Gambling 3NT - 3 versions

1.

Opening 3NT shows a solid minor with no outside King or Ace. Responder knows that the opposition will start their defence of 3NT by leading aces and can only pass 3NT when it has a reasonable chance of success.

• 4 asks opener to pass or correct to 4
• 4 asks opener to pass or correct to 5
• 5 asks opener to pass or correct to 5

2.

Opening 3NT shows a solid minor with no outside King or Ace. (More Responses)

If responder cannot stand 3NT then he bids:

• 4 which opener can pass or correct.
• 4 response is a willingness to play in 5 of the minor at least and asks opener for his singleton.
  • 4/4 shows a singleton or void in the suit bid and 4NT shows a singleton or void in the other minor.
  • 5 of your minor denies a singleton or void.
• 4/4 shows a 6 card suit and is to play
• 4NT shows a void in opener's suit and asks for suit quality and outside queens
  • 5 of your minor says suit is AKQxxxx with no outside queen
  • 6 of your minor says suit is AKQJxxx or AKQxxxxx with no outside queen
  • 5 of the other minor or 5/5 shows a solid suit with the queen of bid suit.
• 5, 5, 6 asks opener to pass or correct to the other minor.

3.

• 4 response shows an unwillingness to play 3NT and asks opener to pass or correct.
• 4 response is a willingness to play in 5 of the minor at least and asks opener for shortness.
  • 4 shows a singleton or void in hearts.
  • 4 shows a singleton or void in spades.
  • 4NT shows a singleton in the other minor.
  • 5 of your minor denies a singleton or void.
• 4/4 shows a 6 card suit and is to play
• 4NT asks for suit and length quality. Responses are:
  • 5 says suit is AKQxxxx. (7 card suit)
  • 5 says suit is AKQJxxx.(7 card suit)
  • 5says suit is AKQxxxxx. (8 card suit)
  • 5says suit is AKQJxxxx. (8 card suit)
• 5, 5, 6 asks opener to pass or correct to the other minor.

Defence against the Gambling 3NT

• Double = Strong hand. Suggests doubling for penalties if they run to 4-minor.
• 4 = Takeout for the majors with preference for hearts.
• 4 = Takeout for the majors with preference for spades.
• 4/4 = to play

Defensive Play

If their 3NT is passed out and you are on lead, it is often good to start by leading an ace. This is usually not a sound move against a no-trumps contract but it works well against the gambling 3NT. As the opener has little outside the long minor, the ace lead does not set up extra winners in declarer's hand. The ace lead allows you to see dummy and you can almost always then find the best continuation. Dummy's strengths and weaknesses will be revealed and declarer is known to have little outside the long minor. If it is clear that there is no value in continuing the suit led, partner should signal suit preference (high card = high suit, low card = low suit) on this trick.