This Week in Bridge
(553) 4NT in Competition
© AiB Robert S. Todd
Level: 8 of 10 robert@advinbridge.com
General
When the opponents stay out of our auctions, we usually have clear agreements about the meaning of a 4NT bid – usually Quantitative in a NT auction and Keycard in a suit auction - but in a competitive auction we are more likely to use 4NT as a bid showing two places to play. Let’s look at some of these auctions so we know what partner is trying to do to when they use 4NT in a competitive auction.
4NT Still Keycard?
There are some auctions, usually ones where partner has a lot of bidding space, where 4NT in competition is often still used as Keycard.
Example 1
1♠ 2♦ 4NT
Here we should discuss with partner if 4NT is used as Keycard in ♠ or if it is a quantitative bid, inviting slam and showing a ♦ stopper or control. Keycard is probably the more common and useful agreement. A quantitative bid would show 18-19 points and a balanced hand with no fit, which seems like a very rare hand when partner has opened the bidding and one of the opponents has made a 2-level overcall.
With a balanced hand strong hand, we can start with a negative double or “lie’ and make a free bid into a 4-card minor to force opener to continue to bid. We can find a way to investigate slam on the next round of the bidding.
4NT as Two Places to Play
In auctions where the opponents bid all the way to 4♠, we no longer have a negative double to search for another fit.
Example 2
1♥ 4♠ __?
♠ 83
♥ 4
♦ KQJ92
♣ AJ832
In this auction, 4NT is primarily used to compete in the bidding showing length in both minors. It is at least two places to play, but certainly not 3-card ♥ support. Normally we use a Negative Double with both the unbid suits, but those are only on up to 4♥ interference, so we need to use 4NT.
Example 3
1♠ 2♦ 4♠ 4NT
P __?
Here we should assume that partner has two places to play when they bid 4NT. The classic example here would be 5-5 in the other two suits, but it may be possible to have a long ♣ suit and Honor doubleton in ♦. If that is a possible hand that Advancer can have, then Overcaller must be careful not to assume partner has both the other suits. Using a 4NT bid is slightly more complicated in this auction.
Special Use of 4NT for Slam Tries
We can also use 4NT as a slam try.
Example 4
1♥ 4♠ __?
With a ♥ fit and a hand that just wants to play game, Responder simply bids 5♥. If Responder is interested in investigating a slam, then they can start with 4NT.
1♥ 4♠ 4NT P
5m P 5♥
This sequence is a ♥ raise that is stronger than simply bidding 5♥ -- this is a slam try!
Conclusion
In competitive auctions, 4NT bids can be complicated. They can lead to a lot of confusion and possible misunderstandings. It is worth spending some time talking about when these bids are Quantitative, when they are Keycard, and when they are scrambling – two places to play. The opponents love to attack when they have the ♠ suit, so it is important for us to have good agreements on how to deal with their 4♠ bid if they get the auction that high!