Tuesday, May 06, 2003 4:44 PM
Q Bidding – 2/1
PITBULLS:
“Serious
3NT” is the philosophy behind our cue bidding
after finding a major suit fit . Invented by Meckstroth – Rodwell, it is based on the “principle of fast
arrival” being misguided and forcing partnerships to make slam tries at the 5
level after one of the partners to jump to game to show a “minimum” . Serious
3NT originally invented for 2/1 after finding a major suit fit but enterprising
partnerships have incorporated the bid into Jacoby 2NT , 4th suit
forcing , splintering or wherever there is a strong major suit fit .
The
“serious 3NT” is used where one or both
the partnerships have unlimited hands
. If the hands are limited , the “principle of fast arrival” still applies . It
is the unknown and unlimited nature of one of the partnership’s hands that
demands a Q bid in case there is slam
. This Q bidding is done as a courtesy
and does not show extra . Unless
one partner shows “serious” slam interest by bidding 3NT , the partnership
stays at the game level . The “serious 3NT” demands more Q bidding from the
partnership and Italian style Q bidding is used . Since Italian Q bids can show
2ND round control first , KCB is almost always used before slam is
undertaken. Jumps to game to show a minimum in these auctions are not allowed , unless it is a specific type
of hand with no outside controls and values mostly in the trump suit .
Q
bidding is done up the line. Fred Gittleman has some partnership understandings
with Q bids that an established partnership might want to borrow . Fred says
after partner has made a 2/1 and you Q bid that suit it can be the queen i.e.
one of the top 3 honours !! If the 2/1 Q bids his own suit it must show at
least 2 of the top 3 honours !!
In
fact , in the order of things ( up the line ) the Queen in partners 2/1 MUST
be Q bid before an Ace !
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K |
A |
Q |
x |
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J |
J |
x |
x |
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x |
x |
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x |
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x |
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x |
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One spade and partner responds 2♦ . A 2♠
rebid brings 3♠
. The
cheapest Q bid is
the diamond Queen in partners 2/1 suit !
After
Blackwood we can count 13 tricks in 7 NT because of the diamond
queen .
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A |
x |
A |
A |
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Q |
x |
K |
x |
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x |
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J |
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10 |
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x |
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x |
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The
2/1 Q bidding her own suit to show 2 of the top 3 honours is a bonus.
1♠ and partner bids 2♥ . You bid 2♠ and partner raises to 3♠. You bid 4♦ and partner Q bids her
own 2/1 suit showing 2 out of the top 3
honours. Subsequent investigation shows the trump queen and the Ace of clubs . You now bid your 27 HCP
grand slam . Some new way of thinking necessary to play this style of Q bidding .
After not Q bidding your
2/1 suit you can still have
an Ace or King . If you are still interested in a small slam , Blackwood can
find out if partner has the Ace of her 2/1 . By not Q bidding in the 2/1 suit
you may have identified a weakness and you might give up your slam aspirations.
In most cases when partner bids 2/1 she has KQ , AQ or AK of her suit . Putting
that in a Q bidding structure should work out in many hands.
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A |
Q |
A |
x |
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K |
J |
x |
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J |
x |
x |
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10 |
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x |
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x |
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Q |
A |
x |
A |
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x |
K |
x |
x |
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x |
x |
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x |
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x |
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x |
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Gittleman
does not like Q bidding at the 5 level and has defined a different meaning for the
bid ( exclusion Blackwood ) . I would not go that far . Q bidding past the
Blackwood level must show 1st round control unless the suit has been
Q bid previously . This saves the embarrassment of the opponents cashing an Ace
against your grand J