Monday, April 30, 2007 2:14 PM

Major Fits - Courtesy Q Bids

PITBULLS:

Major suit fits bring in the concept of “courtesy Q bids” . This means you can Q bid without showing serious slam intentions in case partner’s hand is unlimited. With our Jacoby 2NT structure , we play a rebid of the major or a stiff which may show an unlimited hand . Therefore a Q bid by responder is done as a courtesy. The Q bidding system structure falls apart unless you have the 3NT bid to fall back on to show serious slam interest opposite an unlimited hand.

It makes no sense to revert to standard Q bidding with majors in one set of circumstances only. If you do not play a serious 3NT within the Jacoby 2NT structure , you must revert to Goren style Q bids that show extra. Courtesy Q bids would be ambiguous and you would have to resort to “fast arrival” with minimums. This is going back to the dark ages when you have a major suit fit. A Q bidding structure should be consistent throughout your system whenever you have a major suit fit. 2/1 , splinters , 4^th suit forcing & XYZ. Exceptions to your Q bidding structure should not be made in your systemic 2NT major fit bid.

1♥-P-2NT-P

3♥-P-3♠ ♠Axxx ♥Kxxxx ♦Kx ♣xx you bid 3♠ as a courtesy in case partner is unlimited . Partner has ♠Kx ♥Axxxx ♦Axx ♣AKx and bids 3NT to show serious slam aspirations and you may get to your grand. Not playing serious 3NT , you would have to bid 4♥ ( fast arrival ) as you have only 10 HCP for your Jacoby 2NT.

You need the serious 3NT to change the flow of control from one hand to the other. If you define the 3NT to show a stiff club , for example, you lose that very important ability. Your hand would have to remain a puppet. Also it is nice for the other hand to bid 3NT to take further control & show serious slam interest. Over the years , serious 3NT has become an integral part of our Q bidding strategy and our Jacoby 2NT structure.