Andrew:

Tip: DO bid the cheaper of four-card suits as responder

Tip: DO bid the cheaper of four-card suits as responder

With the goal being to find any fit that exists, responder should bid the cheaper four-card suit – ie the one he comes to first as he works up the bidding ladder. That way no fit will be missed.

Exercise: What should you respond to a 1 ♣ opener with these?

Hand i)

Hand ii)

Hand iii)

♠ A K 4 2

♥ 9 7 3

♦ Q 9 7 2

♣ 3 2

♠ K Q 3 2

♥ J 7 6 2

♦ J 4

♣ 7 6 2

♠ A J 8 6 2

♥ A J 7 5 3

♦ 4 2

♣ 6

With Hand (i) respond 1 ♦, the cheaper of fours. I have seen many bid 1 ♠, muttering words about majors over minors, but the point is that no major-suit fit can be missed by responding 1 ♦ as opener will bid 1 ♠ if he has four spades. And that way the opener, the stronger hand, will be declaring spades, an advantage. Erroneously respond 1 ♠, however, and a diamond fit might be missed.

With Hand (ii) respond 1 ♥, again the cheaper of fours. Not 1 NT – which would deny a higher-ranking four-card suit [or club support – therefore 1 ♣ - 1 NT is an impossible bid!].

With Hand (iii) respond 1 ♠. Whether opener or responder, you should bid five-card suits from the top down. Bid the higher-ranking first, planning to bid the lower ranking next (more
economically).

North Deals
None Vul

♠	J 2
♥	A 7 6 3
♦	A K 6 5 2
♣	3 2

♠	K Q 10 7
♥	Q J 9 8
♦	J 9 3
♣	K 10

N
W		E
S

♠	9 8 5 3
♥	10
♦	10 8 7
♣	Q J 9 6 5

♠	A 6 4
♥	K 5 4 2
♦	Q 4
♣	A 8 7 4

West	North	East	South
	1 ♦	Pass	1 ♥1
Pass	2 ♥	Pass	3 NT2
Pass	4 ♥3	Pass	Pass
Pass

Cheaper of fours. Note that ‘cheaper’ does not mean lower-ranked, it means the suit you come to first as you work up the bidding.
In case partner has raised with three cards (unlikely).
Correcting to the known eight-card major fit (almost always a priority).

4 ♥ by South

Lead: ♠ K

On our deal, a nice 4-4 fit 4 ♥, we see West lead ♠ K. You win ♠ A and lead out ♥ AK. It would be plain sailing if the suit had split 3-2 but, no, East discards on the second round.

Leaving West’s ♥ QJ out, you move to diamonds and must hope for a 3-3 split to avoid losing a spade to go with the certain club and two trumps. You cross to ♦ Q and return to ♦ AK, discarding ♠ 4 as both follow (good). You now lead a fourth diamond (a length winner) and throw ♠ 6 as West trumps. West cashes his other trump and tries ♠ Q but you ruff, play ♣ A and another (losing) and dummy scores the last two tricks, trumping the black-suit return and tabling the long diamond. 10 tricks and game made.

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Andrew:

Tip: DO bid the cheaper of four-card suits as responder