THE WEAK 6-4 METHOD
This concept was devised as an augmentation to the convention New Minor Forcing. The foundation of the concept is, as a responder, the ability to show a particularly distributional holding of 6-4 and generally weak values. The origin is unknown. The concept is also based on the fact that a bid of the unbid Minor suit by the responder is forcing, whereas a jump bid in the unbid Minor suit indicates weak values. Several illustrations follow to show these and other features and applications of this method:
North
South
Meaning 1
1
Shows a 4-card Spade suit 1 NT
3
Responder shows a 6-4 distribution and weak values
1
1
Responder shows a 4-card Spade suit 1 NT
3
Responder shows a 6-4 distribution and weak values
1
1
Shows a 4-card Spade suit 2
3
Responder shows a 6-4 distribution and weak values
1
1
Shows a 4-card Spade suit 2
4
Responder shows a 6-4 distribution and weak values
If the auction takes the form of any of the following sequences, then the bid is forcing for one round and the partner is forced to make a further descriptive bid about his holding:
North
South
1
1
1 NT
North
South
1
1
1 NT
North
South
1
1
1 NT
North
South
1
1
1 NT
North
South
1
1
2
2
North
South
1
1
2
3
North
South
1
1
2
2
North
South
1
1
2
3
In case the partner rebids:
Rebid:
Meaning 2 of a Major:
Minimum values with 3-card support 3 of a Major:
Maximum values with 3-card support 2 No Trump:
Minimum values with less than 3-card support 3 No Trump:
Maximum values with less than 3-card support 3 of a Minor:
Less than 3-card support
The concept of the New Minor Forcing convention can also be employed after the opener rebids 2 No Trump indicating minimum values with less than 3-card support. This also indicates that the New Minor bidder promises at least a 5-card plus Major suit with invitational and/or more values than first shown in the bidding auction. The following example should illustrate this feature:
North
South
1
1
2 NT
3
KJ8 AJ865 Q76 72
The concept of the New Minor Forcing convention can also be applied, if the opener rebids 2 No Trump, and the responder is looking for a game contract. The following example should illustrate this feature:
North
South
1
1
2 NT
3
Q7 KQ98 A AQ9763
This concept may not be adaptable to many partnership agreements, but under certain circumstances may prove to be quite effective in its application. If you decide to include this method in your partnership agreement, then your opponents should be made aware of this fact in the proper manner.
If you wish to include this feature, or any other feature, of the game of bridge in your partnership agreement, then please make certain that the concept is understood by both partners. Be aware whether or not the feature is alertable or not and whether an announcement should or must be made. Check with the governing body and/or the bridge district and/or the bridge unit prior to the game to establish the guidelines applied. Please include the particular feature on your convention card in order that your opponents are also aware of this feature during the bidding process, since this information must be made known to them according to the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge. We do not always include the procedure regarding Alerts and/or Announcements, since these regulations are changed and revised during time by the governing body. It is our intention only to present the information as concisely and as accurately as possible.
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