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Gambling
3 Notrump - An opening bid of 3 Notrump based on a long, solid minor
suit. The 3 Notrump opener anticipates partner holds a stopper in the
suit lead by the leading opponent, then running the long minor suit. Among the
variations, two treatments include:
Gambling 3
Notrump Method 1 - common use: opener has a long running minor suit, either
7 to the A K Q x x x or 8 with the A K x x x x x x with no outside Aces and most
play no outside King (if opened in first or second seat).
| Bidding |
Meaning |
|
3N - P |
Responder has sufficient
outside controls, happy for partner to play with a favorable opportunity
to make game. |
|
3N - 4C; |
Responder believes 3
Notrump is not attainable. 4C allows partner to pass
or correct to 4D if Diamonds was partner's long suit. |
|
3N -
4H/S |
With a long, strong major
suit, responder can pull the contract to an attainable game of their
own. Opener must pass. |
|
3N - 4D |
A forcing bid asking opener
to provide further information, with responder promising a big hand
wishing to explore slam. One variation asks opener to identify a
short suit (Hearts or Spades) or bid 4N denying a short
suit. See below for extensions to the convention. |
|
3N - 5C |
Responder has game values
in the minors but no interest in playing in 3 Notrump. Opener
passes or corrects to 5D |
One problem
with the above structure is that opponents lead through the responders hand,
making the value of an isolated King or tenaces questionable. One
work around is for opener to make an conventional bid of 3S as
a replacement to 3N - this allows responder to accept 3N with
stoppers and ensure the lead comes to the stronger hand. A second
treatment is shown below.
Gambling 3
Notrump Method 2 - advanced treatment: opener has an 8 card weak,
somewhat broken minor suit, no outside Aces and most play no outside King.
For disciplined bidders, the quality of the suit quality improves with the
vulnerability, as:
Non-Vulnerable: Q J 10 x x x x x
Vulnerable: A Q J x x x x x
| Bidding |
Meaning |
|
3N - P |
Responder has sufficient
outside controls, happy for partner to play with a favorable opportunity
to make game. Thus, responder has all 4 suits stopped. |
|
3N - 4D |
A forcing bid asking opener
to provide further information, with responder promising a big hand
wishing to explore slam. Opener identifies a short suit
(Hearts or Spades) or bid 4N denying a short suit. Further,
opener may bid 5C to show a singleton/void Diamond
or 5D to show a short Club suit (Smolen-like). |
|
3N - 5C |
Responder has game values
in the minors but no interest in playing in 3 Notrump. Opener
passes or corrects to 5D |
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