Wednesday, August 07, 2002 11:32 PM

Pulling out of NT

PITBULLS :

A while back we had an email discussing that in IMPS ( match point players may have different ideas ) that if you bid over an invitational 2NT , the bid is forcing . In other words , you can not improve the partial without special understandings like relays. . With a weak  or distributional hand , you must take your lumps in 2NT even though it is an inferior partial and may go down .  IMPS are geared towards games and slams and having a bid over a 2NT invitational as forcing works better towards that end .

What about 3NT bids by the partnership ? It is another Bridge law that you do not pull 3NT to a minor from a position of weakness . You do not try to improve the 3NT contract if you are weak . Pass and hope they misdefend J . This "law" helps slam investigation.  There is one exception to this rule which we will discuss . The major suit has a special status . Say you hold this hand

AQJ10xx void Jxxxx Kx and you open 1♠ and LHO bids 3♥ and partner bids 3NT . You can pull to 4♠ out of a position of weakness . You can not pull to 4♦ as partner may blast you to slam thinking you have something .

AQJ10xx  AKxxx Kx   is a 4♦ pull of 3NT .

With no opponents in the auction and you and you partner bid up to 3NT then if you bid over 3NT you are interested in more . You have described your hand and partner bids 3NT . Pulling now means I have not quite shown my hand as I have way more HCP's then appears . Again the major suit if rebid a number of times is an exception to the rule .

1♠               2♦

2♠               3NT

4♠                                             This pull is out of weakness . If the two spade bidder bids 4♣/4♥/4♦ over 3NT then that is a slam try in spades not running from 3NT with another suit and a weak hand

 Partnerships are so committed to the " you do not pull 3NT out of weakness law" that if you do pull the bid is quite often KCB ! Rule : If you have agreed to the minor below 3NT , pulling 3NT to the minor is KCB

1♦            2♣

 2♦ 3♦

 3NT         4♦                          The 2♣ bidder is obviously very strong and can come up with a better bid then 4♦ to invite a slam . 4♦ is a silly bid so lets make it KCB for diamonds ...

1♦           2♣

   2♦          3NT

   4♣                                          This pull of 3NT shows a slam try but it is not KCB . Why ? In order for

4 of a minor to be Blackwood the fit must be found at the  3 level

What about single handed pull of 3NT's with your suit ? Again this shows a slam try but it is not Blackwood .

1♦            2♣

2♦            3NT

4♦            4NT                        The 4♦ bid is a slam try and 4NT says no way .  Scientists like Klimo would use Kickback here . Kickback is the suit above the trump suit as KCB . In this case 4♥ would ask for Aces .

1♦            2♣

2♦            3NT                        The 4♥ bid is a Q bid slam try in Diamonds ( pulled 3NT ) and 4♠ is a Q bid

4♥            4♠

1♠             2♦

2♠             3NT

4♥                                          This is a strong hand . A weak 6-4 should bid hearts first and then bid 4♠ over 3NT . Pulling 3NT out of a position of weakness is only allowed with a rebid major .

These auctions point out another interesting partnership understanding . In a 2/1 auction what does a leap to 3NT show as opposed to a 2NT bid ?. The popular understanding now is that the leap to 3NT shows extra (15 –17 ) and 2NT the minimum or super max . Why jam your partner with a minimum ? Bid 2NT and let her describe her hand .

Another point needed to bring up . If partner pulls your 3NT as a slam try and you bid 4NT - what is it ?  I think 4NT is to play and Kickback has to be learned quickly !

Anyway , comments appreciated as these auctions confuse coaches also J ...