Wednesday, October 05, 2005 1:54 AM

4NT - Blackwood

PITBULLS:

4NT as Blackwood and our majors go together. We have a rule that 4NT is never Blackwood over their 4 of a major after partner opens a minor. This 4NT bid is a Q bid showing any two suiter. On the flip side , we have a rule that 4NT is always KCB after our major is opened even if they bid the other major at the 4 level. In an uncontested auction after we have found our major suit fit , 4NT is KCB Blackwood . No ambiguity at all. What if the opponents jam us and we have not had a chance to establish a major suit fit ? 4NT is still KCB if partner opened a major. In an uncontested auction , when we chose not to show a fit , 4NT is something else probably just old fashioned Blackwood. In a crowded auction, we must default to KCB with our majors. Generalizations simplify Bridge auctions .

We feel that in a crowded auction up at the 4 level , a rejection of Blackwood in favour of a Q bid going past Blackwood should not imply a fit. The Q bid is a depending on context bid anyway so partner should always ask why partner did not choose KCB when she had the chance. The reason quite often will be that she has a huge hand but does not know how to investigate the correct slam. Do not overuse Q bids when you had 4NT KCB as a useful tool with a major suit fit. A new suit at the game or slam level is not a “one round force” . The Q bid is the only force , so describe your hand to the best of your ability. Bid naturally and no Q bidding allowed as no fit has been implied.

The auction goes 4♦-4♥-P-? AQxx x Ax KQ1098x bidding 4NT as KCB does you no good as showing the heart king as an Ace is not what you want. So you bid 5♦ to describe your slam intentions. Partner will rebid her suit with nothing extra , switch to another suit if she has one or leap in her suit to show a solid suit. Kxx AJ1098x x AJx partner will retreat to 5♥ over your Q bid. Now you bid 6♣ so should partner bid 7♣ ? Lets examine what you did not do . You did not bid Blackwood so there is a lack of a heart fit. You did not bid 5♣ or 6♣ directly as you took the time to Q bid first. You must have the spade ace and long solid clubs and the diamond Ace as a minimum. I think a 7♣ bid is an odds on gamble.

In a major suit auction, a 4NT KCB bid at least established the fit. If you are jammed past the 4 level so KCB is impossible , a Q bid could mean anything. At the 4 level , a Q bid to the 5 level circumventing Blackwood most likely shows a lack of a fit. I think this is a useful understanding to have for established partnerships.

Do not be lazy with Blackwood. If you have room to establish a major fit first with a raise or a Q bid , do it. Rubber Bridge players are lazy and play a jump to 4NT as always Blackwood (implied) . In the real world , a jump to 4NT without establishing a major suit fit is never Blackwood but natural & quantitative. Take this auction 2♠-X-P-3♥* P-4NT . This is not Blackwood ! You had a chance to Q bid 3♠ to show the rock & heart fit ( 3♥ was Lebensohl) and you did not. 4NT shows a flat balanced hand that invites 6NT.

You do not need Blackwood to bid grand slams if no fit established. This fact was demonstrated by Tom Gandolfo , the other night. Tom held AKJ10 Kxx void KJ109xx and opened 1♣ . LHO bid 3♦ and I made a negative double so Tom Q bid 4♦ to show the strength of his hand. Over this bid I made an invitational jump to 5♥ and Tom bid 5♠. I now corrected to 6♣ so what is Tom’s decision ? My 5♥ bid is obviously a slam try trying for a fit and wondering about diamond control. Tom reasoned that I expected to make 6♣ given that he had 2^nd round control of diamonds. Tom had 1^st round control of diamonds so he bid 7♣. I held Qxx AQxx xx AQxx and Tom claimed 7♣ . No Blackwood in that auction.

I like a blanket rule with the minors . 4NT is never Blackwood when a minor has been opened . When the opponents interfere with your auction , 4NT is defined depending on the context of that auction, however Blackwood is never one of the options. Andrew Speers held this hand. AJx KJx AKxx Kxx and partner opend 1♣ vul and the NV opponent pre-mpted 3♦. This is not the hand nor vulnerability to pass and wait for the re-opening double. This is a 4NT bid . Ok the auction defines the bid. Blackwood is not an option so he must have a hand too strong to bid 3NT. What else could the bid be ?

What about a minor pre-empt and the opponents interfere ? 4NT should be to play if not a jump . You are not announcing to the minor pre-empt that you have both minors that is silly. KCB is not an option when any sort of minor has been opened at any level. I opened 3♦ and they bid 4♦ for the majors. Susan held ♠KQ ♥K10x ♦AKx ♣K10xxx and since I opened 3♦ vulnerable , I may hold an outside control. 4NT to play is a two-way shot as it pre-empts them out of their major sacrifice if they have one. An 11 trick game seems awfully high …