Sunday, September 10, 2006 1:44 AM

4NT Serious Slam Try

PITBULLS:

As the world knows by now , many experts believe 4NT as KCB with a minor fit does not exist. 4NT in these auctions is either quantitative or to play. However, what if 4NT due to the context of the auction could not possibly mean any of the above ? Bid this hand ♠Qx ♥AKQxx ♦KQJ10 ♣Jx and partner opens 1♠. You bid 2♥ and partner bids 2♠ . You now have a choice of bids. You can bid 3♦ and show where you live or bid a slow arrival 3♠ which should show extra. Say you choose 3♦ and partner bids 4♦ so now what ?

I advocate bidding 4NT as a serious slam try in diamonds but lacking a club control. It can not be KCB ( minor fit ) , it is not Kickback but you did not bid 5♦ either. It can not be natural as you would have bid 2NT rather than 3♦ with a club stopper. It can not be quantitative and natural as that is ridiculous in this auction.

If you have 3NT as a serious slam try with the majors , it makes sense to play 4NT as a serious slam try in the minors auction permitting. Partner has ♠AK109xx ♥xx ♦Axxx ♣x and bids 5♣ over your 4NT. This of course brings 6♦ by you and a well deserved +1370. The more I play this game , I realize that 4NT should never be KCB with minors agreed. 4NT is essentially a Q bid saying I have a serious slam try in the minors but a flaw is preventing me from bidding Kickback or Q bidding.

♠Qx ♥x ♦AKQxxxx QJx and partner opens 1♥ . You bid 2♦ and partner bids 3♣ with you bidding 3♦. Partner now raises diamonds so now what ? 4NT to play or quantitative is ludicrous so 4NT must be a “serious slam try”. You did not Q bid 4♠ so partner can figure things out. ♠x ♥AJ10xxx ♦xx ♣AKxx brings 6♦ by partner.