Friday, August 18, 2006 12:25 AM

Hand Evaluation – Tactics ( The 4 Level )

PITBULLS:

The 4 level has a special status in Bridge. At this level , it is automatically assumed that you have found your fit earlier. Natural bidding at the 4 level is very rare after partner’s opening bid at the one level. The 4 level is reserved for Q bidding , KCB or patterning out. If partner has made a strong jump shift or a jump rebid , responder can not show her natural suit at the 4 level. A bid at the 4 level is a Q bid for partners suit. You must bid 3NT & hide your suit thereby avoiding going to the 4 level naturally. A 4 level bid is not an ambiguous either/or situation..

1♠-P-1NT-P

3♥-P-4♦-P is not natural. This bid implies hearts.

Q bidding & hand evaluation is dynamic. A Q bid may occur because the opponents have all of a sudden have improved your hand. Of course , the reverse is true. If the opponents interfere , they may harm or help the auction. My partner had a hand where the opponents bid helped evaluate his hand. ♠Ax ♥10xx ♦Kx ♣A109876 , partner opened a strong NT . Partner bid 2♠ which shows all the club hands with partner super accepting in clubs. Partner made a slam try by bid 3♦. This normally shows a stiff but he had the impossible 6-3-2-2 hand. Partner encouraged with 3♥ , RHO doubles what do you do ? With 3 small hearts , your hand has dynamically taken a turn for the worse. A XX by you would show 2^nd round control so a pass or returning to the trump suit would probably show 3^rd round control. You only have 11 HCP so a slam would need a super fit so the heart double spells doom . Fast arrival is the way out in these auctions. You leap to 5♣ , so this is cold for +600. You may want to right side the club contract by getting partner to bid clubs with a pass. Bidding at the 4 level has slam written all over it.

When you have splinters or systemic bids that find your minor fit ( implied) under the 4 level in a forcing to game auction , a return to the trump suit at the 4 level by either side is KCB. The key is the forcing to game auction with the fit being found below the four level. Say either partner Q bids again in this auction, 4♣ is KCB because the fit was found when partner bid 2NT confirming clubs.

Implied minor suit fits in a forcing to game auction means the 4 level is reserved for KCB.

1♥-P-2♦-P

3♠-P-4♦ is KCB because the splinter implied diamonds so you found your fit below the 4 level. The 4 level is the benchmark for minor suit KCB .

If the fit was just found at the 4 level , you need Kickback. If the minor fit was found below the 4 level either directly or implied the agreed minor is KCB. Kantar would approve .J