Vil's Tip for Bidding 4441 Hands

Sometimes, the best results can be obtained from very ordinary deals. Often, the lower level contracts can be contested by both sides, with the best judgement in bidding winning out in the end.

Board 24 from Wednesday 15th March Dealer W Nil Vul

	976 T4 AQJ 98732
T A752 7642 KJT5		AJ54 K863 K853 4
	KQ832 QJ9 T9 AQ6

After two passes, East's 11 count is certainly worth opening, but which suit? 4441 hands are not easy to bid, and the rules for which suit to open can be varied and ambiguous depending on who makes them. My rule is simple: just think about what you would bid if partner responds in your singleton.

A bid of 1H with the East hand can not come to any harm, can it, so East should open 1H. That strikes gold and West has enough to compete to 3H if necessary, which it transpires to be the case: South overcalls 1S (Double is WRONG), West bids 2H, and North supports South with a raise to 2S. After two passes, West persists and bids 3H, which according to Deep Finesse can make. If NS keep going, they will be too high and EW still score a plus. The end results on the night show that one East in 3H made for a top score, two Souths were in 2S and made for an equal top score their way, and others were in a number of different contracts but not making.

Scores both ways, as often happens, with the spoils going to the most accurate bidders and players.

Incidentally, if East opens 1D (I wouldn't) and South overcalls 1S, West, in an intelligent partnership, can DOUBLE, which specifically shows 4+ HEARTS and East can now bid up to 3H. Too many people, at both Junior and Intermediate level, do not play suit specific doubles and their partner is left in the dark.

If YOU and your partner can reach an understanding that all your takeout doubles will be “Major Oriented” you will be that much better off than the others who make meaningless doubles simply because they have a smattering of points.