M J Bridge
♦
♠
♥
♣
Bidding
Beginner and above
Your suit is a minor
In traditional Acol an opening bid of four of a minor was game-
Partner would either pass or raise.
I am not convinced by this interpretation. At the very least partner’s choice will have to be based on something less than science.
Presumably this is a hand with no hopes of a slam, and with few prospects of making a contract in no trumps. It is therefore -
And is a bid of four of a minor really going to stop an experienced opponent bidding four of his major with anything like a suitable holding?
True, they might well be forced to make a guess, and they will get it wrong some of the time, but that is the argument for a preemptive opening bid rather an invitational bid.
The logic of this is that the bid should be played purely as preemptive -
And if partner is not being invited to bid a making game how should he respond? Quite simply, he should increase the preemptive effect based purely on trump length -
♠
♥
♦
♣
9
T 7
K Q T 9 7 5 3 2
6 4
With the agreement above open this hand 4♦, although this would not be my choice.
My own view is that the bid in the example above will not deter your opponents in a good quality game.
Personally I would open 5♦ on the hand above when not vulnerable, and possibly when both vulnerable.
See ‘opening at the five-
The alternative is to use these bids artificially, perhaps as the ‘Namyats’ convention.
Context -
Opener |
Overcaller |
Responder |
Advancer |
Opener's rebid |
Overcaller's rebid and beyond |
Responder's rebid and beyond |
The continuing auction |