FOURTH SUIT FORCING
When we first start playing, an uncontested bidding
sequence in which a partnership bids all four suits, such as 1♣ –
1♥ – 1♠ – 2♦, is
considered completely natural. The opener has shown clubs and
spades, and the responder has shown hearts
and diamonds. After a little while, we learn
that in this situation it is actually unlikely that there is a
suit fit, so the responder, instead of showing his diamonds, may
just as well bid either 2NT (invitational to game with 10-12
points) or go straight to 3NT (with 13-15 points). This leaves the
bid of the fourth suit (in this case 2♦) free
to be used conventionally as a forcing bid, saying nothing about the
fourth suit, but simply asking opener to describe his hand further.
This very useful convention is known as 4th-Suit Forcing (4SF).
Responder should have opening values. For example with a hand such as:
♠75 ♥QJ1083 ♦A43 ♣AK9 in the above sequence, any
of 3NT, 4♥ or 5♣ might be the best final contract. To
decide which, responder needs to find out more about opener's
hand, so he bids 2♦ as 4SF. In reply, opener should
choose the bid which best describes his hand.
First priority is to show partner if you have three cards in his major suit; second priority is to bid NT with
a stop in the 4 th suit. What should opener bid
with the following?
A: ♠KQJ8 ♥K72 ♦9 ♣QJ854
B: ♠AK98 ♥7 ♦K97 ♣QJ873
C: ♠AK98 ♥K7 ♦97 ♣QJ873
With A bid 2♥ to show three hearts
and minimum strength.
Responder can now happily go on to 4♥ knowing there is an 8-card fit.
With B bid 2NT to show a stop in diamonds but a
minimum point count. Responder will go on to 3NT.
With C bid 3♣ to show five or six clubs but no diamond stop. 5♣ is the safest contract.
You need to agree with your regular partner whether to play the convention as forcing to game or forcing
for one round only. 4SF can also be used with stronger hands to find out
more about partner's hand with a view to finding the
best denomination for a slam. Finally, beware of the exception: the
sequence 1♣ – 1♦ – 1♥ – 1♠ is
not normally played as 4SF. The 1♠ bid is natural showing spades,
but you need to agree with partner whether to play it as forcing for one
round. The 4SF bid in this sequence is 2♠.