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cherdano, on 2013-June-10, 04:05, said:
Sorry, FNJ is insane in this auction.
And this is an easy 4♦ bid first round.
And this is an easy 4♦ bid first round.
I had decided not to reply to the "insane" comment about fit non jump (FNJ) in this auction, but I have changed my mind. In responding, I certainly don't mean to detract or derail the discussion about if this hand with seven diamonds it too good or too bad for other auctions starting with a diamond bid. I would say if I didn't play FJN I would make the very obvious 4♦ bid. However, one is not allowed to see one's hand before you decide what methods you are playing, and I play the "insane" FNJ on this auction.
The purpose of a FNJ on auctions like this is to seek consultation with partner over how best to continue the auction if the opponents bid over our contract (and when made at the four level, "our contrack" would be 4♥.). If you had a fit for partner in hearts, how likely are the opponents to bid over 4♥? You are vulnerable and they are not -- favoring them bidding, and if you have a heart fit -- and especially if you are short in spades -- you know they will bid over 4♥. If you just simply bid 4♥ on all hands worthy of game your partner will be in the blind about how to continue over 4♠. Should he risk the five level, is there a chance for slam, etc.
The FNJ, when used ON THIS AUCTION (the insane auction), conveys very specific information to partner. That info is,
1) I have a fit for hearts
2) Most (often all) of my values are in the FNJ suit and in our agreed suit (here hearts)
3) If they bid on, my hand is interested in doubling them -- for if I was -- I would have bid 4♥ directly (this is part of the most, if not all, my values are in the suits I have shown).
4) I may have slam ambition, but even if I do, I have good diamonds
When the inevitable 4♠ bid comes (assuming the FNJ player is short in spades), your partner will be in position to make the right decision a high percentage of the time. That is, by knowing you have honors in your two suits, and frequently none in the other two suits, but never strong holdings in the other two suits, his decision to defend of bid on is based on sound principles. This is the advantage of the FNJ. An obvious disadvantage is hands where you wish you could bid four of a minor and you lack support for opener's suit, but see testimonial below.
A FNJ of 4♦ on this "insane" auction shows hand like the following (at a minimum)
♠x ♥AQxx ♦KQxxxx ♣xx
♠x ♥Jxxx ♦KQTxx ♣Axx
♠xx ♥ATx ♦KQJx ♣xxxx
and many others. Stronger hands with diamonds and hearts are obviously also allowed, and in fact, if partner is willing to bid over their 4♠ after your FNJ and you have a stronger hand, you know slam is probably a great option, and if you have the stronger hand, you can bid 5♥ over their 4♠ after partner doubles (or even the rare pass), or make some slam move yourself.
Let's look at some random opener hands after a 4♦ FNJ.
The hand opposite the first fit nonjump hand given above was ♠x ♥Kxxxxx ♦Axx ♣AKx, and over 4♠ my partner bid 5♣, we had no trouble reaching 6♥. True some people reached 6♥ without using FNJ, but it just illustrates the point.
What if partner held.....
void KQJxxx KTxx KJT ?
...opposite a fit nonjump in diamonds? A slam try despite no aces seems in order, but surely you are bidding on.
xxx KQxxx x AQJx, ?
...where are declarer's tricks coming from? A double seems appropriate.
void Axxxxx Axx Kxxx, ?
... easy 5♥ bid over 4♠
Tx AKxxx x KJTxx, ?
... another reasonable double of 4♠, partner has good diamonds you have clubs and hearts, where are their tricks coming from. Such double isn't demand partner pass, but all of the normal strength FNJ you would.
And again, on hands where you (as responder) know what you would do to over 4♠ if they bid it, you simply raise to 4♥.
Now, when I catch hands like the one in this thread, i wish I wasn't wasn't playing FNJ here, but I assure you I have had success after success over the years since adopting this method and only the occassional hand were I really wish I wasn't playing FNJ. But amazingly I usually land on my feet being able to make a takeout double to show an offensive hand; most often when partner can rebid his suit despite no promised support or partner has a surprise stack in the opponents preemptive suit. But even here, the double leads to a reasonable outcome. Call FNJ "insane" if you like, but the method from Robson/Segal's book has served me quite well thank you very much. And, especially at matchpoint, the use of FNJ seems the percentage bid (useful more often than a natural, forcing new minor).