Bidding 4C/4NT

[manudude03]

Partner has shown 12 - 15 points, I have 19 including a pretty fragile length point, no good fit. How do we evaluate the chances of a slam? Sure I may appreciate 4♣ for cue bidding, but will it solve my problem?

 

 

The point is that by cuebidding, you may get partner to do the asking, and he will be in a much better position to place the contract.

 

Yes, that's how GIB plays it iirc. And yes, playing IMPs I do prefer 6♣ 5-3 or 6♦ 4-4 to 6NT if I have that fit and a distributional hand. That's okay but I feel I don't necessarily have to bid 4♣ for that. How about playing natural over 4NT? So if partner is interested in slam and has an unbid suit, they bid 5♣ or 5♦ and we find the fit and slam in a minor.

 

 

The problem with looking for the minor suit fit after bidding a quantitative 4NT is that partner might reject the invite with a minor suit slam on.

[gszes]

because of some recent experiences, I am thinking of advising my partners that 4 Clubs is always gerber and 4 NT is always Blackwood, regardless of previous bids. Bearing in mind the level I am playing at, do you think this is a sensible approach? Thanks

 

I did not read all of the advice (30 responses) but the first few missed an important point ---- it is not reasonable to have (when both are available) to have 2 ways of asking for aces. If you really feel the need to simplify it is probably best (when both bids are available) to use 4c as always gerber and 4n as quantitative. I do not recommend this arrangement because slam bidding involves some of the most creative 9cue bidding) and enriching sequences in bridge (did I mention mind boggling?).

 

It is fine to try and win but learning is much more important than taking short cuts but that is up to you.