Bridge - The Scotsman 30/05/12

Although the most common meaning of 4NT is the Blackwood ace-asking convention, or one of its many variants, it is important to remember that 4NT does not always ask for aces. In no-trump auctions 4NT is normally quantitative, inviting slam if partner is not minimum. In competitive auctions, when no suit has been agreed earlier, it shows some sort of two-suiter.

Here, for example, South has an enormous hand, but East’s weak two opener pre-empts his strong opening. If he makes a takeout double North will surely bid hearts, and it will be very difficult to persuade him there is no heart support. Often in such situations you can use the Unusual 2NT to show a minor two-suiter, but that has to be a jump bid. Over 2S 2NT is a natural overcall, typically 17-19 balanced with a spade stopper or two. A jump to 3NT is almost always to play, either a big balanced hand, or a hand with a long running suit and some side stoppers. Over a weak two the only way to show a minor two-suiter is to jump to 4NT.

Here South can virtually guarantee slam in his own hand, provided he can find some support for one of his minors. He has a simple route to the best slam: 4NT asks partner to bid five of his longer minor, which he raises to six.

Liz McGowan