Monday, October 23, 2006 9:47
PM
Hand Evaluation – Misfits ( 4NT )
PITBULLS:
4NT is just too handy a bid just to be reserved
for Ace asking. In the context of the appropriate bidding ( majors usually ) , 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. 4NT in misfit auctions
or aborted slam tries should be to play once you gain experience in this
game..
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 partner opens a minor
& the opponents pre-empt 4 of a major , 4NT is not
KCB by responder. The bid means I have
a distributional 2 suiter ( usually
the unbid suits) but use can use equal level
conversion to show a 5-5 with partners minor on occasion. In a minor fit auction ,
4NT by opener is not KCB . The bid is more frequent
& useful when 4NT can be used as a slam try showing length in the original minor & support for partner’s minor. You open
1♣ on ♠x ♥AQx ♦KQx
♣KQ10xxx & they bid 2♠ . Partner bids 3♦ followed by 4♠ by the opponents. Yes , there are hands
where the 4NT beginner bid would work but with 1430 KCB , the minors are not a
good mix. Bid 4NT as a diamond slam try ( partner has
the inference you did not bid 5♦ directly ) so you make a descriptive bid
inviting slam or grand slam investigation.
Beginners have a rule to
prevent ambiguity. 4NT is always KCB
as a default. Experts have a rule also . 4NT is never KCB as a default unless
the majors are involved. This expert
rule prevents ambiguity also.
Pre-empts & T/O doubles normally bring the partnership
into a re-pre-empting situation. 2♠-X-3♠-4♣/4♦ P-4NT is to play so
4♠ is KCB for diamonds. Do not let the opponents pre-empt you out of your
NT contract. 4NT as KCB for the minors is obsolete in my opinion especially in
competition.
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 or
1♥-P-2♦-P
2NT-P-4NT
quantitative with upper range
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.