Treasure Mine - Systems & Style - Chapter 2 - 4cM - Part IV

(The recent world championship gives us a treasure trove that can be examined to study systems and style implications for success. For this chapter of the study, 4cM stands for 4 card majors, and our look at the recent world championships will focus on the use of openings that show 4 card majors).

While the Round of 16 was quiet for 4cM fireworks, the quarterfinals were not, starting with board 5 of the first of six segments:

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Most NS pairs would not go plus on this board - some reached 3C which starts off with four trump losers, plus side suit slow losers - at the table shown above the German EW got to 3D making. In the Open Room, the German 4cM pair got to 1H making two in one bid:

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The was 6 IMPs. On board 8, their 4cM approach found 4H easily:

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In the Closed Room, 1NT was (12)13-15, and South was contented to find 2H spot:

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That was 6 more IMPs to Germany, who won the first segment 44-19.

In the second segment, we see another example of a 4cM pair having to resort of a 3 card raise - here North out of room bids 3H over 3D. Both tables played in 5D doubled, for a push.

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The third segment shows another 3 card raise, but under no pressure:

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Here 1C was 4+Hs, and North decided to place the contract in 2H if South was minimum - at the other table 1NT was the contract for a push:

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The final board of the 3rd segment saw the opening suit shown to responder key in the decision for responder:

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In the Open Room, shown above, North made a natural 1C opening, and this encouraged South to drive to a club slam. Note the 1S bid by South, over the 1H overcall, denies 4+Ss in their methods, and then 3S showed the singleton/void in spades and slam interest.

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In the Closed Room, 1D showed 4+Ss and said nothing about either minor - thus South was concerned about a misfit and has happy to defend 1H doubled and vulnerable for penalty. 6C was down two, 1H down one, for 7 IMPs to Poland, still much behind in their match against Italy.

The fourth segment saw lots of action on the second last board:

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The Italians had a straight forward auction to 4H, Polland overcalling 2C natural, and Versace trying for slam with 4D, but North not moving forward concerned about wasted club values in the South hand after the 2NT bid showed a stopper.

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In the Closed Room 1C showed 4+Hs, and North jammed to 4H - a nice shot but not very descriptive opposite the wide ranging 1C opening. West had no idea whose hand it was and doubled. East with nothing decided to pass and making 5 was worth 990 to NS and 8 IMPs to Italy, down only 22 IMPs behind.

In the England-Romania match, Gold Townsend use 4cMs, but often open the cheapest of 4 card suits:

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At the other table, with Romania well behind, they quickly reached 6H:

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With the hand having four trumps holding four diamonds this hand played like a dream to make the slam - still Romania had too much ground to make up.

Segment 5 had some 4cM action, but nothing worth posting. Segment 6 started with a 4cM opening and a big swing:

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In the Closed Room, showed above, the auction started 1D-1S;-2C-?. Now West bid 2H fourth suit forcing, and East finally admitted to 4Hs. West having wasted spade values opposite the spade void, signed off in 4H.

In the Open Room:

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1C showed 4Hs and the Poles used some science to reach 6H, a very nice spot if trumps are 3-2, and has some play on some 4-1 trump layouts. Making slam was 11 IMPs to Poland.

They later (on board 24) had another 4cM opening to reach game, but the Italians easiy matched it by opening 1NT and using Stayman. 4cM openings were not involved any further in the match, and Italians won 210-173.