Andrew:

Downgrade a 4333 Shape

When I sort out my cards, there is one shape I am rooting against holding. It almost matters more than how many aces and kings I hold.
The 4333.

Not having a single short suit makes my hand terribly sterile. If people say its “the perfect notrump shape”, that is only because it is completely hopeless for everything else. No ruffing value; yet no length (bar one four-card suit). I would mentally subtract a point for a 4333 shape.
1 NT-?

♠ K96♥ Q104♦ AJ8♣ J732

Pass. Don’t invite game (via 2 NT). Note that my spot cards are no worse than average — in fact I have almost precisely one card of each rank (two jacks and no fives).

Now for a more dramatic auction:
2 NT-4 NT-? Partner has made a quantitative try for 6 NT.

Hand (i)

Hand (ii)

♠ AJ8

♥ AQ62

♦ KJ9

♣ AQ10

♠ AJ

♥ AQ62

♦ KJ9

♣ AQ108

(i) Pass — 21 points is mid-range but the 4333 is a real downer. Reject the slam invite.
(ii) 6 NT. May not make but the 4432 — crucially a second four- card suit — tilts the odds in favour of having a go...

Click to play this deal

South Deals
None Vul

♠	Q 4 2
♥	J 5 4
♦	A Q 4 2
♣	K 4 2

♠	K 9 8 5 3
♥	K 9 8
♦	8 6
♣	7 5 3

N
W		E
S

♠	10 7 6
♥	10 7 3
♦	10 7 5 3
♣	J 9 6

♠	A J
♥	A Q 6 2
♦	K J 9
♣	A Q 10 8

West	North	East	South
			2 NT
Pass	4 NT	Pass	6 NT
Pass	Pass	Pass

6 NT by South

Lead: ♣ 7

Made 6

Made 6

West wisely led ♣ 7 v 6 NT, not ♠ 5, underleading ♠ K (the fourth highest of longest and strongest business breaks down v 6 NT). Declarer beat ♣ J with ♣ Q, crossed to ♣ K and led ♥ 4 to ♥ Q. West won ♥ K (ducking is worse — declarer leads ♠ J to set up his 12th trick via
♠ Q) and led ♣ 5.

Up to 11 tricks now, declarer won ♣ Q and tested hearts, crossing to ♥ J and back to ♥ A. If the suit had not split 3-3, he had the spade finesse (♠ 2 to ♠ J) in reserve. With hearts 3-3, he enjoyed ♥ 6 and could cash out for 12 tricks, without needing the spade finesse.

Now swap ♣ 8 and ♠ 8, so that South’s hand is Example (i), the dreaded 4333. Provided West does not lead a spade from his ♠ K, 6 NT stands no chance.

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Andrew:

Downgrade a 4333 Shape