Spring 2002

In this edition we shall return to the bidding. Consider this hand...

You have been dealt KJ862, K9, 854, AQ8, and the bidding has gone...

It is now impossible to find a rebid that describes your hand accurately. You know game has a high probability, so you need a bid that is forcing. Looking at the above example what choices do you have? You cannot raise partner's hearts with only two, neither do you wish to raise his clubs which suggests four. To rebid your own spades at the 2 - level is non-forcing and can be passed, whereas to jump rebid them to 3S would suggest a 6-card suit, and would again be strictly non-forcing. You could take a flyer at 3NT. However, you will feel very foolish if partner does not have a diamond stop, but does have 3-card spade support.

The best solution is what we call 'Fourth Suit Forcing' (FSF). This states that if we bid the fourth unbid suit it is unconditionally forcing, and promises no specific holding in that suit.

This idea is based on the reasoning that if partner bids two suits, he has at least nine cards in those suits, and is therefore extremely unlikely to have support for the fourth suit.

It is important to remember that if you introduce the fourth suit you will be promising enough strength to support at least a 2NT contract, so you need a minimum of 11-12 HCP.

With this new idea, we can solve our problem. A rebid by you of 2D, the fourth suit, will drag another bid out of partner...

• With 3-card spade support he will rebid 3S, hence the best contract is 4S,
• With a stop in diamonds, he will bid 2NT, (or 3NT remembering that you have at least 11-12 HCP). If he rebids 2NT you will raise to 3NT with your 13HCP,
• Alternatively, with 5-5 in hearts and clubs, he will rebid 3C. This is the last bid you want to hear as in means you don't have any real fit, neither does he have a diamond stop to play in NTs. The best would be to return to 4H, a ten trick contract, and hope the cards are well placed for game to be made.

Note that this is a 'conventional' bid and needs alerting as you do not have the suit you have bid.

Here are two more examples of the idea at work.

1. You hold a similar hand i.e. KJ862, K9, A854, Q8, and the bidding is the same. It is now tempting to rebid 3NT but that leaves partner no room for maneuver. Maybe his hand is 3-5-1-4 and the best contract is 4S, but he cannot return to 4S, as you may have only four. You can eliminate this problem by bidding the fourth suit (2D), asking partner to describe his hand again. Now with three spades partner has a chance to tell you.
2. You hold J6, QJ986, K976, 108. The bidding goes...

   Ptn.	You	Ptn.	You
   1C	1H	2S	?

   
   Partner's 2S is now game forcing (19+ after your 1-level response) and it is
   tempting to rebid 3NT. However, he may have three of your major, with 4H the
   best contract. So ask him with a bid of the fourth suit - 3D. If he has AK107, 7,
   A84, AKJ73 he will rebid 3NT and will play the contract from the better table
   position. However, if he has AK107, A94, 8, AKJ73 he will rebid 3H, which you
   will raise to 4H.

I hope you can see from these examples that by understanding and using FSF you can make a big improvement in the accuracy of your bidding.

Next time I will consider the best way to deal with this problem...

You have: 83, QJ9, AKJ76, KQ7.

The bidding is;

You	Opp.	Ptn.	Opp.	You
1D	1S	2C	P	?

What do you bid?

If you would like any advice, please feel free to write, tel./fax. 01372 84 3846, or send an e-mail to reginald.sexton@onetel.net.uk