Cream of the Crop 11/Cream of the Crop 11-1.iso/games/marvin01.zip/FSA.CVA

Text File | 1995-08-21 | 18KB | 431 lines

                     FOURTH SUIT ARTIFICIAL


When opener rebids in a new suit, responder often has a problem:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1C        1H
                      1S        ?

To begin with, a responder who now wants to raise clubs should be
able to sign off, invite game, or make a forcing bid in clubs.
Standard bidding does not permit all three. In the auction above,
responder might have one of these hands:

              1) S-3 H-KJ872 D-965 C-J976
              2) S-3 H-AJ872 D-965 C-KQ97
              3) S-3 H-AKJ87 D-965 C-KQ97

With hand 1) responder bids 2C, expecting opener to pass or bid
2H. With 2), responder wants to bid more than 2C, but is a 3C bid
forcing or merely invitational? Let's say it's invitational, as
most experts play, so 3C is the right bid. But what about hand 3)?
Now we would like to play 3C as forcing. If we do, then we would
have to bid 2C with hand 2), but surely it's not right that a weak
bid should have such a wide range of strength.  And if 3C is not
forcing, then what?

Another sequence:     Opener    Responder
                      1D        1S
                      2C        ?

Responder might have one of these hands:

              1)  S-AQ875 H-765 D-Q32 C-AQ
              2)  S-AJ872 H-765 D-K2 C-K76
              3)  S-AJ9872 H-7 D-432 C-AK7

With 1) responder has no call, unless he plays 3D as forcing. If
so, what does he do with Kx in clubs instead of AQ? A weak
preference of 2D would be inadequate. With hand 2) responder wants
to invite game, but how? Raising a secondary suit with Kxx is
misleading. Besides, 2NT might be the spot if opener has a minimum
hand. With 3) responder wants to be in game, but where? Opener
might have a little something in spades, but responder can hardly
bid 4S without some investigating.  A 3S bid is not forcing, is
it? If it is, what does responder do without the club king? Bid
just 2S?

Another:              Opener    Responder
                      1H        2C
                      2D        ?

Responder has S-643 H-K2 D-K87 C-AKJ73. Now what? Without some
understanding about fourth suit bids, a 2S call may only be
postponing the problem. Suppose opener bids 2NT over 2S (and what
does that bid require?). Should responder raise to 3NT?

Fourth Suit Artificial (FSA), popularly called Fourth Suit Forcing,
can handle all these situations, and more, provided that the
partnership has an agreement about the requirements for bidding the
fourth suit, and about the meanings of subsequent bids by both
partners.

FSA is defined as a bid of the fourth suit at the two or three
level by responder, when neither partner has previously jumped in
a new suit or bid notrump. Higher level fourth suit bids are either
real suits, or cue bids, or whatever, and the following is not a
conventional fourth suit bid:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1C        1D
                      1H        1S

The 1S bid is natural. Although it may be based on some three-card
holding, opener will assume that 1S shows a suit. This is standard
procedure. To make up for this, the following is a conventional
fourth suit bid:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1C        1D
                      1H        2S

The 2S bid is FSA, not a regular jump shift, and not a splinter bid
in support of hearts (use 3S for this). Why not use 1S as FSA?
Because it is too valuable as a natural bid, and the seldom used
2S bid can be used instead.

FSA does not apply when either partner has made a jump in a new
suit (except for the last sequence above):

                      Opener    Responder
                      1C        1H
                      2S        3D

                      Opener    Responder
                      1D        2S
                      3C        3H

These fourth suit bids are natural, showing some high card strength
if not a real suit. However:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1C        1D
                      1H        3C
                      3D        3S

The 3S bid is FSA, since the jump to 3C was not in a new suit.

With FSA a jump preference by responder, or a jump rebid in the
same suit, is invitational (as most people play):

                      Opener    Responder
                      1C        1H
                      1S        3C

                      Opener    Responder
                      1C        1H
                      1S        3H

Neither sequence is forcing. If responder has too strong a hand
for these non-forcing rebids, he must choose some other call. The
alternative will often be FSA.

WARNING:  DO NOT USE FSA IF AN ADEQUATE NATURAL BID IS AVAILABLE!


                   Two-Level Fourth Suit Bids

Fourth suit bids at the two level are at least game tries, but
responder could have game-going strength or more. The fourth suit
bidder may have any holding in the fourth suit, from a singleton
to a real suit (no voids, please).

Kings and queens are better when led up to, not through, so avoid
bidding the fourth suit bid with a holding like Kx or Qxx. Look for
another bid, probably notrump. A doubleton queen is sometimes
acceptable, since a notrump bid with Qx in the only unbid suit is
somewhat risky. Axx is a common holding for FSA, with the hope that
partner will bid notrump with Qx.

Opener's response to FSA is to continue showing his hand, giving
priority to supporting partner's major suit with a very strong
doubleton (two of the top four honors) or any three cards. He need
not have the fourth suit stopped for a 2NT bid; three small cards,
Qx, or even a singleton king will do in a pinch. Responder will not
raise to 3NT without Jxx, xxxx, or better in the suit. Yes, xxx
opposite xxx may be good enough, but we can't do everything.
Sometimes responder can tell that opener has at least three cards
in the suit, and then it's okay to raise with xxx (example later).

Opener makes the call that best describes his hand, not just his
holding in the fourth suit. He may bid notrump with certain
holdings in the fourth suit, or he may raise the fourth suit, but
his first duty is to describe his hand. If some other bid does a
better job, he chooses that bid.

Suppose the bidding goes:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1D        1S
                      2C        2H
                      ?

If opener has S-A H-K3 D-QJ765 C-QJ832, he bids 3C, not 2NT,
because 3C gives a better picture of the hand.

In trying to show his hand, opener may choose to rebid a strong
four-card minor suit:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1D        1S
                      2C        2H

With S-32 H-76 D-A10765 C-AKJ8, opener should now bid 3C, not 3D.
With AKJ85 of diamonds and A1076 of clubs, he should bid 3D.
Responder must remember that a rebid of the second suit may not be
five cards long, although such a rebid does imply that the first
suit has at least five cards.

Responder can pass any minimum bid, so opener must not be bashful
with a good hand. If he raises the fourth suit bid, or jumps, he
shows a good hand and game must be reached:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1D        1H
                      1S        2C
                      2D/2H/2S/2NT are all non-forcing
                      3C/3D/3H/3S are all forcing to game

Let's examine the meaning of all these bids:

     2D implies long diamonds, no heart support, probably Jx
     or worse in clubs, and a minimum hand.

     2H is usually based on three-card support, but could be
     a very strong doubleton (KJ, AQ, etc.)

     2S may not be a five-card suit. Assume a strong four-card
     suit in a 5-4 hand.

     2NT implies a tolerance for notrump, in this case at
     least xxx in clubs (with all that room at the two level
     to bid something else), and a minimum hand.

     3C is a good hand with Axx(x), Jxx(x), or xxxx in clubs.

     3D is a good hand with a good diamond suit.

     3H may not have much in high cards if the shape is
     4-3-5-1, because the hands probably fit very well.

     3S is a good hand with six diamonds and five spades, or
     possibly four strong spades in a 5-4 or 6-4 hand.

     3NT is a good hand with clubs stopped, Qxx or better (but
     sometimes must be chanced with only Qx).

A raise of the fourth suit before it has been rebid has a special
meaning: A good hand with Axx(x), Jxx(x), or four small in the
suit. It denies the king or queen of the suit, with which a notrump
bid is usually in order. After such a raise, responder will try for
a suit contract with Jx or worse in the fourth suit.  Notrump will
probably not be the best spot, even if opener has the ace. The
raise serves a number of purposes:

-- It permits responder to play the hand when she has Qx opposite
Axx, Ax opposite Jxx, or a singleton king. In such cases the
notrump should play from her side.

-- It permits the partnership to play in a notrump game with
reasonable safety when neither partner has a stopper in the fourth
suit: Qx, xxx, or singleton king opposite Jxx or xxxx.

-- If responder has slam hopes, the raise lets her know that opener
has a good hand (when he raises immediately, at least) that will
fit a singleton in the fourth suit very well.

-- If the fourth suit happens to be a real suit, the raise tells
responder that opener has some trump support for that suit.

With a minimum hand opener cannot raise the fourth suit immediate-
ly, but he might get a second chance:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1D        1S
                      2C        2H
                      2NT       3C - forcing
                      3H

The 3H bid shows Axx(x), Jxx(x), or four small hearts. Responder
can now bid 3NT with xxx, Qx, or singleton king in hearts.

If the fourth suit bidder bids again after a minimum rebid by
opener, opener must also bid again if game has not been reached and
a limit bid has not been made. The limit bids are: any bid by a
passed hand, a rebid of the fourth suit, a notrump bid, or a direct
raise of opener's last bid:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1D        1H
                      1S        2C
                      2S        ?

If responder is a passed hand, no bid at this point is forcing.
Otherwise:

     2NT is invitational, not forcing.

     3C is not forcing, showing a real suit and an opening bid
     (but bad fit). To force, bid 3C instead of FSA.

     3D is forcing (not a direct raise).

     3H is forcing (but not if opener had bid 2H).

     3S is not forcing, showing good three-card support.

A rebid of the fourth suit shows that it is a real suit. Since this
bid is made in the face of a possible misfit, each partner having
a two-suited hand, it requires a hand of approximately opening bid
strength. With less, or with fitting cards in partner's suits, bid
notrump instead of using FSA. With more, jump in the fourth suit
instead of using FSA. Example:

                    Opener      Responder
                    S-AQJ3       S-72
                    H-5          H-AQ1043
                    D-KQ973      D-2
                    C-743        C-AQ952

                    Opener      Responder
                    1D          1H
                    1S          2C
                    2D          3C
                    Pass

Responder would have bid a forcing 3C over 1S with a better hand,
and 1NT over 1S with a weaker hand. Opener is happy to pass 3C with
his bad fit. With a better fit (SQ1087 H-K D-AQ973 C-J87), he could
bid 3NT.

When opener rebids a major at the three level, a rebid of the
fourth suit by responder is defined as a slam try in the rebid
major:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1S        2D
                      2H        3C
                      3S        4C - slam try in spades

                      Opener    Responder
                      1H        2C
                      2D        2S
                      3H        3S - slam try in hearts

In either case responder would normally bid notrump rather than
show a biddable fourth suit, so this fourth suit rebid is more
useful as a device to imply a hand that is too good for a mere
raise to game in opener's rebid major. The principle does not apply
if opener's rebid suit is a minor.

If opener bids 2NT in response to FSA, possibly with only xxx, Qx,
or singleton king in the fourth suit, responder must not raise to
3NT without at least Ax, Jxx, or xxxx in the suit. She might pass
with less, however:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1C        1H
                      1S        2D
                      2NT       Pass

Responder has S-A98 H-A7632 D-Q2 C-J87. If opener does not have
diamonds stopped, 2NT may still be a good contract. If the jack of
clubs were the king, responder would have too much to pass 2NT. She
must not raise notrump with Qx in the fourth suit, however. A
forcing 3C would be right.

When responder does not raise notrump, she doesn't necessarily deny
strength in the fourth suit. She may be fishing for slam or some
superior suit contract.

If opener jumps to 3NT over the fourth suit bid, he shows a good
hand and a stopper in the fourth suit, so responder can pass with
a weak doubleton or singleton ace, king, or queen. She may not pass
with a smaller singleton in the fourth suit, and if she even thinks
of doing so then she should not have used FSA. Conversely, when
responder pulls a jump to 3NT back to a suit, he strongly implies
a singleton in the fourth suit:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1H        1S
                      2C        2D
                      3NT       4C

Responder has S-AJ765 H-K3 D-6 C-J10832. Rather a strange fourth
suit bid, but responder thought that 4C over 2C would sound too
strong for this 10 high card point (HCP) hand, and she wanted to
find out if opener perhaps had three-card spade support or a strong
heart suit. Opener's hand: S-7 H-AJ842 D-AJ7 C-KQ74.

Don't push to make a fourth suit bid, however. This convention is
meant for hands that are difficult to bid by other means. Suppose
you respond 1S to a 1D opening with S-AK874 H-932 D-K86 C-J9, and
partner rebids 2C. Your correct call now is an invitational 3D, not
2H. Why? Because 2H could lead to complications--you have to look
ahead. For instance, if partner's next bid over 2H is 3C you would
have to bid 3D, which is forcing. With ace of clubs instead of the
jack, a jump preference to 3D would not suffice, and a 2H bid would
be correct.

Here's another example of looking ahead: You have S-K32 H-76 D-AQ97
C-Q1087, and partner opens 1C, you respond 1D. When he rebids 1S
it is tempting to use FSA (2H).  If partner has hearts stopped,
this hand may play well in notrump. But partner may not have hearts
stopped, and may have to bid 3D with a hand such as S-A1083 H-J2
D-K52 C-AJ32. Too weak to bid further, you would have to play in
this inferior contract. So, you must jump to 3C over 1S, or
underbid slightly with a raise to 2S.

The fourth suit bid denies four-card support for any major that
opener has bid. Any later raise of such a major will be based on
good three-card support. A raise to game in a secondarily bid major
therefore promises good support for opener's minor suit, in case
opener doesn't want to play a 4-3 trump fit:

                      Opener    Responder
                      1C        1H
                      1S        2D
                      3NT       4S

Responder has S-KQ3 H-A7652 D-9 C-K874. Opener passes with S-AJ104
H-K  D-KJ4 C-QJ653, but bids 6C with S-J765 H-K D-AJ5 C-AQJ65
(playing responder for a singleton diamond). With weaker spades,
responder would have bid 4C over 3NT, hoping to raise spades later.

Responder should be very careful about making a fourth suit bid
with much more than opening bid strength. Opener will assume that
responder's hand is limited to just game-going strength at most,
and will jump to 3NT with as much as 18 HCP. Responder could hardly
raise this to 4NT with only 15 HCP and, say, xx in the fourth suit.
Opener might also have just 15 HCP, and nine tricks could be the
limit of the two hands. If responder does have a very strong hand,
she is on her own. Until she makes a definite slam try, not just
any old jump to game, opener will figure her for no more than mere
game-going strength.

FSA can be used in many ways to show hands that are otherwise
difficult to bid. Opposite a 1C opening, you respond 1H with S-AJ9
H-AQ8765 D-3 C-Q87. Opener rebids 1S. You should now bid 2D, plan-
ning to follow with a forcing 3H bid. If opener bids 3NT over 2D,
you bid 4H, which implies a singleton diamond and strongly suggests
a 3-3 holding in opener's suits (with four clubs, the usual bid
over 3NT would be 4C). It also tends to deny a stronger heart suit,
with which you would bid 3H or 4H over 1S. Opener can now bid 4S
over 4H with S-KQ76 H-2 D-QJ4 C-AK1062.

The complete text of FOURTH SUIT ARTIFICIAL discusses the ap-
plication of FSA when the other side is also in the bidding, and
adds the following sections:

If the Fourth Suit Bid Gets Doubled
-- What now?

If a Raise of the Fourth Suit Gets Doubled
-- What now?

Three-Level Fourth Suit Bids

FOURTH SUIT ARTIFICIAL was published in Popular Bridge magazine,
October, 1977, under the title "Fourth Suit Forcing" (a misnomer,
according to the Encyclopedia of Bridge).