Bridge Gambling 3nt
The Gambling 3NT by Chris Jagger. I'm not going to pretend that the gambling 3NT is a vital convention that everybody should know, but it is a part of normal Acol, and your partner will probably assume that you are playing it. Moreover, I recently discovered that half of the Tolle team don't know the continuations! Definition: A Gambling 3-NTis a pre-emptive opening bid. The bid is used to describe a hand containing a Minor suit of at least 7 cards in length headed by the AKQat minimum. The hand must not contain any more than an outside Queen or two Jacks, else it is strong enough for a standard opening bid of one-of-the-Minor. Requirements for a Gambling 3NT Your suit must be solid – this means seven cards headed by the AKQJ. With eight cards in the suit you may drop the requirement for having the jack.
Italian Cuebids
(Courtesy of Bob Crosby)
The U.S. style of cue-bidding is very simple. Coupled with the principle of fast arrival, it is also very dangerous. This style of cue-bidding allows cuebids at the 5 level which quite often put the contract at jeopardy when the hands did not fit well. U.S. style cue-bidding means that 1st round controls had to be bid first, 2nd round controls bid second right up and through the 5 level. This bidding avoided Blackwood as we knew the Aces and Kings by cue-bidding anyway. Also implied with the U.S. style of cue-bidding was that you had extra values because you were cue-bidding.
The famous Italian Blue team invented the Italian style of cue-bidding where as long as you obeyed the rule that lowest rank was bid first, you could bid 2nd round control before 1st round. This style was way more accurate for slam bidding but necessitated Blackwood as you did not know how many Aces you had. Improvements in KCB Blackwood over the years made that style advantageous anyway. Cue-bidding 2nd round controls make slam tries far easier and more accurate. The cue-bidding inferences that you do not have 2nd controls avoids dangerous ventures to the 5 level as a one last chance for a slam. This rarefied atmosphere of the 5 level often leads to a disaster.
The principle of fast arrival entailed jammed cue bidding room when one hand was still unlimited. With the majors, the principle of fast arrival has been replaced by the Serious 3NT among world class experts. Also adopted was the Italian style of cue-bidding rather than the U.S. style. With this style of cue-bidding, you do require extra to cuebid if you were opposite an unlimited hand. 3NT was put in the cuebid repertoire as a cuebid saying I have Serious slam interest as opposed to just cue-bidding.
Cue-bidding at the 5 level is just not done with these methods. This understanding leads to the complication of Last Train cuebids. Last Train means you have lower ranking cuebids you could not cuebid below game level. You make a bid just below game to tell partner that you are still interested with that lower ranking control but can not take control of the hand with Blackwood because you have that flaw.
Experts like Fred Gittleman say that cue-bidding at the 5 level is a sign of something has gone wrong with the auction. He even goes so far as defining a 5 level cuebid as Exclusion Blackwood! Playing Italian style cuebids, cue-bidding at the 5 level is dangerous as you do not know how many Aces you have and you may end up in a grand off the trump Ace. The 5 level is definitely for the opponents, when you subscribe to Serious 3NT theory!
When the opponents double your cuebids, the meaning of redouble, pass and bid must change. With American cue-bidding the redouble says I have 2nd round control. With the Italian style, the redouble says I have 1st round control. The pass says I lack a control as that gives partner a chance to redouble to show the next control also. Bidding something freely shows partner the opponents cannot cash two tricks in the suit.
Tom Gandolfo and partner had a bidding misunderstanding based on the above interference over their cuebids. Tom held Qxx KJ1098xx Ax x and opened 1. His partner bid 2, Tom using fast arrival bid 4 to show a hand that he would have otherwise pre-empted but he has an outside Ace.
His partner held Kx AQx Jxx AQ10xx so even with this pre-emptive auction, there is still a chance of slam. Therefore, he cuebid 4 and the opponents doubled. Since partner forced Tom to the 5 level anyway, a cuebid of 5 is a courtesy so does not show extra. However, with the double, the cuebid also tells partner that do not worry about the spade suit or I would have passed telling you that I have nothing in spades. Tom's partner bid 6NT to protect the spade king so a 24 IMP swing occurred. 6 is cold and was not reached at the other table (they pre-empted at the 3 level with an outside Ace), 6NT went down at Tom's table.
My partner was in a cue bidding auction with Ax 10xx Kx A10987x when the opponents doubled partner's Italian style cuebid of 3. He passes as per the above theory to show no control so partner bids 3NT with heart weakness and one stopper which ends the auction. Thank you opponents, for keeping us out of a bad slam.
Gambling 3nt Bridge Convention
Whether you have bought into the philosophy of the 'Serious 3NT' or not, cuebids are still an area to be discussed. Cuebids are a hand evaluation or language bidding skill. The Serious 3NT philosophy is based on no fast arrival to game in a major when partner is unlimited, unless you have no controls outside. Instead, you cuebid even when you have nothing extra. There are 2 styles of cue-bidding, one which is so called standard, the other one which the Italians (Blue Team) made famous. The standard way of cue-bidding of course is 1st round control first, followed by second round controls.
The Italians and Fred Gittleman in his articles on 'Serious 3NT' play the Italian style of cue-bidding. This means that a cuebid can be either a 2nd or 1st round control when initially bid. 2nd round controls include singletons. Therefore, you do not know how many Aces you have so Blackwood is necessary for all slam auctions. We have brought this up before in 'Serious 3NT' discussions but I think it is worth repeating.
x AKQxxx xxx Axx
xxx J10x AKQxx Kx
| 1 | Pass | 2 | Pass |
| 2 | Pass | 3 | Pass |
| 3* |
* Cuebid 2nd round spade control first, then your club ace when convenient. This allows a margin of safety. Standard cue-bidding auction below:
xxx AKQxxx Ax xx
xxx J10x KQ AKQJ10
| 1 | Pass | 2 | Pass |
| 2 | Pass | 3 | Pass |
| 4 | Pass | 5* |
* Oops we are down at the 5 level. With the inference that partner does not have 2nd control in spades or she would have bid it 'Italian style' keeps us out of the 5 level whether we play 'Serious 3NT' or not. Standard cue-bidding does not have this inference.
We think we should adopt the Italian style of cue-bidding but be very careful and use Blackwood for slams. So it does not matter which control you cuebid anymore. Up the line cue-bidding still applies though.
Example:
Kx AKQxxx Axx xx
Axx J10x Kx AKxxx
| 1 | Pass | 2 | Pass |
| 2 | Pass | 3 | Pass |
| 3* | Pass | 4 | Pass |
| 4 | Pass | 4 |
* 2nd round in spades bid before 1st round but who cares? You have them both.
The ability to cuebid singletons will make your splinters more disciplined (possibly always have 4 trump). However, as I mentioned in a previous article, splinters are still a better way to find out duplication of value and stay out of messy contracts.
When you are past Blackwood, cuebids should be first round control.
Here is a hand where a player did not consider a singleton as a control along with her Aces so she violated the rank order of cue-bidding.
Axx Axx x QJxxxx.
I opened 1 and her RHO overcalled 1. She bid 2 showing limit raise or better so I bid 2. They interfered with 3 so now what? She can bid 3 or 4both of which conserve bidding room. However, she choose to bid 4. I bid 4 to play as I was 6-5 and knew we did not have a diamond control. Partner bid 5 which was passed out and I claimed 6.
One of the important points about Italian cuebids is that when partner skips a suit, denying a control in that suit, you must sign off immediately if you don't have a control either.
You pick up: J10xx AKQx xx J10x
Partner opens 1. You make a limit raise of 3. Partner bids 4. What is your call?
Partner's 4 bid has denied a club control, so you must bid 4. A bid of 4 would promise that you hold a club control (indeed, whether it says you hold a heart control is a problem for a high-level partnership discussion!). Last Train bids says that 4 does not show a heart control but a club control. Do not forget that 4 denies both the Ace and King of clubs.
Partner held: AKQxxx x AKQ xxx
It would be great to stop in 4 wouldn't it?
AQxx Jxx KJx AQx
KJ10xxx 109x AQx Kx
| 1NT | Pass | 2* | Pass |
| 3** | Pass | 4 | Pass |
| 4 | Pass | 4*** |
* Transfer
**Super accept
*** Responder bids 4, denying a heart control. The partnership stops just in time. American cue-bidding to the 5 level would be a disaster.
KQxx KQ xx AQxxx
AJxxx xx Axx KJx
| 1 | Pass | 1 | Pass |
| 3 | Pass | 4 | Pass |
| 4 | Pass | 4NT* | Pass |
| 5 | Pass | 6 |
* Responder learns about the heart control at the four level and can bid Keycard Blackwood, locating two keycards and the trump queen, just enough for slam.
One of the important points about Italian cuebids is that when partner skips a suit, denying a control in that suit, you must sign off immediately if you don't have a control either. Let's look at the opening preview hand:
You pick up: J10xx AKQx xx J10x
Partner opens 1. You make a limit raise of 3. Partner bids 4. What is your call?
Partner's 4 bid has denied a club control, so you must bid 4. A bid of 4 would promise that you hold a club control (indeed, whether it says you hold a heart control is a problem for a high-level partnership discussion!). Last Train bids says that 4 does not show a heart control but a club control. Do not forget that 4 denies both the Ace and King of clubs.
Partner held: AKQxxx x AKQ xxx
It would be great to stop in 4 wouldn't it?
You hold K109xxx KQxxx x x and partner opens 1NT 15-17. You transfer to spades and partner bids 2NT which shows a maximum with 3 spades. You bid 3 as a re-transfer and partner bids 3. You cuebid 4 and partner bids 4. You have snow struck gold. Partner has bypassed both the Ace and King of diamonds so you bid Blackwood and +1430 results. AQx AJx xxxx AQx.
Anyway, give Italian cuebids some thought, the Italian way of cue-bidding makes more sense to me than the standard treatment. I will try to coerce Mr. Jones in playing them but he is still dragging his feet about the Serious 3NT (refuses to even discuss it). There are disadvantages to the 'Serious 3NT' as it is too accurate sometimes. When both sides of the partnership are cue-bidding with minimum values while staying out of slam, you assist the opponents on their opening leads.
Klimo says 'Serious 3NT' has got him to some nice slams but has cost him match points on the opening leads! Also the leap to game in a major (a no no with Serious 3NT) makes the opponents lead a little bit more blind. So whether you adopt the 'Serious 3NT' is dependent on your 'religious beliefs' about the game of Bridge to borrow a phrase from Klimo.
Cuebids (Fundamentals)
The basic fundamental of cue-bidding is the rank order of suits. You cuebid in the rank order of suits to give partner extra information. When you bypass a cuebid playing Italian style of cuebids or even the American style, you simply do not have a control in that suit. Serious 3NT theory and Last Train slam tries are in part an extension of the rank order of cue-bidding basics.
Here is well bid hand commented on by Mike Yuen on his blog. The two hands are indicated below:
AQ54 KQJ1043 A107 void
8 A987 K953 A642
The auction goes 1 with a 1 overcall and Mike bids 2 which shows a limit raise or better and nothing to do with the spade suit. The other hand would love to find out if Mike has a singleton spade. In order to do that, you try to solicit a cuebid from partner by cuebid in the rank order of suits. Opener cuebids 3 so Mike complies with a 3 cuebid. Another Bridge principle is in effect here, once a cue-bidding auction ensues and neither side makes the 'death response' of returning to the trump suit a game force is established. Opener, upon hearing partner cue-bidding diamonds makes a 'waiting bid' of 3 trying to solicit a 3 cuebid from partner. Mike makes a 3 cuebid confirming a stiff spade! That's all opener needs to hear, so KCB is next so they reach a grand slam. The key to the grand is the stiff spade. Mike could easily hold xx Axxx Kxxx AKx so of course a grand slam is hopeless. Mike might have chosen a jump cuebid going in which would have simplified the auction greatly. Since he did not choose that bid, there is a strong chance that he does not hold a singleton spade. However partner was careful to get that information from him anyway. The grand slam was a success due to the stiff spade.
Experts have made one exception to “up the line” cue-bidding. Whenever you bypass two suits to make a cuebid when partner has announced none, you are showing the two lower ranking controls also. This understanding in effect gives you a 3 in 1 cuebid. The reasoning is simple enough. Why cuebid at all in the highest ranking suit when you are missing both lower ranking cuebids and partner has yet to show either of them? Bidding space is at a premium when you trying to solicit information from partner which is the concept behind cue-bidding in the first place. A 3 cuebid is not recommended on this auction unless you have an understanding that 3NT from responder shows a spade cuebid (what else could it be?). Mike on the auction, should cuebid 4 after a 3 cuebid as partner is obviously not interested in the minors as he has already announced both controls. Mike’s minor controls can be show later via KCB responses in my opinion anyway.
Gambling 3nt In Bridge
Another fundamental is that once you are past the 4 level, a cuebid shows 1st round control unless partner has already made a cuebid in that suit directly or implied.
Here is an easily bid 7 contract showing that principle in action.
AJ AKxxxx AKxxx void
K10xx x Qxxxx Kxx and the next bid is
| 3 | Pass | Pass | 4 |
| Pass | 4 | Pass | 5* |
| Pass | 5** | Pass | 7 |
* Cuebid shows both 1st round controls in spades and hearts since we bypassed both of them!
Bridge Gambling 3nt
** Cuebid
Bridge Gambling 3nt
Susan Culham uses the same principle of soliciting a cuebid from partner recently. She held KQxx Q10 A AQJ109x and her partner opened 1. She bid 2 and her partner bid 2. This bid normally means 9 red cards have been identified unless you would bid a 4-4-3-2 by bidding a major (stopper bidding style). Susan now bid 2 and partner raised to 3. Susan now deliberately bypassed the rank order of cuebids so cuebid 4. She was trying to solicit a 4 cuebid rather than a diamond cuebid. Partner on this auction could be void in clubs or a maximum of a stiff anyway. Actually the 4 bid is well chosen as partner is not allowed to cuebid 4 without a club control! Partner could have KQxx Q10 AK QJ1098 and bid the same way. When partner has denied a control and you continue with the cue-bidding game, you show a control in the suit that partner does not have. When partner's style is to bid hearts (bidding stoppers) with a balanced hand AJ109 AKJx J10x xx over 4 he is not allowed to cuebid 4 as he knows the partnership is off two cashable clubs. Susan after the 4 bid knew partner had both controls.
These hands show one of the advantages of the Italian style of cue-bidding. When partner bypasses any control, she does not have it. The partnership can make a death response and a futile slam try of KCB or going to the 5 level is prevented. Perry Khakar bid the same hand well and made a trump safety play in the bidding! I held the other hand and opened 1 with AJ109 AKJx xxxx K. Perry bid 2 so we play a pattern style of bidding rather than showing stoppers so I could not bid 2 as that shows 5 or 6 diamonds in our bidding structure. So I chose a bid of 2NT which shows 15-17 HCP's in our weak NT system. Perry bid 3 and I raised to 4. Perry took control with KCB and I responded 5. Perry bid 5NT (specific kings) so I bid 6. Perry now makes the master bid of 6 asking if I held the heart king. I bid 7 saying I indeed held that card. Perry can now count 13 tricks in NT without the spade suit catering to a 5-0 or J109x of spades in an opponent’s hand. The 7NT bid was in effect a trump safety play! Nicely bid!