Four
Card Major Openings by Walt Sturm
Most internationally played
bidding systems are based on four-card major openings. Examples include ACOL, most Big Club
systems, and all Canape systems.
The main reason for this is obvious: any competent declarer knows that
playing in a four-four suit fit is much more desirable than in a five-three
fit. Obviously, permitting
four-card openings greatly facilitates locating a four-four fit, whereas requiring
a five-card major amounts to tying one hand behind your own back.
Now, you may inquire, why are
five-card majors so popular in the USA?
I don`t know. If you have
been playing long enough, you may recall that Goren`s original system,
considered the basis of what we laughingly call Standard American, is based on
four-card majors. It`s been
rumored that the professionals thought that they achieved a sense of security
when using five-card majors when playing with clients, but I personally have
never heard a pro admit this. In
my opinion, five-card major openings lead into the use of some serious
artificiality if you want to bid accurately. If you doubt me, try reading Max Hardy`s latest version of
2/1 game forcing that requires five-card major openings.
Four-card major openings are
incredibly simple and very natural.
First, they eliminate the dreaded and confusing `short club` problems;
minor-suit openings perforce contain at least four cards. Moreover, a major-suit re-bid by opener
promises the original minor is at least five cards in length. There are no restrictions concerning
suit quality.
With more than one four-card
suit, the ranking suit is opened first with only one exception: with both
majors, you open 1H to avoid missing that suit. If responder doesn`t mention spades, you needn`t
either. A spade opening followed
by a heart re-bid guarantees five spades.
Also, reverses are off if responder bids two of a minor.
A heart re-bid guarantees
five but does not deny four spades, i.e., a 2S re-bid denies five hearts and a
NT re-bid denies both four spades and five hearts. Notice that this approach quickly gives responder a more
accurate description of opener`s distribution. The only minor cost is avoiding raising a major opening
immediately with three-card support, but opener`s re-bid will usually tell if
he cares.
The only local objection to
four-card major openings is that you can`t find a partner to play them with
you. Try asking your favorite
partner to give them a shot; he might like them as much as you will. In desperation, feel free to invite me.
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