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- THE 3NT RESPONSE TO A MAJOR OPENING
-
-
- Opener Responder
- 1H/1S 3NT
-
- The requirements are:
-
- -- Qxxx or better in opener's suit
-
- -- A balanced hand, no singleton or void
-
- -- Game-going strength, 13-15 points including distribution
-
- Opener can try for slam by bidding a singleton or void:
-
- Opener Responder
- 1S 3NT
- 4C/4D/4H - singleton or void, slam try
-
- Responder accepts the slam try with a good fit (i.e., no secondary
- strength in opener's short suit), signs off in game with a bad fit,
- bids a new suit when in doubt.
-
- When opener's suit is hearts, there is no way to show spade
- shortness without going past game:
-
- Opener Responder
- 1H 3NT
- 4C/4D/4S - singleton or void, slam try
-
- If responder is too strong for the 3NT bid, he can use the Omnibus
- 2NT response (see chapter OMNIBUS in the book "Marvin's Conventions
- and Treatments").
-
- This artificial raise applies over a double, but not over an
- opposing overcall unless 3NT is a double jump (i.e., over 1S):
-
- South West North
- 1H 1S 3NT - strong heart raise
- 4H - preemptive heart raise
- 2NT - Omnibus
-
- In all other overcalling situations, a jump to 3NT is natural,
- showing 16-18 HCP when negative doubles apply, 13-15 HCP when they
- do not apply. When negative doubles apply, the way to show 13-15
- HCP is to double and then bid 3NT. A strong major raise is shown
- in one of two ways, depending on the overcall:
-
- 1) When the (preemptive) double jump raise to game is available,
- a cue bid shows a strong raise to game:
-
- South West North
- 1S 2C 3C - strong spade raise
- 3S - limit raise
- 4S - preemptive raise
-
- North's 3C bid tends to deny first or second round control of
- clubs, with which she can splinter.
-
- 2) When the double jump raise is not available, a (single) jump
- raise to game is strong:
-
- South West North
- 1S 3C 4S - strong spade raise
- 4C - normal cue bid
-
- With a preemptive sort of raise to 4S, responder should just bid
- 3S. Even though this is not forcing, it is unlikely to be passed
- when there is so much strength outstanding. Either opener or an
- opponent will no doubt bid again. Bidding 3S and then 4S will
- sound to the opponents like you're stretching, which may cause
- them to make a wrong decision (although the opponents should be
- alerted to this possibility). Of course you do not stand for a
- penalty double by opener after this sort of "limit raise."
-
- When an overcall comes at the one level, a simple cue bid is the
- standard slam-interest hand with first round control of the
- opposing suit. A jump cue bid is a splinter bid in support of
- opener's suit, with a probable singleton:
-
- South West North
- 1H 1S 2S - normal cue bid
- 3S - splinter bid
-
- For appropriate action over conventional overcalls, see chapter
- DEFENSE AGAINST TWO-SUITED CONVENTIONS in the book "Marvin's
- Conventions and Treatments." Also see chapter BIDDING OVER A
- DOUBLE in this book.