Responder’s second bid and fourth suit forcing

After opener’s simple rebid, responder should have a reasonable idea of how many points the partnership has and the level of contract to aim for: partscore, game, or slam.

It will often be clear whether to sign off, invite, or bid game.

Examples:

Partner        Me

1D                2H (weak)

2S                ?

S xx

H AQJxxx

D xxx

C xx

Partner’s 2S bid is forcing. You have nothing extra in your hand but you do have diamond tolerance, so bid 3D.

Partner        Me

1S                1NT

2C                ?

S xx

H AQJxxx
D xxx
C xx

Not strong enough to bid 2H on the first round, partner has now shown 5+ spades and 4+ clubs.

Even so you can introduce your hearts as a potential contract.

Partner        Me

1S                1NT

2C                ?

S x

H AQxxx
D xxxx
C xxx

You are limited to 6-9 points by 1NT but your hand is minimum. It is likely that a 4-3 club fit your best fit. This is a rare occasion when it is best to PASS.

Partner        Me

1S                1NT

2C                ?

S xx

H AQxx
D xxxx
C xxx

You are minimum again, but with 2 spades and 3 clubs it is best to return to spades with 2S. This is known as ‘false preference’, but partner will find a 5-2 fit easier to play than a 4-3 fit.

Partner        Me

1C                1H

1S                ?

S Qxx
H Axxxx
D KQx
C xx

Partner has at least 5 clubs and 4 spades. You are close to forcing to game but will need partner to be non-minimum.

Bid 2NT, invitational.

Partner        Me

1C                1H

1S                ?

S Qx
H KJxx
D KQx
C Qxx

Partner has at least 5 clubs and 4 spades. You are have game values, a balanced hand, and good stops in the red suits.

Bid 3NT.

Fourth suit forcing

From Andrew Robson’s bridge club:

ANDREW’S TIP: When the first three bids between a partnership are in different suits, a bid of the fourth suit shows a game going hand and asks partner to describe his hand further.

In essence, you have a game going hand but you do not know which game will be best and you need more information. You can also use fourth suit forcing when you are too strong to just bid game.

RULE: FOURTH SUIT FORCING IS FORCING TO GAME

Examples:

Partner        Me

1C                1H

1S                ?

S Qxx
H AKxxx
D KQx
C xx

You have game going values, but it is unclear whether to bid game in no trump, hearts, spades, or even clubs. Bid 2D, fourth suit forcing, and ask partner to describe their hand more.

Opener will bid

  • 2H to show three-card heart support (you can now bid 4H)
  • 2S to show a hand with no special features, that is, not three hearts, no diamond stop, not six clubs (you will bid 3NT as it is the only possible game contract)
  • 2NT with a diamond stop (you can bid 3NT)
  • 3C to show six clubs and four spades (you can bid 3NT)

Partner        Me

1S                2C

2D                ?

S Qx
H xxx
D Qxx
C AKQxx

You have game going values, but 3C is non-forcing and you cannot bid 3NT without a heart suit. So bid 2H, fourth suit forcing, and listen to partner.

Opener will bid

  • 2S showing nothing to say, that is, no heart stop, no club support, no fifth diamond (you can bid 3C forcing to see if partner bids 3S to show six spades)
  • 2NT showing a heart stop (you can bid 3NT)
  • 3C denying a heart stop, but showing three clubs. Partner is probably 5143 distribution and you may not have a good fit, but worth trying 3S to see if partner wants to play 4S.
  • 3D showing five diamonds (you can raise to 4D, forcing, to find the best game)