THE VERSATILE 4NT

By Larry Matheny

 

 

Many bridge players use the bid of 4NT only as a tool to ask for aces or keycards.  Today we are going to look at other uses for this powerful bid.  For this lesson we will use the following:

 

1NT   15-17

2NT   20-21

Jacoby Transfers

Takeout Doubles through 4S

 

 

QUANTITATIVE RAISES

 

(1)                                             (2)                                        (3)

Opener         Responder          Opener         Responder        Opener               Responder

  1NT                4NT                  2NT               4NT                1C                      1S

                                                                                            2NT                    4NT

 

Most players are probably aware of these sequences.  Responder is asking opener to pass with a minimum and bid 6NT with a maximum.  If responder has a long suit and just wants to ask for aces, he can jump to 4C to use the Gerber convention.  Here are some other ways 4NT may be used as a natural raise:

 

               (4)                                                   (5)                                                       

Opener         Responder                     Opener         Responder      

  1NT                   2C                            1NT                  2D*

  2H                    4NT                           2H                  4NT  

          

                                                                               

               (6)                                                               (7)

Opener         Responder                       Opener       Responder

   2NT                 3H*                           1D                  4NT

   3S                   4NT

                   

                             

*transfers

 

 

#4  Responder shows 16-17 points with a 4-card spade suit.  If you think this sequence should instead be used to ask for aces, what do you do with this hand: 

 

SAJ87   HK5   DAK65  CJ109 

 

Yes, you could just raise 1NT to 4NT but partner may have a spade fit and a doubleton heart.  There is no reason to miss a spade fit.  So how do you ask for aces/keycards for hearts?  There are (at least) two simple solutions:  1) Jump to 4C, or 2) Bid three of the other major (in this case spades) to establish a forcing raise and then use 4NT. 

 

 

#5  Responder shows 16-17 points with a 5-card heart suit.  If you think this sequence should be used to ask for aces, what do you do with this hand: 


SAKX  HKQ865  DA4  C765 

 

If partner has at least three hearts along with a good opener, 6H might very well be your best contract.  However, with no heart fit, you may be high enough. 

 

 

#6  Responder shows 12-13 points with a 5-card spade suit. 

 

 

#7  Responder show 18-19 points and a balanced hand with no 4-card major.  If he wanted to ask for aces, responder would first make a forcing diamond raise, and then use Blackwood.

 

As you can see, these last four sequences are also invitational raises to 6NT and you just stopped along the way to show a suit.  This is not difficult and can be quite useful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TAKEOUT BIDS

 

The 4NT bid is very useful after a high-level preempt.  You can use a takeout double to show the other THREE suits and 4NT to show TWO places to play.  Here are some examples:

 

              (8)                                                      (9)

OPP                YOU                               OPP             YOU

 4S                  DBL                                4S                 4NT                                             

 

 

              (10)                                                              (11)

OPP     PARD   OPP    YOU                  OPP             YOU  

1S           P         4S      4NT                 1S               4NT

 

 

#8  This is a takeout double for the other three suits such as:

 

S 4  HKJ98   DAQ109  CAKJ8.

 

#9  This is for takeout but with only two places to play.  Partner is expected to bid the lowest suit that he can support.  Here is a typical hand: 

 

S5   HKQ1094   DAJ1098   CK4. 

 

If partner bids 5C, you will bid 5D to show diamonds and hearts.

 

 

#10 This is the same as #9. 

 

 

#11  While you could bid 2NT to show a minor two-suiter, that leaves a lot of room for the opponents to exchange information.  The jump to the four-level puts maximum pressure on the opponents and should leave no doubt that you expect your partner to bid his better minor.  Perhaps one of these hands: 

 

S4    H     D AKJ987   CQJ10987       or       S    HA6  DKJ10976   CAQ1098

 

 

 

SIGNOFF BIDS

 

Here are some auctions that are complex but show you need some way to sign off in notrump when the auction takes you past the three-level.

 

              (12)                                               (13)                                     (14)   

Opener         Responder        Opener     Responder            Opener        Responder         

  1S                 2D*                 2NT           3S*                     1D                    2D*  

  3C                3NT                  3NT           4H**                    3C                    3H

  4D                4NT                  4NT                                      3NT                  4D

                                                                                          4NT

                     *game forcing                     *relay to 3NT                          *forcing raise

                                                              **minors

 

 

#12  Responder forced to game and then indicated “soft” values and no interest in slam.

 

#13  Responder showed a good hand with both minors but opener showed no interest and no fit.

 

#14  Responder really liked his hand for slam but opener did not.

 

 

The important thing to realize is that 4NT in many auctions is NOT ace-asking; it is NATURAL.  Oh yes, you can also use it to ask for aces.