Bridge Tips – Bidding, No. 2 - 4-4-4-1 distributions

What do you open with the following hands: -

♠ KJxx ♥ x ♦ AQxx ♣ KJxx
♠ x ♥ QJxx ♦ AQJx ♣ AQxx
♠ Kxxx ♥ AQxx ♦ J ♣ Axxx
♠ KJxx ♥ KQxx ♦ QJxx ♣ Q
♠ Kxxx ♥ Qxxx ♦ Q ♣ Axxx

Answers

1♦. See below.
1♦. See below.
1♣. See below.
1♥. See below.
Pass. Don’t count distributional points in assessing a 4-4-4-1 hand, the chances are that partner is short in your suit. Bidding 4-4-4-1 hands is difficult enough with decent hands, with poor hands it’s even worse! This hand is only worth 11 points so pass.

Bidding 4-4-4-1 Hands

Many years ago, the recommendation for Acol was that, with a 4-4-4-1 hand, you open the suit below the singleton. However, more recent Acol recommends: -

With a red singleton, open the suit below the singleton
With a black singleton, open the middle suit.

This more recent policy allows a suit agreement to be found more easily, where the singleton is black. Here are two examples: -

♠ KQxx ♥ KJxx ♦ AQxx ♣ J
Under the old style, you would open one spade. If partner has four hearts and no other four-card suit, he cannot bid two hearts as this guarantees a 5-card suit, so he has to respond in no trumps and it is very unlikely that the 4-4 fit in hearts will be found.

However, opening in the modern style, you open the middle suit – hearts – and the fit is found immediately.

♠ x ♥ KJxx ♦ AQxx ♣ QJxx
Under the old style, you would open one heart. If partner had four diamonds but less than 9 or 10 points, then he can only bid 1NT as you need 9 or 10 points (depending which you play) to respond at the 2-level. You are likely to pass this and you miss your 4-4 fit in diamonds.

However, opening in the modern style, you open the middle suit and immediately find your 4-4 fit.

Most of the time, a bid of one suit followed by a bid of a second suit promises a 5-4 distribution. Occasionally, a bid of a suit followed by a bid of a new suit after partner responds will be based on a 4-4-4-1 distribution – but this is very seldom, 99% probability or less. Using the modern approach,

If the first suit bid is spades, then the bid of another suit (e.g. 1♠ – 2♣ – 2♥) promises at least 5 – 4 distribution, as no such sequence is possible with a 4 – 4 – 4 – 1 distribution.
Two sequences are possible for 4 – 4 – 4 – 1 for red singletons, quite easy to remember as they are similar: -

1♣ – 1♦ – 1♥ and 1♦ – 1♥ – 1♠.

Two sequences are possible for black singletons, again quite easy to remember because they are also similar: -

1♦ – 1♠ – 2♣ and 1♥ – 2♣ – 2♦.