Tuesday, September 23, 2003 5:22 PM

Hand Evaluation – Serious 3NT ( Fundamentals )

PITBULLS:

Assuming a major suit fit , serious 3NT is an integral part of the slam bidding structure . There is also a Q bidding inference with the serious 3NT when hearts are the agreed trump . Bidding 3NT denies a spade control. Therefore, partner still may have serious slam interest with a 3♠ Q bid so she must Q bid on that basis.

There are some holes in this “serious 3NT” Q bidding structure that must be filled with a Q bidding understanding . This hole comes from the simple Bridge fact that the rank order of Q bidding can result in higher ranking suits shutting out lower ranking suits but you have reached game level. Serious 3NT Q bidding was designed to keep you below the game level. You do not want to go to the 5 level to Q bid as in the American style of Q bidding but you are still interested in slam. So now what ? Q bidding at the 5 level kills Blackwood with the Italian style of Q bidding 2^nd round controls first. You need a way of telling partner you have that control but not go beyond game or Blackwood. This understanding is called “Last Train to Clarksville” which means a bid in a suit just below your major suit game is a serious slam interest but shows the control in a lower ranking suit but not the suit bid.

This understanding is a message to partner. Partner has two inferences on what you did not do . You did not sign off in your major suit game but more importantly you did not take further control by bidding Blackwood . Therefore , you obviously are lacking a key control to bid Blackwood but you making one last attempt at slam in case partner has that control. Last Train Is not that hard a concept. Why is partner not bidding 4NT ? Review the Q bidding to arrive at your answer.

Some sample auctions to further describe the concept:

1♠-P-2♦-P

2♠-P-3♠-P

3NT-P-4♦-P

4♥

You have serious slam interest via your 3NT bid . Partner has denied a club control but you have it or you would have signed off in 4♠ . You are telling partner that you have a club control by still trying for slam . If you had both controls you would bid KCB. …

1♥-P-2♦-P

2♥-P-3♥-P

3NT-P-4♦-P

You have denied a spade control by bidding 3NT . Responder has a spade control but she cannot bid it below game . She does not have a club control or she would have bid it so she is making a last train slam try at slam with the spade control.

1♠-P-2♥-P

2♠-P-3♠-P

3NT-P-4♣-P

4♥

The 4 heart bid is a last try for slam saying opener does not have a diamond control but I am still interested via overall strength. Opener may lack a heart control.

1♠-P-2♥-P

2♠-P-3♠-P

4♣-P-4♥-P

4♣ was a courtesy Q bid so 4♥ is an “asking” last slam try attempt. It says I do not have a diamond control but I am still interested in slam if you do.

1♠-P-2♥-P

2♠-P-3♠-P

4♦-P-4♥-P

Since the 4♦ bidder denies a club control , 4♥ must say I still have interest and the club control but I still do not have enough to take control by bidding 4NT. Over to you ..

1♥-P-2♦-P

2♥-P-3♥-P

4♦ This is simply a diamond control showing no spade or club control with no serious slam interest.

This “Last Train” Q bidding style is a part of serious 3NT theory. Interestingly , Bridge World standard has adopted “Last Train” Q bidding with any slam strain but not serious 3NT . Here is the definition from Bridge World Standard .

“Last Train: Any time there is only one call that indicates slam interest or further slam interest without raising the partnership’s level of commitment, it is a Last Train slam-try, unrelated to the strain named (unless followed by an uninvited further action).”