Fourth Hand Open

[rivlinj]

Hi - I was told that a bid of 2H or 2S in fourth seat is a strong bid, showing 5 or 6 of the major and at least 18 pts. Is that something anyone else has heard of? Is it an actual convention? Would appreciate any feedback.

[hrothgar]

Hi - I was told that a bid of 2H or 2S in fourth seat is a strong bid, showing 5 or 6 of the major and at least 18 pts. Is that something anyone else has heard of? Is it an actual convention? Would appreciate any feedback.

 

 

This agreement is certainly playable, however, in my experience the more common treatment is to use 2♦/2♥/2♠ to show an intermediate hand. (Say 10 - 14 HCP)

 

I would consider the following a prototypical 2♠ opening in 4th seat

 

♠ AQJ972

♥ 6

♦ AQ2

♣ 763

[nige1]

Hi - I was told that a bid of 2H or 2S in fourth seat is a strong bid, showing 5 or 6 of the major and at least 18 pts. Is that something anyone else has heard of? Is it an actual convention? Would appreciate any feedback.

Some play it that way but it just depends on your agreements. Assume that in seats 1-3, you play a strong 2{CL], 3 weak 2s, annd normal pre-empts. In 4th seat, IMO you might well agree

• 2♣ = ART. Strong
• 2♦/♥/♠ = NAT. 10-13. 6-card suit. e.g. ♠ x ♥ K J x x x x ♦ K x x ♣ K J x
• 3♣/♦/♥/♠ = NAT. 10-13. "Solid" suit. e.g ♠ K x ♥ A K Q x x x x ♦ x x ♣ x x

[Stephen Tu]

It's not common to play as so strong. The main thing is you need agreement whether

p-p-p-2♠ is stronger or weaker than

p-p-p-1♠;p-1nt-p-2♠.

 

It's possible to play either way. The weaker range is usually ~10-13-, the stronger range about 13+-15. Stronger is kind of a 2.5 spade rebid in other positions.

[lycier]

It's not common to play as so strong. The main thing is you need agreement whether

p-p-p-2♠ is stronger or weaker than

p-p-p-1♠;p-1nt-p-2♠.

 

It's possible to play either way. The weaker range is usually ~10-13-, the stronger range about 13+-15. Stronger is kind of a 2.5 spade rebid in other positions.

 

For me, my 2♥/♠= 11-13hcp with exact 6-card at most situations, if 14+hcp hold, usually that hand also shows extra values,so I never open at two level.

[lycier]

show an intermediate hand. (Say 10 - 14 HCP)

♠ AQJ972

♥ 6

♦ AQ2

♣ 763

 

May I ask you a question?

How to define " an intermediate hand" ?

For me, " an intermediate hand " shows 13-16hcp, " strong hand" shows 16+hcp in this situation.

[johnu]

Hi - I was told that a bid of 2H or 2S in fourth seat is a strong bid, showing 5 or 6 of the major and at least 18 pts. Is that something anyone else has heard of? Is it an actual convention? Would appreciate any feedback.

 

I can't remember ever seeing an auction where 2♥/2♠ was 18+ (or 12+, 13+, 14+, 15+, 16+, 17+). Maybe they were talking about a reopening bid of 2♥/2♠ which shows 6+ cards in the major and maybe 15-16+ HCP. Why would you want to preempt your side when you rate to have the overwhelming amount of strength on the hand?

[Vampyr]

May I ask you a question?

How to define " an intermediate hand" ?

For me, " an intermediate hand " shows 13-16hcp, " strong hand" shows 16+hcp in this situation.

 

I think that "intermediate" depends on the context, ie intermediate between what and what.

[Cyberyeti]

I can't remember ever seeing an auction where 2♥/2♠ was 18+ (or 12+, 13+, 14+, 15+, 16+, 17+). Maybe they were talking about a reopening bid of 2♥/2♠ which shows 6+ cards in the major and maybe 15-16+ HCP. Why would you want to preempt your side when you rate to have the overwhelming amount of strength on the hand?

 

Well you could be playing Acol 2s, where it's the same as the other 3 seats.

[mycroft]

I usually describe the difference between p-p-p-2M and p-p-p-1M; p-1NT-p-2M as "1M opens up the possibility of playing in your suit; 2M says 'I've got a one-suiter.' "

 

It's not unreasonable to play Acol 2s in 4th seat; it certainly is a good place to pull out the "limited 1 bid". But there's only two people (besides me) in this area who know what an Acol 2 is, never mind how to play them; and they play them in all seats; so I've never had a chance to try it.

[johnu]

Well you could be playing Acol 2s, where it's the same as the other 3 seats.

 

Maybe, but OP's post implies that they aren't playing Acol 2's in the other positions, and do you anybody who plays them only in 4th seat? Still, I suppose there might be somebody out there who plays that way.

[Cyberyeti]

Maybe, but OP's post implies that they aren't playing Acol 2's in the other positions, and do you anybody who plays them only in 4th seat? Still, I suppose there might be somebody out there who plays that way.

 

I've seen it but not for a while, most people (as we do) play some form of intermediate, but some people who remember playing Acol 2s as routine play them in 4th.

[Phil]

Like Stephen says, you are splitting the range of a minimum 1M opener with 6 pieces.

 

Much prefer 2M to be 10-12 and frankly have never seen the value of playing 2M as the top range.