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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).