Sunday, April 17, 2005 6:32 AM

4th Suit Forcing - One level

 

PITBULLS:

 

            Just read a convention on the Internet introduced by the Granovetters . It is taking the 2-way NMF a step further and playing the same understandings in any 4th suit forcing auction at the one level with suits rebid rather than NT . This replaces the phony 4th suit forcing sequences with the same 2-way NMF made popular after a 1NT rebid.

 

          It follows the same principles : 2♦ is an artificial game force and 2♣ a relay to 2♦ showing invitational hands. This avoids some of the 4th suit forcing problems at the one level . Jumps to the 3 level no longer invitational and solves all matters of weak hands in misfit auctions . You can invent splinters and all sorts of other understandings within this structure. NT bids can have different understandings as it mirrors the same 2-way NMF structure made popular over a 1NT rebid. The only criteria is that openers rebid remains at the one level.

 

          Weak jump shifts are clarified with this structure. For the in between range you can just respond your major and rebid it. It can not be invitational as you did not bid 2♣ first. Do not need any jump shifts in hearts and diamonds anyway showing 8-12 if you play those. This structure clarifies all the responders rebids if the auction kept at the one level.

 

 xx QJ10xxx Kxx xx     1♦-P-1♥-P  1♠-P-2♥-P

 xx KQJ10xx  Kxx xx    1♦-P-1♥-P  1♠-P-2♣-P 2♦-P-2♥-P invite

  

 

          You have these 3 hands xx Kxxxx Kxxxx x  , xx Kxxxx AQxxx x  and xx AKxxx AKxxx  x with partner opening 1♦ . You respond a heart with all of them and partner bids 1♠ keeping the auction at the one level. With the 1st hand you bid 2♣ planning to pass the 2♦ bid unless partner breaks the relay with a good hand. The 2nd hand you bid 2♣ as a relay and raise diamonds as an invite. The 3rd hand you make a quiet game force in diamonds at the 2 level and raise diamonds.

 

          The Granovetters give some hands to try . Strong hands with minor fits are clumsy to handle with 4th suit forcing auctions.

 

ª K
© Kxx

¨ Kxxxx

§ AKxx

 

Partner opens 1♣ and you bid 1♦ . Partner bids 1♥ so you force to game with 2♦ and support clubs later and get to a nice 6♣ 

 

You do not need invitational jumps to the 3 level anymore as 2♣ keeps the invitational sequences at the 2 level. Invitational bids at the 3 level quite often go down !

 

West       East

ª A10xx    ª Qxxx

© x            © AJxx

¨ KJxxx    ¨ xx

§ Axx        § Kxx

 

1♦         1♥

1♠         2♣ (forces 2♦)

2♦         2♠ (invitational)

pass

 

Also helps with the 4th suit forcing problem with big fits . You have AKxx AKxxx xx Ax and partner opens 1♣ and you respond 1♥ . Partner rebids 1♠ and with 4th suit forcing methods you bid 2♣ ambiguous. With this method you bid 2♦ game forcing and quietly support spades .

 

OK within this structure you can have some fun inventing bids. Jumps can be fit showing splinters as we do not need invitational jumps anymore. 1♣-P-1♦-P  1♥-P-2♠-P  splinter in support of hearts.

 

A jump to 2NT as invitational is redundant as you can bid 2♣ first and then bid 2NT. Make it a club transfer.

 

xx Q10xx x KQJxxx  partner opens 1♦ and you bid 1♥  . Partner bids 1♠ and you bid 2NT a transfer to clubs. With a suitable hand partner bids 3NT rather than accepting the club transfer otherwise he bails out to 3♣.

 

Lots of possibilities within this structure. 4-4-4-1 hands can be shown after this sequence . After partner bids 3♣ you now bid your singleton as a 4-4-4-1 slam try .

 

A jump to 3♣ can be pre-emptive with a 4-6 . 1♣-P-1♥/♦-P  1♠-P-3♣    xx QJ10x x QJ10xxx

 

A responders jump rebid can be forcing showing a solid suit ( recovering the strong jump shift )

 

Since jump preferences are no longer invitational we can define them to be forcing with HCP’s but an upper range. A 2♦ bid and then supporting the major would be even stronger and a direct jump to game would be based on distribution only.  1♦-P-1♥-P   1♠-P-3♠-P   forcing 13 HCP’s     2♦ first and then raising spades ( the moose ) and a  direct jump to 4♠ a distributional shot in the dark with good spades ( most of your points ).

 

 

You can use these understandings with opponents interfering as long as things are kept at the one level. 

(opponents' calls in parenthesis):

 

1♣  (double)  redouble  (1♥)

1♠

 

1♦  (1♥)      double    (pass)

1NT

 

1♦  (pass)    1♥        (1♠)

double*                                       *  support double at one level