November 10, 2009

Hand Evaluation - Turbo 4NT

PITBULLS:

        One of the worst beginner bids in Bridge is to use 4NT KCB as a slam try. The bid was not invented for that purpose. 4NT is a check back insurance policy bid in case we off two Aces in our slam endeavour or we have visions of bigger & better things. 4NT Ace asking with a minor agreed & 1430 understandings is a ludicrous bid in my opinion. Unless you hold 3 or 4 ACES it is dangerous to even contemplate making the bid let alone use the bid as a slam try. The Italian teams have recognized this deficiency is standard bidding. They play 4NT with a minor fit in a competitive auction as a Q bid showing 2 Aces & a slam try . Slam tries in competition are conceptually one of the most difficult bids in Bridge. Even with a minor fit , when they Q bid at the 4 level or higher they show a control in the Q bid suit & an odd number of Aces. 4NT as a slam try with two Aces changes captaincy to partner who now can safely retreat to 5 of a minor from her side when short of the required Aces. In standard bidding , you are forced quite often to the 6 level & the opponents cash two Aces. The 4NT bid allows an escape to 5 of a minor !!

Hash gave a hand which shows the inadequacy of KCB with a minor fit . I will reverse the minors from the original hand to show the silliness of using 4NT as KCB. ♠void ♥Axx ♦AJ10xxx ♣QJxx  . You open 1♦ & they bid 2♠ & partner bids 3♣ ( game force ) & RHO interfering with 4♠. Although you have a bare opening  ( 2 quick tricks & 12 HCP ) it has grown into a monster. 4 card support for partner & a void in partners suit is gold. However it is still not strong enough to Q bid 5♠ in standard bidding  which forces slam & invites a grand slam. Partner  knows you have a spade void ( standard ) but the 12 HCP will surely be a disappointment.  You are forced to fast arrival the hand to 6♣ or a pass & pull to 5♣.

        Playing the Turbo 4NT , you can Q bid 5♠ as that shows a void  with a collective  3 Aces including the void. Change the hand slightly ♠x ♥Ax ♦AJ10xxx ♣QJxx and you can bid 4NT as a turbo slam try showing 2 Aces along the way. Ilya Kuzkin gave a number of hands that it would be ludicrous to bid 4NT as KCB in this auction. ( diamonds & clubs reversed as per the original hand ) Turbo understandings prevent you from leaping to slam ( fast arrival ) with the wrong type of hand & preventing a possible grand slam.

x AQx QJxx AQJxx      4NT turbo slam try with two Aces

x xx QJxx AKxxxx        5♦ bid

x Ax xxxx AKxxxx        4NT turbo slam try with two Aces

x Ax Kxxx AKxxxx        5♥ Turbo showing 3 Aces on auction

    A 5♠ Q bid in standard shows 1st round control . With Turbo understanding it should also show 1st round control but with 2 outside Aces

♠void ♥Axx ♦QJxx ♣AKxxxx

    4NT KCB for the minors is a nauseating convention. You need practically 4 Aces to use the bid when clubs are trump & probably 3 Aces when diamonds are trump. With Turbo understandings & playing Minorwood an established partnership can say 4NT is never KCB with a minor fit . Never ! In the modern game with Minorwood , Kickback & now Turbo in competition , 4NT as KCB for the minors can be retired . About time !