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Tactics.

The Gambling 3NT opener is relatively commonly used. Although there can be a little flexibility regarding its use in 3^rd or 4^th seat, in first or second seat it shows specifically a long solid minor suit, at least and often 7-carded, and no ace or king outside that suit. The flexibility may apply to outside honours but the suit should still be solid.

It is thus very specific and one’s partner should know which suit opener holds:

 

 

Should? Well, in the above case, probably! There may be a nagging doubt!
If the partner does not want to stay in 3NT, they can bid 4, which is “pass/ correct to diamonds”, as appropriate. Meanwhile, 4 is a forcing slam try and can be used to ask for a side-suit shortage. (Yes, you are supposed to know which suit partner has!)Of other bids, it would seem 5 too can be “pass/correct”. What about 5?

Anthony Ker “5: pass/correct looks about right. If my partner has diamonds, we get 7 diamonds plus 2 ruffs and AK. If they lead a trump it could be tricky but I'll take that chance. I'm prepared to defend 5 hoping for 3 red suit tricks. And if my partner has clubs, she will correct to 6 and the opening lead will be crucial. They have to cash 2 diamonds on the go or watch us make all the tricks.”

An opponent’s double might alert West to the fact that 5 is not natural were West to hold clubs. I am not sure that that “pass/ correct” bid is universally used.

There are several aims to one’s bid here. Pass would be an interesting semi-suicidal action at unfavourable vulnerability though it seems unlikely that South would take no action were East to pass. However, surely with no spades, East will bid. Following on the pass/correct path are:

Steph Jacob “5: I’m going on a “hunch” that partner has diamonds and I’m going to bid 5, which makes my LHO have a little bit more of a problem if they want to come in with spades. This may make as it has some chance with getting a favourable lead, fingers crossed!”

Yet, others are maybe less sure of what 5 does mean.

Kris Wooles “5: If partner hadQ and a club void, we could make 7 (assuming that’s his suit) but without Q and with a trump lead, even 5 may fail. Balancing this, I’d bid 5 expecting a 5 response and hope for a non-diamond lead.”

Michael Cornell “5: Given the methods suggested I bid 5 pass/correct.

If partner has diamonds, obviously more likely ,this will be virtually cold if they have and should have play, legitimately or otherwise opposite many 7 card suits( e.g.  it will certainly not be obvious to lead a trump when that would often be the best lead for the defence)”

 

Andy Braithwaite “5: I would not pass for sure with that spade void.

It looks almost certain that partner has long diamonds but even with short clubs, there will only be a maximum of 11 tricks. So I bid 5 pass or correct so as to not give any information away to assist in opposition’s lead- asking for and then showing a shortage would encourage a trump lead which I would not want.”

 

So no 4 bid for Andy who expects/ hopes to be declarer in 5.Expressing similar thoughts but expanding to possible opposition action is:

 

Bruce Anderson “5: Obviously, it is more likely partner has solid diamonds and will correct to 5, but where is the spade suit? South now has to make his/her first bid at the 5 level and 5 may well be going down. If 5 was passed out, that contract may make on a non- trump lead.”

 There is another issue which makes the following take a different route:

Nigel Kearney “4: The main reason for this is lead direction. Their suit is higher and they are not vul so I expect to often be defending 5 on this hand. Over 4 from LHO, I will try 5, but if they compete to 5 over that, I would really like a heart lead. Even if I leap to 5 immediately over 3NT, it might not keep them out.”  

And not liking our methods which are, I believe, fairly standard.

Stephen Blackstock “4H: Sure, I don't have the suit or the values for this - but I badly want a heart lead against a N/S spade contract, likely about to be bid on my left. If partner pushes on, I will have to live with that, but I expect 5x to be set only one, no great tragedy.

 

The response style we are told to use is crazy. It's normal to use both 4 and 4 as pass or correct, not just 4 as here. Using our Director's methods, we must choose 4 p/c, potentially playing there with 11 or even 12 tricks lay down, or 4 game force knowing that in the likely event partner has a diamond suit, we will be set in game by competent defenders absent a very lucky fit. 4 pass/correct avoids that problem. Had I wanted better methods, I would have been forced to abstain, but here the need to direct the lead is so important other issues are swept away.”

And finally, even with thoughts of a 6-level pass/ correct bid is:

 

Wayne Burrows “5: Partner is unfavourable so 3NT should be the real deal. For me seven tricks would not be enough so I am going to expect eight probable diamonds. We only have 16 or 17 points plus maybe some stray queens and jacks. They have a lot of spades and one opponent has passed so there must be a good chance that South is waiting to come into this auction. 

It's barely possible that we could have or steal a slam - eight diamonds, two hearts, and a couple of spade ruffs on a non-trump lead and a way back to partner's hand( say 3181 and a spade lead). We have probably two hearts and partner's ace only in defence against 4. If we make 5 or even 6 of a minor, then their spade contract will be a paying sacrifice.

 

I think it is right to pre-empt. If I bid at the four-level, they will usually come in and then do the right thing over our 5. If I bid at the five-level, they will sometimes do the wrong thing immediately. 

So I bid 5. I really want to bid 6 but I do not think we will make often enough although the times they misdefend will be fun.”

 

Would 5/5 have won the auction for East-West here? You be the judge:

 

That West hand is not quite Wayne’s “real deal”.  However, it could cajole South into taking a shot at 5.

 

Were West to declare 5, Q lead is a possibility. Declarer’s joy will be short-lived when they try to cash K at trick 2. However, they will be able to ruff two of their spade losers and finish just one down (2 clubs and a spade). With East declarer, AK and a trump switch would see this contract 2 down.

 

Meanwhile, 5 should be a level too high but if West leads a high diamond and does not find a heart switch at trick 2, South can ruff two diamonds, draw trumps and concede a heart trick for 11 tricks.  It seems that our 4 bidders do have a point. A second heart before trumps are drawn gives declarer a certain third loser.

 

An interesting choice of actions over partner’s 3NT. Time, perhaps, to check the meaning of 4 and indeed 5. Time, perhaps, to put the pressure on one’s opponents with a leap to the 5-level, as long as you can handle the defence to 5.

 

Richard Solomon

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