Game Try - Other Methods of "trying" For Game

Other Methods of "trying" For Game

• Fourth suit forcing (conventional and forcing) – When one of the players (normally responder) can see that game looks likely (25 HCP having been shown by the bidding) but no obvious contract is apparent, bidding the fourth suit can be used to elicit more information from partner. Thus holding: ♠ Qxxxx ♥ Ax ♦ Qx ♣ AJx and with this unopposed Acol bidding: 1♥ – 1♠; 2♣ – ? game should be possible but is it 4♠ (if partner has a 3-card spade suit, yes) or 4♥ (if partner has a 6-card heart suit, yes) or 3NT (if partner has A10x in diamonds, yes)? Bidding the fourth suit (1♥ – 1♠; 2♣ – 2♦; ?) asks partner to give new, useful information to clarify the situation.
• Invitational bids (natural limit bids, non-forcing) – Either as part of, or following, suit agreement, bids at a level one below game are generally considered to be invitational, thus in Acol: 1♥ – 2♥; 3♥ – ? and 1♥ – 3♥; ? are both invitational to a 4♥ game contract. The invitation should be accepted (game should be bid) with maximum points and declined (by passing) with minimum. For suit contracts this method has largely been supplanted by game try bids as above. However, it is still widely used for NT contracts, thus 1NT – 2NT is invitational to bid game in 3NT
• Stayman convention – At its simplest a 2♣ response is used following an opening bid of 1NT to enquire whether opener has a 4-card major suit. Depending on the answer, responder will pick the best game contract.