Wednesday, September 17, 2003 4:11 AM

The Minors - 3NT

 

PITBULLS:

 

          3NT and the minor suits have a special relationship . Nine trick games are way preferable to an 11 trick game . From this simple fact comes a Bridge Law – “you do not pull 3NT to a minor from a position of weakness” . You opened light with your minor and eventually partner bids 3NT . You do not like 3NT and you feel your minor is safer . Do you pull ?  No 3NT is where you gamble it out . In fact your pull is an invitation to bigger and better things. Pulling 3NT to a major is a different story . This does not show extra as you are just groping for a better game. With a minor , 3NT is already a better game !!

 

          The principle of fast arrival is alive and well with minors. Jumping to game in a minor is a red flag saying I am weak and distributional. Taking it slowly and bypassing 3NT has slam try written all over it. 4NT is never Blackwood with the minors. It is normally a resting spot after an aborted slam try.

 

          Axxxx x AKJxx xx     1♠-2♥-2NT-P    3♦-P-3NT-P     All pass . Do not pull 3NT to 4♦ as a 9 trick game is most likely the correct spot. Pulling to 5♦ is unwise.

 

           Same hand different auction      1♠-2♥-3NT-P    All pass . Do not pull 3NT from a position of weakness .

 

           Axxxx x AKQxx Ax     You pull 3NT with this hand to convey to partner that you are slamish.

 

4NT is the death response by partner  and any other bid is a control. In these auctions , partner has limited her hand so these bids are slam tries.

 

          If partner has not limited her hand in any way and there is an established fit, pulling 3NT to a minor is more than a slam try it is KCB .

 

1♠-P-2♣-P        Partners hand is unlimited and a fit established so pulling 3NT is

 2♦-P-3♦-P       not done from weakness. 4♦ is KCB .

3NT-P-4♦

 

 

          1♦-P-3NT-P         What is 4♣ ?   Since responder has limited her hand

            4♣ ?                    with the 3NT bid , 4♣ is a slam try with clubs.

 

Some partnerships feel there is an implied established fit in this auction. Therefore they play 4♣ as KCB in clubs and 4♦ KCB in diamonds. A 3NT bid denying a major must have either diamonds or clubs.

                                                

 

           1♦-P-2♣-P            The 2♣ bidder is unlimited so pulling 3NT to 4♦ is KCB 

           2♦-P-3♦-P            If partner did not like 3NT , a pull to 5♦ is weak.

           3NT-P-4♦                   

 

          Pulling 3NT to a minor is KCB only if you have an established minor fit otherwise it is just a slam try.

 

1♠-P-2♣-P                  4♦ is a slam try not KCB in diamonds as no fit established.

 2♦-P-3NT-P

 4♦  

 

          What Kantar calls “lone ranger” sequences where partner bids her minor multiple times right passed 3NT is not KCB but it is still a slam try and if interested Q bid and if not bid 4NT. 

 

          Here is a recent hand from the Thurs nite game . A Axxx xx AQ1098x    opposite

                                                                                      Kxxx KJ AKxxx Jx

The auction went 1♣-P-1♦-P  

                            1♥-P-1♠-P

                            2♣-P-3NT-P      The fact that partner bid 1♠ before leaping to 3NT directly is that

 

he has too good a hand to jump to 3NT directly . Its like a 4th suit forcing inference to distinguish between the two 3NT bids. Partner should now make a slam try of 4♣ . At the 4 level “kickback” comes into play as 4NT is to play in this auction. After the 4♦ KCB , 6♣ is an excellent slam and makes easily.

 

          Summary : established minor fit and unlimited hands are the concepts for KCB otherwise pulling 3NT to a minor is just a slam try.