Gambling 3NT by David Bird

A: 3NT. This is a perfect example of the Gambling 3NT. It shows a seven-card minor suit headed by the AKQ and at most a queen outside.

Partner can pass if he has sufficient stoppers in three suits to suggest that 3NT might be made (or if it might be the best place to play anyway). Otherwise, he can respond 4♣, asking to play in 4 of the opener's minor suit.

Decades ago, players might open 3NT on a balanced hand of 25-27 points. Nowadays, such hands are opened with 2♣, leaving you free to play the Gambling 3NT.

Your result so far:

A: Pass. Seven club tricks, along with your two aces, will give you nine tricks in 3NT. You do not have a heart stopper, but (a) the opponents may lead another suit, or (b) if your partner has one or two low spot-cards in hearts and that suit is led, it may break evenly and you will lose only four tricks there.

Your result so far:

A: Pass. Here, you do not expect to make 3NT. You have not been doubled yet, though, and going down several 50s will not be a bad result, Also, if you play in four of partner's diamond suit, that may cost a similar amount to going down in 3NT.

Your result so far:

A: 6♦. You can expect seven diamond tricks from partner and you can add five more tricks in the side-suits. Meanwhile, your singleton spade will prevent you from losing more than one trick in that suit.

Your result so far:

A: 4♣. On this hand, you can expect the opponents to take plenty of tricks against 3NT. You would rather play in four of partner's suit. On such hands, you should respond 4♣, expecting partner to correct to 4♦ when that is his suit.

Here, you know perfectly well that partner has diamonds, but you respond 4♣ nevertheless. A response of 4♦ has a different meaning, as we will see in a moment.

Your result so far:

A: 4♦. 4♦ is a special response to 3NT. It asks partner if he holds a singleton in one of his outside suits. He will respond 4♥ or 4♠ with a singleton in that major suit, or 4NT with a minor-suit singleton. With 7-2-2-2 shape, he will bid five of his long suit.

If you hear of a singleton heart, you will bid 6♣, otherwise 5♣.

Your result so far: