Dubious Logic

Fourth Suit Forcing (3)

Having taken a time-out to review the changes in the Laws that became effective a week ago, I am going to conclude my review of Fourth Suit Forcing.

To recap, FSF occurs when responder's rebid is in the fourth suit and that bid is now conventional. It will not be required much of the time for with the fourth suit covered, responder can bid no-trumps. Opener will continue to describe his hand taking as a picture for the hand opposite, the values for a two no-trump bid but lacking a stop in that fourth suit. However, because the bid is forcing, responder can use the device not only with the no-trump-without-a-stop but many more. The most common are a strong rebid in responder's first suit and a strong raise of either of opener's. Some examples

After 1♦ – 1♠; 2♣ – 2♥*; 2NT you should bid three spades, forcing. No other approach is really comfortable; an initial two spade response over stresses the suit and were you to jump to three spades after two clubs, that would just be invitational and you surely have game. Additionally, had partner showed five clubs, that might well be a playable spot. Of course, had partner replied two spades – even with a doubleton honour as we saw earlier – you might just make a slam try by again continuing with a forcing three spades to set the suit and see if partner could control-bid four clubs.

Changing the hand slightly:

After the same sequence, you never expected partner to rebid two clubs but what do you do when he does? Again the fourth suit comes to the rescue; if partner rebids two no-trump you can jump to four clubs.

For those of you who like ranges, as partner's simple rebid is unlimited but not forcing, responder tries to keep the auction alive as best he can. Consequently without four of the second suit (in our example, clubs), most hands with 6-9 HCP will bid 2♦. With club support, you will be reluctant to pass and will raise to three clubs with 8-9(10) so with 'eleven-ish', say

You should try fourth suit and three clubs. The immediate raise to four clubs can be kept for five card support and values that invite game. So with the super 5-5 hand, you should do something a bit more special, hence the fourth suit and jump support.

This has been an ambitious topic and much has been left out. For example, I have only considered when the fourth suit occurs at the two level because that is the most frequent. Also there are a number of decisions a regular partnership can take about which bids are forcing and how far the partnership is obliged to go. A simple arrangement is play that fourth suit forces to game. Certainly it is usual to play that fourth suit at the three level is game forcing. Also the use of FSF to describe strong raises and rebids frees up other sequences, such as the raise to four of a minor above or jump bids in the fourth suit, and these can be found other meanings. But in essence, it is not tricky agreement to adopt with the rules as set out and you can elaborate as your game progresses.

Published Saturday 9.Aug.2008