BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

South ♠ 10 7 6 ♥ A J 10 8 5 ♦ 8 ♣ AKJ7

South opens 1 ♥ , to which North responds 1 ♠ . South now correctly bids 2 ♣ and North bids 2 ♦ . What should South bid next?

It’s a pretty logical fact that, if you are bidding in two suits and partner has the other two, you’re going no place fast to find a fit. therefore, except in the most extreme circumstances, a partner who has the other two suits than your own would do better to rebid in No trumps than in the fourth suit.

It follows from this that a bid in the fourth suit can be given a conventional meaning. It is, in fact, ‘fourth suit forcing’, and is designed to ask opener to describe his hand further and, in particular, whether he can help towards a stop in the fourth suit for a No trump contract.

It further follows that, if opener can oblige, he should give preference to a rebid in No trumps at the appropriate level.

Here, the ‘fourth suit forcing’ bid is 2 ♦ , and south has no help to offer in this department. Partner must have an interest in game to make this further bid in the light of your fairly weak rebid. In fact, your three card support for his suit, plus the ‘ fourth suit’ singleton, improves the look of your hand. You are not quite strong enough to make a jump raise in partner’s suit, and should be content with 2 ♠ .