Andrew:

DO bid a cheaper four-card suit before repeating a six-card suit.

With a one-suited shape such as 6322 and 6331, you plan to open and repeat the six-card suit. With a two-suited shape such as 5422 or 5431 ,you plan to bid the five-card suit and rebid the four-card suit.

What about with a 6421 or 6430 shape – in a sense both a one-suiter and a two-suiter? You open the six-card suit, then face a choice of rebids: do you repeat the six or introduce the four? The answer is... it depends. It depends on which comes cheaper. Say you have six hearts and four clubs and 13 points. After opening 1 ♥, you should rebid 2 ♣ over 1 ♠ but 2 ♥ over 2 ♦. Cheaper.

♠ A Q 8 6 5 2
♥ 6 2
♦ K Q 4 3
♣ 2

Open 1 ♠ and rebid 2♦ over 2♣;

but 2♠ over 2♥

♠ A
♥ K J 9 4
♦ 4 2
♣ A J 9 7 4 2

Open 1♣ and rebid 1♥,

over 1 ♦; but 2 ♣ over 1 ♠

There are two other factors you should consider when deciding your rebid with a 6-4 shape: (i) relative suit-quality and (ii) major v minor.

♠ 2
♥ A Q J 9 6 2
♦ K 3
♣ J 8 5 2

Open 1♥ and rebid 2♥ whether

partner responds 2♦ or 1 ♠

Click here to play this deal

South Deals
None Vul

♠	2
♥	A K 6
♦	A J 6 2
♣	A 7 4 3 2

♠	K Q 9 4
♥	Q J 9 5 4
♦	9 5
♣	Q 10

N
W		E
S

♠	10 5
♥	10 7 2
♦	10 8 7
♣	K J 9 6 5

♠	A J 8 7 6 3
♥	8 3
♦	K Q 4 3
♣	8

West	North	East	South
			1 ♠
Pass	2 ♣	Pass	2 ♦1
Pass	6 ♦2	Pass	Pass
Pass

Correctly introducing the cheaper four-card diamond suit in preference to repeating the spades.
What a fabulous hand now that the diamond fit has been found. No need to ask for aces – given that North has three himself.

6 ♦ by South

Lead: ♥ Q

On our deal West led ♥ Q v the good 6 ♦ (although an unlikely trump lead would have left declarer too much to do). Winning ♥ K, declarer crossed to ♠ A and ruffed ♠ 3. He cashed ♥ A, ruffed ♥ 6, then led ♠ 6, ruffing it low (best – even though East could overruff).

If East refused to overuff, declarer could cash ♣ A, ruff ♣ 2 with ♦ 4 and crossruff his way to 12 tricks (making all eight trumps separately). So East overruffed and returned a trump. Declarer rose with ♦ Q underplaying dummy’s ♦ J, ruffed ♠ 7 (with ♦ A), cashed ♣ A, ruffed ♣ 2, cashed ♦ K pleased to see both opponents follow and tabled ♠ J8. 12 tricks and slam made.

Cute – that play of ruffing the third spade low.

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Andrew:

DO bid a cheaper four-card suit before repeating a six-card suit.