[maris oren]

Partner opened 1 ♦(4+♦) I responded 1 Nt. He holds 4♥ +5 ♦, but only 14 HCP. What should he bid? How does he show his 4♥?

[smerriman]

Why does he want to show his 4 hearts? He knows you don't have 4 hearts or enough for game, so he can pass.

[mw64ahw]

Why show 4♥ when your 1NT presumably denies 4♥?

If 3451 partner has you covered as at worst he will have 4♣
If 1453 2♣ may be the better contract.

So either Pass or 2♣

[LBengtsson]

I am only making a guess here but did your 1NT hand have a poor 4 card ♥ suit and you missed a fit? 1NT after partner opens either 1♣ or 1♦ shows that you do not have a four card major. Even with ♥/♠5432 you should respond with either 1♥ or 1♠ as that is how bidding works. It may not the best bid to make but it is most accurate as partner now knows you have 4♥/4♠ or longer.

It just as important to find 4/4 major suit fits at a low level as 5/3. Bidding them at the one level allow you to do that.

[mycroft]

Pass. Your first priority as responder (in a 5 card Major system) is to show a 4-card major, if you have enough strength to bid at all (and sometimes, even if you don't). Even if it's ♥5432. By bidding 1NT you have denied one. Therefore, with less than game values and no major fit, opener chooses to play the best scoring partscore.

[apollo1201]

maris oren, on 2021-October-13, 02:28, said:

How does he show his 4♥?

By tabling dummy after his RHO leads against your 1NT contract😁!

[Douglas43]

I like mw's point about hands which are specifically 1-4-5-3. Responder has denied four cards in either major, so you have at least 7 cards in the minors. At pairs I'd be drawn like a moth to a flame by the lure of no-trumps (and worried that the opps will wake up to their nine-card spade fit), but vulnerable at IMPs I might give it a try as two of a minor is likely to be safer than 1NT.
(BTW, referencing Mycroft, the point about responder showing four card majors applies in a four card major system like Acol too)

[bluenikki]

LBengtsson, on 2021-October-13, 04:36, said:

I am only making a guess here but did your 1NT hand have a poor 4 card ♥ suit and you missed a fit? 1NT after partner opens either 1♣ or 1♦ shows that you do not have a four card major. Even with ♥/♠5432 you should respond with either 1♥ or 1♠ as that is how bidding works. It may not the best bid to make but it is most accurate as partner now knows you have 4♥/4♠ or longer.

It just as important to find 4/4 major suit fits at a low level as 5/3. Bidding them at the one level allow you to do that.

There is no law of nature that says the 4-4 major must out-score 1NT. For one thing, the opponents may break the suit for you.

Carl

[bluenikki]

mycroft, on 2021-October-13, 09:47, said:

Pass. Your first priority as responder (in a 5 card Major system) is to show a 4-card major, if you have enough strength to bid at all (and sometimes, even if you don't). Even if it's ♥5432. By bidding 1NT you have denied one. Therefore, with less than game values and no major fit, opener chooses to play the best scoring partscore.

Even 4333 6-count, 5432?

Carl

[paulg]

bluenikki, on 2021-October-14, 10:03, said:

Even 4333 6-count, ♥5432?

Carl

I think most people would respond 1♥ even with this, since you are wrong-siding one no trump as well as missing a potential heart fit. The debate point is probably a 9-10 count where you will be passing a one no trump rebid and it may play better than two hearts.

But, to be honest, most people play suit contracts better than no trump, so even then it is not a big loss to be a level higher in hearts.

[mycroft]

If you bid with that hand, you bid 1M. You do not bid 1NT. Or, if you do, you take the responsibility if 1M would have worked better.

I might just pass a "3333" 6-count (with no ace) - comes under the heading of "not enough strength to bid at all".

[Winstonm]

bluenikki, on 2021-October-14, 10:03, said:

Even 4333 6-count, 5432?

Carl

Yes, you bid your major because you have a partner who may: 1) have a fit and 2) be unbalanced and 3) be strong enough to bid game if a fit is found.

Here’s another way to think about this. Playing 4-card majors, your partner opens 1H. Would you bid 1NT with 3433 6-count? If so, you’ll be looking for partners frequently.