Monday, March 31, 2003 7:22 AM

Minor Slams 2NT opener/rebid

PITBULLS:

Had a hand Thurs nite with Tom that tests your system after a 2NT opener or a 2NT rebid .

I opened 2NT and hit Tom with x J109x Axxx AJxx . We play the system below over 2NT which Eddie Kantar wrote up on his site . Tom did not have a hand that exactly fit the system . The system was built for 5-5 or 5-4 in the minors so Tom would have to improvise to show 4-4 in the minors . Tom could bid 3♠ which I must relay to 3NT and then bid 4♠ which shows a stiff . If I not have a minor and spades , I bid 4NT which ends the auction. In this hand I would have bid 6♦ as I have no duplication in spades. Tom could have bid it a different way . After a 3♠ relay to 3NT a 4NT specifically shows 4-4 in the minors but is not supposed to have a singleton. Anyway , either route gets you to 6♦ which is cold . Only one pair in the field got there.

What if you opened 1♦ as a lot of the field did and rebid 2NT ? . Again its difficult to bid . Pitbulls playing the Wolffe 3♣ relay to 3♦ and then bids 3NT or 4♦ gets the message across and 6♦ will be reached. The 3NT bid is a slight violation of their system as the stiff spade is not supposed to be there .

Tom and I are adjusting our system because of the difficulties of getting to good minor slams after a 2NT rebid . A 3♣ bid is a relay to 3♦ and slam sequences occur after that . A relay clarifies slam hand tries from non . If you fail to relay , then you are just trying to find the best game with no slam interest . A relay simplifies these auctions …

RESPONDING TO 2NT WITH SLAM INVITATIONAL MINOR SUIT HANDS

It has always been a problem to show the minors in response to a 2NT opening bid.

Opener            Responder (you)

2NT                 3S   (forces 3NT and starts minor suit slam oriented auctions)

3NT                 4C   One-suited slam try hand in CLUBS.

                        4D   One-suited slam try hand in DIAMONDS.

4H    Singleton heart  with both minors

                        4S    Singleton spade with both minors

                        4NT  Both minors (4-4 or 5-4), balanced, not forcing.   

An example of a 3S bid followed by 4C might be:  S. xx  H. Jx   D. AQ9xxx  C. K10x

An example of a 3S bid followed by  4H might be:   S.  xx  H. x  D. AJxxx  C. KQJxx 

An example of a 3S bid followed by 4NT might be:   S. Kxx  H. xx  D. Axxx  C. AJxx

After responder makes a slam try, it is now up to the opener to decide whether to sign off, usually with 4NT or try for slam.

After responder bids 4C, a slam try in diamonds, if opener is interested in asking for keycards, he bids 4D.

After responder bids 4D, a slam try in clubs, 4H the next ranking suit, is the keycard ask in clubs.

After responder shows a singleton HEART, 4S by the opener can be used as "double keycard" asking for aces, kings, and queens of both minors!

As most players don't use that, and probably have never even heard of it, it is  easier to play 4NT as a signoff after a singleton showing response and leaping to slam with a maximum plus a fit for one of the minors. If opener retreats to five of a minor it is up to responder to bid the slam with a maximum.  

"in either major, 4NT by the opener is to play. If opener is interested in slam in either minor, he has to bid it.