BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

At Love All, your partner deals and opens 4Nt. What would you respond? 4NT is a conventional bid calling for conventional responses. It arises very rarely, but when it does, it is important to know the right answers, and I’ll deal with them during the course of this week.

The first important thing to remember is that this is not a normal Blackwood 4NT and does not call for the same responses. Partner is interested in which aces, if any, you hold; so 4NT is still asking about aces.

On the above hand, you have no ace, and the correct response is 5 ♣ . Remember that once he has heard your response, opener is in charge of the final contract, and you will pass whatever he bids next.

The 4NT opening is forcing and you must respond. Opener will have a certain game in his own hand and will expect to be in a slam, if you hold an ace. This opening 4NT requires you to bid only once, and you will be expected to pass any further bid by partner.