Monday, October 23, 2006 9:47 PM
Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( 4NT )
PITBULLS:
4NT
is just too handy a bid just
to be reserved for Ace asking. In the context of the
appropriate bidding , 4NT is indeed Blackwood but do
not be afraid to use this bid as natural & descriptive.
Sometimes the auction gets up to the 4 level
pretty fast with the annoyance of the opponents pre-empting in your auction. 4NT is the
only bid to describe your hand so is far more helpful to partner than an ambiguous Q bid. Also the rank of suits & a misfit auction means that 4NT is a natural
bid. Here is a Susan & Tom auction which shows 4NT as natural in a misfit auction.
1♠-P-2♣-P
2♥-P-3♦-P
3♥-P-4♦-P
4NT
This
bid is to play showing soft values. With controls ,
Tom would have chosen a different bid.
Tom Gandolfo had this difficult
hand to bid vul vrs NV
opponents. ♠x ♥AKxxxx ♦KQ10x ♣Kx . I opened 1♠ , the nv opponent pre-empted
3♦. Tom bid 3♥ so I bid 4♣ . This has now become a misfit auction as I possibly show 10 to 11 black cards & Tom has only 3 black cards. After a minor bid at
the 4 level with horrible duplication of value , you
want to slow the
auction down & describe your hand.
4NT by you will get passed so you make +660 or +690 depending on the diamond
play.
A
player had this hand where 4NT shines
as a bid to show extra. ♠x ♥AJx ♦A1098x ♣AQ10x . Partner opened 1♦ , I responded 1♥. Partner bid 2♣
so I bid 2NT as a “new suit” which could be unlimited
in HCP’s. This 4th
suit forcing understanding , gave partner the opportunity to “pattern out”
& show his stiff spade by bidding 3♥. This shows his
pattern but it does not show all the extra HCP’s & nice controls. Over 3♥ , I bid 3NT which
shows spades well stopped. You
now bid 4NT to show your extra as a mild slam try. If you make another bid other
than 4NT , you imply you do not like the NT contract possibly because you are void in
spades or a 6-4 or similar hand. Partner has a bad 14 HCP with too many points in spades , so 4NT is the resting
spot which makes easily.
In
your Bridge “puppyhood” , 4NT is Ace asking. As you
grow in this game , 4NT has many , many other uses . My default understanding is that 4NT is never Blackwood
unless the auction makes it very clear that it is. A jump to 4NT with a major opener or implied is always KCB for the major. What is 4NT
after a 4 level Q bid ? The auction goes 3♦-4♦-4NT & partner shows a huge hand with a
two suiter. 4NT by responder should be natural
warning partner of the duplication of value & lack of fit. The default of
4NT as Blackwood is for beginners in the game of Bridge.
When
the opponents pre-empt , they are trying to
disturb your auction. One of their main goals is to get you out of 3NT. Ok , they do their dirty work but at least we can play 4NT as a contract. If the opponents open 3♦ . 3♥
, 3♠ &
partner overcalls 4 of a minor ,
4NT by responder is to play. We will repeat that , 4NT
is to play. What is KCB then ? Q bidding their suit at
the 4 level is KCB for partners minor.
3♦-4♣-P-4♦ KCB
3♥-4♦-P-4♥ KCB
3♠-4♣-P-4♠ KCB
When
partner leaps to 4NT after a minor opener , it means
only one thing. I was too strong
to bid 3NT. 1♦-3♠-4NT-P means I am too
strong to bid 3NT. 4♠ is KCB for diamonds.
3♠-X-P-4NT does
not mean pick a minor . We hate that bid. 4NT means I am too strong to bid 3NT. I Q
bid with a two suiter & both minors are two suiters.
I will bid 4♠ saying I have two
suits so bid one of them. You do not need
4NT for the minors. That is archaic & very bad bidding in my opinion. 4NT
is too useful as natural.
When
you play a 2NT rebid in a 2/1 or inverted auction as an either/or bid with a
dual range of 12-14 or 18-19 , 4NT later in the auction quantitatively describes the
upper range.
1♠-P-2♣-P
1♥-P-2♦-P
2NT-P-4NT or
2♥-P-2NT-P
4NT
For
those paranoid about leaping to 6NT off two Aces can automatically answer Aces
if they accept the 4NT invite . 5NT will be the final
resting spot if off two Aces.