Monday, April 30, 2007 2:14 PM

Hand Evaluation - Serious 3NT ( Control )

PITBULLS:

Unlimited hand vrs limited hands is a hand evaluation concept that must be understood .Major suit fits with an unlimited hand across from you bring in the concept of “courtesy Q bids” . This means you can Q bid without showing serious slam intentions in case partner’s hand is unlimited. With our Jacoby 2NT structure , we play a rebid of the major or a stiff to show an unlimited hand . Therefore, a Q bid by responder may be done as a courtesy. The Q bidding system structure falls apart unless you have the 3NT bid to fall back on by either side to show serious slam interest opposite an unlimited hand. This of course is also true with the Jacoby 2NT structure

It makes no sense to revert to standard Q bidding with majors in one set of circumstances only. When you do not play a serious 3NT within the Jacoby 2NT structure , you must revert to Goren style Q bids that show extra. Courtesy Q bids would be ambiguous so you would have to resort to “fast arrival” with minimums. This is going back to the dark ages when you have a major suit fit. A Q bidding structure should be consistent throughout your system whenever you have a major suit fit. 2/1 , splinters , 4^th suit forcing & XYZ. Exceptions to your Q bidding structure should not be made with your systemic 2NT major fit bid.

1♥-P-2NT-P

3♥-P-3♠ ♠Axxx ♥Kxxxx ♦Kx ♣xx responder bids 3♠ as a courtesy in case partner is unlimited . Partner has ♠Kx ♥Axxxx ♦Axx ♣AKx so bids 3NT to show serious slam aspirations .You mow may get to your grand. Not playing serious 3NT , you would have to bid 4♥ ( fast arrival ) as you have only 10 HCP for your Jacoby 2NT.

You need the serious 3NT to change the flow of control from one hand to the other. When you define the 3NT bid to mean something rather than a serious Q bid you lose that very important ability to assume control. Your hand would have to remain a puppet as with standard Jacoby 2NT. Also it is nice for the other hand to bid 3NT to take further control & show serious slam interest. Over the years , serious 3NT has become an integral part of our Q bidding strategy & our Jacoby 2NT structure. Do not throw it away by defining 3NT to be something other than a Q bid within the Jacoby 2NT structure.