Expressing 4441 type via a 2NT rebid

2NT as a 3 suited hand - asking bid method

Bail out now if you don't like asking bids . I use my own idiosyncratic responses to 2 and generally that's a 2 light positive. I think 'standard' two level positives should work - but haven't really experimented. Partner's 2NTshows a 2-5 losing trick count three suiters. You are going to use several levels of asking bid to find out

1. Rough strength and precise shortage. Repeated calls in this suit are then efficient further asks
2. Precise losing count, and whether partner has singleton or void
3. The number of 'Blue Club' controls (A=2, K=1 point)
4. Whether we hold the queen in our trump suit

With an awful hand you may scramble at the 3 level, or offer 3NT with a diamond stop "only"

2* - 2
2NT* - 3NT This shows a hand whose only feature is a diamond stop. opener should pass with 4-5 losers

Otherwise - all sequences start ..

2* - 2 (light positive relay)
2NT* - 3? (first asking bid)

here we go ..

• First ask (always 3) is for broad loser count and "bid below" the shortage
  • 3 = 4-5 losers, short hearts
  • 3 = 4-5 losers, short spades
  •     3 = 2-3 losers, short unspecified minor
        ... needs to be disambiguated with a 3NT ask (see below)
        ... safe because of the extra power
  • 3NT = 4-5 losers short clubs (note: "suit below" pattern continues)
  • 4 = 4-5 losers, short diamonds
  • 4 = 2-3 losers, short hearts
  • 4 = 2-3 losers, short spades
  The 2-3 loser short minor hand These reflect space constraints of a 2NT rather than 2 method. But with our extra strength it is safe
  • 3 = opener 2-3 losers, short minor (mnemonic: Spades, Short minor, Strong)
    Only 7 steps are available between 3 and a possible 4 spot, but it is enough. This call has to work harder, and a
    special sequence (given below) has to be added to sort this one out
  • With only a diamond suit (and a stop) responder "raises" 2NT to 3NT rather then asks 3? It's the only way to safely reach 3NT on this as otherwise opener may reply 3 or 4. Of course should openers shortage be elsewhere you have a nice diamond fit! For this call assume opener has about 18. A typical hand might be 83 Q72 KJ107 J963
• Second ask (in the shortage) is for "further definition" - step responses
  (See special ask below when opener shows strong with a short minor)
  • Step 1 = 5 losers + singleton
  • Step 2 = 5 losers + void
  • Step 3 = 4 losers + singleton
  • Step 4 = 4 losers + void
  If opener has shown upper range short major its the same, but 3 and 2 losers. There's then always space for ..
• Third ask (in the shortage) is for "Blue Club" controls - step responses
  • When lower range (4-5 losers) on a scale of step-1=4, 5, 6 ..
  • When lower range (2-3 losers) on a scale of step-1=6, 7, 8 ..
  • an Ace = 2 "Blue Club" controls
  • a King = 1 "Blue Club" control
  • Singleton aces count - singleton kings don't
• Forth ask (rare: in the shortage, or 5NT if lower) is for queens not held
  This sounds bizarre, but grand slams lacking a trump queen may annoy team-mates. The 4441 hand is asked to bid the lowest suit (which may be his shortage) without a queen. Partner then passes, or sets the suit with the understanding that opener must raise 6 to 7 if he holds that queen. Convoluted, but it always works!
• Special sequence Recall we had only 7 steps, but 8 hand types. The bidding has gone ..
  2* - 2 (light pos.)
  2NT* - 3? (first ask)
  3* = 2-3 losers, short minor
  We will to use 3NT to unwind this ambiguity. This is therefore an unplayable 3NT spot, but in the context of opener having both majors. If opener has short diamonds it's the usual 'bid below' ...
  • 3NT? - 4 = 2-3 losers, short diamonds ... followed by normal second ask 4? as above
  With short clubs - opener make a step response as if a 4? second ask has already been made ..
  • 3NT? - 4 = 3 losers + singleton club
  • 3NT? - 4 = 3 losers + void club
  • 3NT? - 4 = 2 losers + singleton club
  • 3NT? - 4NT = 2 losers + void club
    .. followed by entirely normal third ask continuations as above

This is not a railway track. Responder may judge to terminate asking bids at any time, setting the contract which opener must pass. The only artificial bids not in the short suit after 3 are 3NT after 3, and 5NT alternative forth ask. We like to keep 4NT to play, but you could use it as alternative 3rd ask. Imagination pays in these hands and you should generally bid out the sequences to the limit and apply the asking sequence tips below.

Scrambling a fit with weak responding hands

Getting the most out of asking

West KQTx AK9x AQTxx void	East A9xxx x Kx Q9xxx	Auction (hover over bids for notes) 2   -   2 2NT   -   3 3   -   3NT 4   -   5 5   -   5NT 6   -   6 7   -   pass
Discussion

• 2 - 2 is semi positive (QQ+ or K+ in my style)
• Over 2NT 3 is ideal as we must have a fit in a black suit
• After 3 we need the extra 3NT further relay to untangle the minors
• There is no explicit 2nd ask here. With short clubs Opener pretends his partner has asked 4
  East (only) now knows spades will be trumps ..!
• At the 3rd ask 5 shows 6 controls
• After 5NT (lower!) ask West bids 6 being the lowest suit lacking a queen
• 6 now set the suit and invites 7 - accepted with Q
  Note: you still bid this missing the club queen
  With a different red queen you might have to cross-rufff, establish a heart etc

Notes and tips

• It pays to take the plunge if your hand is suitable. Any 18+ or 16+ with goos controls. If in doubt go with both majors, and hold with both minors
• Losers: Count singleton king a a loser. Qxxx as two losers. The method essentially assumes you will find a fit and uses raw losing count If you don't have 6 controls downgrade a three loser hand to four.
• Controls: Blue Club style with A=2 K=1. Stiff K=none! We found experimentally that with a bare 16-17 points you need 5 controls for safety.
• The weaker your hand - the more you need jacks and tens to provide some stuffing, although coded this system is not a substitute for judgement! However if your controls are very good the hand may crossruff. Conversely they should lead trumps!
• Trumps have to work hard in marginal contracts. You should hold back with 8 and be adventurous with 9 as on a 2-2 break the extra one may be worth two tricks
• We initially insisted on a 5 card minor if the hand was 5440. Other methods are prefered for (eg) the 5044 shape because of a possible useful 5-3 major fit. However it is difficult to bid all 3 suits out (the last might seem a cue) and in practice we found that 5 card majors work unless all the meat is in the major suit. Note that there is just not enough bidding space to identify the actual 5 card suit - just the shortage. Nothing's perfect!
• That extra relay over 3 (strong - short minor) is needed as there are only 7 levels (count them) between 3? and a possibly playable 4. This is the only workable sequence and we found it the hardest to commit to memory.
• The sequence 2NT-3NT is used to show a sound diamond stop and no major interest. This is the only way to reach 3NT as if partner is 4414 - he would reply 4 to the first ask, and you'd be too high. It is quite safe - if partner's singleton is elsewhere you have a good diamond fit! With values use the alternative 2NT-3? It might take you to 4, but will usually be better if you have two suits. This is one reason why I like 4NT "to play".
• The method can fail if your only fit is in clubs - you may land in 4 or have to punt game
• There is usually no need to ask for queens other than the trump suit. and if you are not contemplating grand slam it doesn't matter. Quite commonly after the 3rd control ask you can place the key cards precicely in any case.
• Over intervention use takeout double/penalty pass. The 4441 shape is powerful defensively!
• Against these hands - lead trumps!