2- and 3-level Fourth Seat openers

[nickf]

Within the frame work of a standard system, what's contemporary expert thought on the requirements for fourth seat:

 

- 2 level openings (not including 2C), when in 1st-3rd seat they would be some sort of weak hand (say any of the one and 2-suited varieties)?

 

- 3 level openings?

 

- 4 minor openings?

 

 

nickf

sydney

[matmat]

i was under the impression these were supposed to be openingish strength hands with reasonable suit quality and appropriate suit length. ones that would likely rebid the opened suit over most, if not all, responses by p.

[mtvesuvius]

Some of this depends on how willing partner is to occaisionally go for a big number. Most of my partners are relatively willing to play undisciplined pre-empts when in 1st and 2nd Seat. In 3rd seat; anything goes. In fourth seat, the main idea is to come out with a positive score, this means that opening a 7 point hand with a suit to the Queen is going to be a losing proposition. Generally I feel that 9-14 HCP is a good range. 4th seat pre-empts are just to keep the opponents from competing with you. Partner should raise with 10 or 11 HCP and I think this should be taken as invitational. 3 Level pre-empts attempt to do almost the same thing. 3 of a Minor openings can be treated as an invitation to 3NT with a Semi-solid suit, or they can be just like the 2M openings, showing 9-14 HCP and a long suit. I prefer the first idea, but it's up to your partnership to decide. 4 minor openings should always be Namyats... This changes slightly when playing Multi 2♦ or Muiderberg, Muiderberg can be raised to about 8-12 HCP or so... Any other thoughts on this would be appreciated.

 

AJK

[ArtK78]

I define a fourth-seat 2 level opening bid as a hand that would normally open 1 and rebid 2 over any response.

 

A three bid is a mixed opening bid/preempt. A good 7-card suit, a full opening hand but intending to prevent the opponents from entering the bidding.

 

A four bid in a major suit is any hand where you believe you will make game opposite partner's expected 7-11 HCP but slam is extremely unlikely.

[dake50]

Interesting question. As the 'barrage' space using preempts are passed out in 4-seat, seems 2-/3-level could/should be for 'problem' distributions, problem hands(solid suit to rebid but also side 4cM, eg.): 5S-5D fearing 3D>2H too high, 6m-4H fearing 1S response loses H-fit.

 

I like 2-minor(1C forcing in 4-seat frees 2C) shapes to deny S-support, have H-support. With S-support less risk partner inconsiderately bids,rebids his spades to overheat, open 1m here, but 2m warns partner not to expect S-Qxx.

 

3-level semi-solid suits ask tricks(no need Qxx support) to game.

[kfay]

I think 2-level bids are well-appreciated to be intermediate-type bids with 6 trumps.

 

I don't think 3-level bids require any more HCP, just more playing strength, i.e. a longer suit with better texture.

 

As for 3m, well, the other day I held a hand that needed little more than ♣Kx from partner to make 3NT so I opened 3♣, which I thought was kind of invitational to 3NT. Since then a lot of people have suggested that 3m should show a solid minor that's akin to a gambling 3NT. I'm not sure which approach is better but I'm not really worried about it since this is the first time I've had that situation come up in about 5 years of bridge.