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.