2008-02-22 00:15
Hand Evaluation – 4NT ( Ambiguous Reverses )
PITBULLS:
Reverses
are ambiguous as they can range from an “Ace above an opener” to a game force.
Responder must deal with this ambiguity but how ? One
of the tools of the trade to determine the range
of the reverse is Lebensohl. Opener must
accept the relay with a normal reverse & break
the relay with a top end reverse. This action gives responder
something with which to work. What if responder does not use Lebensohl & instead
supports the suit ? This action shows a positive slam
try from responders
perspective.
Kiz Fung came up with a neat bid tonight on a reverse
auction. ♠Axxx
♥xx ♦Jx ♣A1098x & partner opens
1♣ with Kiz responding a spade
. Partner reverses to 2♥ so 3♣ by
responder sets the suit & the best game & slam investigation follows
after that. “Game before slam” takes precedence so partner bids 3♦ as a Q bid. You bid 3♠
& partner slows down
proceedings with a 3NT bid. Kiz now
suggests a 4NT bid by responder to mean quantitative
for clubs on this auction not
NT. Opener can sign off in 5♣ or bid 6♣ as her options.
This bid has merit as opener does
need extra to make 6♣. Although you have a good hand ,
it is not enough to force to a club slam. One additional invitational step is
necessary so 4NT is idle on this auction. If 4 of a minor is KCB
, 4NT must always be invitational but Kiz
proposes not necessarily just for NT.
A
reverse into a minor should be handled differently. With the minors
, the holy grail is 3NT so we should not use 2NT as Lebensohl.
2NT by responder with a
♣/♦ reverse may wrong
the NT contract. Experts use the 4th suit as Lebensohl
in these auctions.
1♣-P-1♥-P
2♦-P-2♠ is now Lebensohl . Partner must bid
3♣ unless she is so strong , she breaks the
relay.
As
discussed in previous articles , a heart to spade reverse should have 2NT as
a relay rather than Lebensohl. Playing this style means that 2NT is only Lebensohl when the reverse is a minor into hearts. So back to the original hand presented . Is there any advantage to using Lebensohl right away to get an idea of opener’s strength ? Definitely not , as you
may wrong side the NT with your diamond holding . Setting the trump suit
immediately is a time honoured best method for
accurate auctions. However , we do need an
invitational sequence in these auctions so 4NT seems to be an excellent way of
going about the business of inviting. We can not
invite by bidding 4♣ as that is KCB so 4NT
to the rescue.