Friday, February 02, 2007 2:05 AM

2♦ - 3NT Rebid

PITBULLS:

For those who have bought into including 2NT openers in the 2♦ structure , we need some guidelines for the different ranges. I feel that 23 or 24 HCP’s with a 5 or 6 card diamond suit are just too big for a simple 2NT rebid. The hands should be upgraded to a 3NT rebid due to suit length. Flat 23-24 HCP’s hands are just not as good re playability or anything else in Bridge.

OK partner rebids 3NT so what now ? As with the 2NT rebid , Stayman of course does not exist but transfers do exist. 4♣ is still a relay to 4♦ but it is a slam try . The huge hand should not break the relay and just bid 4♦. 4NT by responder is this sequence is a club Q bid and anything else is a Q bid in support of diamonds. 2♦-P-4♦ directly is KCB so responder does not have KCB rights later on in the auction. 4NT directly by responder is quantitative and after the relay , a Q bid. We need this relay ( slam try) as 4♦ directly by responder after 3NT is a transfer to hearts & 4♥ is a transfer to spades !

Tom Gandolfo had a “pushy” slam try tonight. I opened 2♦ and Tom bid 2♥ with ♠xxx ♥Kxxx ♦J9xx ♣xx . I rebid 3NT so what should be responders bid ? Tom could bid 4♣ which I relay to 4♦ and Tom bids 4♥ as a mild slam try. Over 4♥ , I can get out with a 4NT bid. Turns out 6♦ is a 50% grand slam as the hands fit very well. Nobody reached the 6♦ slam which shows how tough it is to bid minor slams with the NT type of hands.

The leap to 3NT pre-empts partner so be very rich in controls for the bid. With a softer 23 or 24 HCP bid 2NT instead. Hand evaluation coupled with natural bidding is an awesome combination. With a “bad 20” open 1♦ and rebid 2NT to keep the 2♦ openers honest.