An interesting one for the “Gambling 3NT” which is bid with a long minor 7+ and normally no outside control. Partner will leave in if he is likely to have a stop in the other 3 suits, otherwise he bids 4♣ which is then passed or corrected to 4♦

More information on gambling 3NT from Bridgebums

2♠ - x - 4♠ - p

p - ?

A classic weak 2♠ opener followed by a weak HCP (10 points) but great distribution and if a fit is found a 5 loser hand.. Then west will go straight to 4♠ as opposite a weak 2 there is little chance for a slam. 3♠ is normally an obstructive bid with 2NT being the route to an invitational raise.

Finally when it comes round to South for a difficult decision. Likely they will make game -420 so with this vulnerability you need to be at most one down -200 as you will be doubled as two down -500 will be a bottom. If you were non-vulnerable and they were vulnerable game would be -620 and you could afford to go 3 down -500, so South could bid 4N (2 suits – not necessarily minors) telling North to bid (never to play) if he bids 5♣  and you correct to 5♦ showing ♦ and ♥s.

Weak 2s

P - 1♣ - 2♥ - 2♠

3♥ - p – p – p

2♥ a weak jump overcall 5-9 and 6 card suit then West should show his 5 card suit with 2♠ and 8+ HCPs as it is a “free bid” then North should support South with 3♥ which is an example of the “law of total trumps” or “law of total tricks”. The law states that “when the points between the two sides are balanced OR your side holds the minority of the points, you are safe to compete to the same number of tricks as your side holds trumps in your longest suit.

In simple words when points are reasonably balanced between the two sides in a competitive auction bid to the level of number of trumps.

More on Law of Total Tricks

P - 1♠ - p - 2♣

P - 2♠ - p – 3NT

2♣ showing a 4+ card suit in an unbalanced hand, East then shows a 5+ card suit and <15 HCPs, this will deny 4♥s so west can see the most likely game is 3NT and as he has the other suits well stopped and 13 HCPs can go there directly as partner opened.

Lead? What should North lead against 3NT? The 7♥ fourth highest of longest suit. (Use the “play it again” function for the hand on the website – to check the play).

p - p - 1♣  - p

1♥  - p - 2NT - p

3NT

Bid 1♥  - when you have 4 / 4 in the majors bid the lowest first, responder can always show the ♠ s if he has them.

The response of 1NT normally shows 15-16 HCPs. So bid 2NT showing 17-18.

With 9 HCPs one has 25+HCPs so raise to 3NT.

Lead 

A♥ Top of sequence, then follow with the Q♥  to show you have the K when it wins. As you are unlikely to get in again as you have no entries play the K♥ . Look for partners discard to see which suit to lead next. North should probably play a neutral card as he can support any of the other 3 suits.

For more information on signals

1♣  - p - 1♥  - p

3♥  - p - 4♥  - p

North has to decide between 2♥  and 3♥ though it is only a 14HCP hand, after partner bids ♥ s your hand becomes very strong and in the ♥ fit you have a 5 loser hand with a good source of tricks with ♣ suit.

South has to decide whether to show support for slam by bidding the ♣ singleton (denying a ♠ control). However ♣ singleton in your partner's suit weakens your hand so 4♥ is probably correct. If South's ♦ s and ♣ suits were swapped around, then bidding the control would be good as the hands would fit well together.

1♦ - 1♥  - 1♠ - p

3♠ - p - 4♦  – p

4NT - p – 5♥  -  p

6♠

Or

3♠ - p - 4NT – p –

5♠ - p – 6♠

Those that did not get to a slam probably bid 2♠ with North rather than 3♠. Though the hand has only 13HCPs, it has good distribution with 4153, quality trump support and 6 losers in ♠.

South should examine slam as with AK♦ , and partner’s ♦ will provide a source of tricks.

Two routes.

1. The best is for south to cue bid 4♦ which shows an interest in slam. This strengthens North’s hand who can bid keycard blackwood. As Spades have been agreed it should not be seen as offering Diamonds to play in. 5♥  shows 2 keycards without the Q so North can bid 6♠.

2. The 4NT is Roman Keycard Blackwood. 5♠ shows 2 keycards out of 5 and the Q trumps. 6♠  as missing one keycard, though risk of losing AK♥   - the reason why sequence 1 is better.

More info on Keycard Blackwood and cue bids

1♦ - 1♥  - 1♠ - p

3♠ - p - 4♦  – p

4NT - p – 5♥  -  p

6♠

Or

3♠ - p - 4NT – p –

5♠ - p – 6♠

Those that did not get to a slam probably bid 2♠ with North rather than 3♠. Though the hand has only 13HCPs, it has good distribution with 4153, quality trump support and 6 losers in ♠.

South should examine slam as with AK♦ , and partner’s ♦ will provide a source of tricks.

Two routes.

1. The best is for south to cue bid 4♦ which shows an interest in slam. This strengthens North’s hand who can bid keycard blackwood. As Spades have been agreed it should not be seen as offering Diamonds to play in. 5♥  shows 2 keycards without the Q so North can bid 6♠.

2. The 4NT is Roman Keycard Blackwood. 5♠ shows 2 keycards out of 5 and the Q trumps. 6♠  as missing one keycard, though risk of losing AK♥   - the reason why sequence 1 is better.

More info on Keycard Blackwood and cue bids

p - 1♦  - p - 1♠  

p - 3♣  - p - 4♣

p  - 4N - p - 5♥ 

p - 6♣ 

North has a choice to respond 1♠  or  2♣ . When you have a hand that is of game forcing strength you can bid the loner minor as you can rebid the major later. If in doubt bid the major first.

South is strong enough to jump to 3♣ .

Difficult decision for North, often 3N is the better contract so he can bid 3N as he has a stop, bid 3♥ as fourth suit forcing or as the hand looks strong for slam, so 4♣ shows both support for ♣ s and suitable for slam with controls (Aces and Kings and voids / singletons).

South then has a choice between 4N keycard blackwood, 6♣s. In minors it is often difficult to explore slams bid using keycard blackwood as often the response will focre you to slam or the grand slam.

1♦  - p - p - x

p - 3N

East struggles to bid as a double would show support for ♥ s and 1N shows the stop in ♦ s but not 15+ HCPs and without the NT shape.

South should pass with only 3 HCPs though tempting to bid ♥ s.

West has a near perfect double,  in position 4 this is a balancing position and West should try to find a bid even with as few as 8 points and a 5 card suit. So east should be cautious with his response the double may be on only 10 points but a good shape 4441 with the singleton in the bid suit. East with an ideal hand opposite the double should jump to 3N with such good stops in ♦ s and almost 15 HCPs.