Sunday, April 17, 2005 11:27 PM

Hand Evaluation  - Godfather 2NT ( Limit raise or better )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            4^th suit forcing is very clumsy at the two level  so needs some repair work. 4^th suit forcing violates one of the strengths of natural bidding because it introduces artificial sequences. These sequences introduce ambiguity so just confuses auctions. The only purpose of 4^th suit forcing is so that jumps & jump preferences & 2NT by responder can be invitational.  This treatment means that good balanced hands by responder  must be bid with 3NT which contradicts “fast arrival” & pre-empts opener when she holds an intermediate hand.  As per all modern bidding theory , the 2NT invitational bid is thrown in the garbage can in order to improve 4^th suit forcing. This conceptual bid by responder is sometimes called the “godfather 2NT” or an invitation you can not refuse .J Since we are discussing 4^th suit forcing by responder , this means three bids have already been made. Three bids at the one level are handled nicely by XYZ. Three unique bids with the 3^rd bid at the 2 level causes a problem. Flat NT hands by responder with a stopper in the 4^th suit should be bid with a NT bid , not a 4^th suit forcing bid. Keep balanced hands in the NT family of bids.  Leave 4^th suit forcing for distributional hands or a fit with partner or balanced hands without a stopper in the 4^th suit. .

 

 Granovetter recommends any 2NT bid  by responder be considered as a 4^th suit forcing bid  or a “new suit”  forcing one round rather than