Monday, February 20, 2006 3:48 AM

Hand Evaluation –  Fast Arrival  ( 3NT Rebid )

 

PITBULLS:

 

            A tormentee asked me to define a 3NT rebid after a one level response. One thing I said it is not meant to be is a hand totaling 18-19 HCP. This is ¼  game rubber Bridge thinking. These hands must be described in a different manner because you pre-empt partner with values which is never a good idea. The principle of fast arrival should dictate that a jump to game ( even in NT )  denies  a strong head with HCP’s.  I play a 3NT rebid after a one level response as a “picture bid” . It is a gambling 3NT opening with outside stuff & denying a fit for partners suit ( usually a singleton) .

 

 ♠Kx ♥x ♦Kxx ♣AKQxxxx    1♣-P-1♥-P

                                                   3NT-P-P-P

 

            This understanding now defines your jump rebids in the minor. The negative inference that you did not rebid 3NT with your long minor means that the suit can not be semi-solid or solid ! A jump rebid in a minor asks partner to bid the NT with the appropriate hand & fit in the minor!

 

Here is an auction by two New York experts Neil Silverman & Alvin Roth a couple of decades ago . I find it mind boggling. ♠Ax ♥Kx ♦AKxx ♣AQJxx      opposite ♠x ♥A10xx ♦Q10987x ♣Kx  as you can see they make 7NT or 7 of a minor. The auction went 1♣-P-1♦-P  3NT-P-P-P . Jumping to 3NT to show a huge hand is idiotic. In today’s game , it is a “picture bid” to show a gambling 3NT bid with an outside card with no fit for partners first suit. I would open the hand an off shape 2NT , thru re-stayman find our 6-4 diamond fit & get to 7♦. Not very tough , when you choose not to pre-empt partner by jumping to game.

 

 

            What do you do with 18-19 HCP hands with a stiff in partners suit ? There are two bids that we use to describe those hands ? With 5-4-3-1 hands we are permitted to rebid 2NT with a stiff in partners suit if this right sides the NT.  ♠AQJ ♥J ♦KJxx AQ10xx  reversing to 2♦ is not a very practical bid after a heart response by partner. You are almost guaranteed to “wrong side” the NT. Rebid 2NT with this hand as it gives a reasonable description of the HCP’s and right sides the NT.

 

            The 2nd bid we use to describe these huge HCP hands is an artificial jump shift to 3♣. This bid demands a relay to 3♦ and then you describe your hand. You have ♠AJx ♥Q ♦AJ10xxx ♣AKx   and open 1♦ with partner responding 1♥. This is a 3♣ jump shift which forces partner to bid 3♦. You now bid 3NTso you show a 3♦ rebid that is too strong for the invitational 3♦ rebid.

 

            A jump to 3NT after a forcing 2/1 or a forcing 4th suit auction always shows values similar to a 1NT opening bid. This understanding reserves the 2NT rebid as an either/or bid of 13-14 or 18-19 HCP. This is a common auction .

 

 1♠-P-2♣-P

           2NT-P-3NT-P

           4NT-P-?              Partner shows the 18-19 HCP hand by taking the extra push. You now just do straight arithmetic to see if you have 33 HCP or the equivalent fit in you long suits. Some people reply aces if slam try excepted.

 

            Bridge is a game of suits. In IMPS , good suits should have precedence over everything else including “up the line bidding” . You hold ♠J10xx ♥A ♦x ♣AKQJ10xx  so you open 1♣ and partner responds 1♦. Do not bid 1♠ , leap to 3NT to show partner your solid suit. Partner holds  ♠AKxx ♥xxx ♦AKQxx ♣x   and bids 4♣ KCB with clubs implied. Partner bids 5♦ showing 3 controls and you bid 5♥ as the queen ask and partner bids 5NT saying no outside kings but I do have the queen. Partner now bids 7♣. This is cold and note we missed our 4-4 spade fit which only makes 6. Ah , the power of suits in the game of Bridge.