opening bid with a stopper in diamonds.

Here’s another hand for North:

A 8 7 6                    North          South
 K J 2                      1                1
 A J 9 8 7                1♠                2*
9                            ??
*Fourth-Suit Forcing

North’s best bid now is 2. North had denied four hearts by not raising immediately, so 2 now shows exactly 3-card support. If South has a 5-card heart suit, he will be ecstatic. If he only has four hearts, he’ll bid something else.

North:
A 8                           North            South
 K Q 9 8 6                1                 1
 2                              2♣                 2*
A Q 5 4 3               ??
*Fourth-Suit Forcing


North’s best bid is 3 showing five hearts and five clubs. 3 denies a NT hand and it denies 3-card spade support for South.

Fourth Suit Forcing and Artificial
Used when responder has 13+ points. 
Responder may not have the fourth suit.
Opener now describes his hand - bidding NT shows a stopper in the fourth suit.
The convention is cancelled if RHO bid.
Opener alerts the fourth suit at duplicate.