Tuesday, May 06, 2003 4:44 PM
Hand Evaluation – Serious 3 NT ( Q
Bidding )
PITBULLS:
“Serious
3NT” is the philosophy behind our
cue bidding after finding a major suit fit
. Invented by Meckstroth – Rodwell, it is based on the “principle
of fast arrival” being misguided by forcing partnerships to make slam tries at
the 5 level after one of the partners to jump to game to show a “minimum” .
Serious 3NT originally invented for 2/1 after finding a major suit fit but
enterprising partnerships have incorporated the bid into Jacoby 2NT , 4th suit forcing , splintering or wherever
there is a strong major suit fit .
The
“serious 3NT” is used where one or both
the partnerships have unlimited hands .
If the hands are limited , the “principle of fast
arrival” still applies . It is the unknown and unlimited nature of one of the
partnership’s hands that demands a Q bid in
case there is slam
. This Q bidding is done as a courtesy so does not show extra .
Unless one partner shows “serious” slam interest by bidding 3NT
, the partnership stays at the game level . The “serious 3NT” demands
more Q bidding from the partnership & Italian style Q bidding
is used . Since Italian Q bids can show 2ND
round control first , KCB is almost always used before
slam is undertaken. Jumps to game to show a minimum in these auctions are not allowed , unless it is a specific type of hand with
no outside controls with values mostly in the trump suit .
Q
bidding is done up the line.
Fred Gittleman has some partnership understandings
with Q bids that an established partnership might want to borrow
. Fred says after partner has made a 2/1 and you Q bid that suit it can
be the queen i.e. one of the top 3 honours !! If the 2/1 Q bids his own suit it must show at least 2
of the top 3 honours !!
In fact , in the order of things ( up the line ) the Queen in partners 2/1 MUST be Q bid before an Ace !
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K |
A |
Q |
x |
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J |
J |
x |
x |
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x |
x |
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x |
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x |
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x |
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One spade
opener, partner responds 2♦ . A 2♠ rebid
brings 3♠ . The
cheapest Q bid is the diamond Queen in partners 2/1 suit !
After
Blackwood we can count 13 tricks in 7 NT because of the diamond
queen .
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A |
x |
A |
A |
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Q |
x |
K |
x |
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x |
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J |
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10 |
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x |
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X |
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The
2/1 Q bidding her own suit to show 2 of the top 3 honours
is a bonus.
1♠ opener ,
partner bids 2♥ . You rebid 2♠ ,
partner raises to 3♠. You bid 4♦ and
partner Q bids her own 2/1 suit showing 2 out of the top 3 honours.
Subsequent investigation shows the trump queen and the Ace of clubs . You now bid your 27 HCP
grand slam . Some new way of thinking necessary to play this style
of Q bidding . After not Q bidding your 2/1 suit you can still have an Ace or King . If
you are still interested in a small slam , Blackwood
can find out if partner has the Ace of her 2/1 . By not Q bidding in the 2/1
suit you may have identified a weakness and you might give up your slam
aspirations. In most cases when partner bids 2/1 she has KQ ,
AQ or AK of her suit . Putting that in a Q bidding structure should work out in
many hands.
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A |
Q |
A |
x |
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K |
J |
x |
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J |
x |
x |
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10 |
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x |
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x |
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Q |
A |
x |
A |
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x |
K |
x |
x |
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x |
x |
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x |
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x |
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x |
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Gittleman does not like Q bidding at the 5 level so has
defined a different meaning for the bid ( exclusion Blackwood
) . I would not go that far . Q bidding past the
Blackwood level must show 1st round control unless the suit has been
Q bid previously . This saves the embarrassment of the
opponents cashing an Ace against your grand J