Gambling 3NT

Rev: June 2, 2000

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Open 3NT when you have a solid seven-card minor, possibly eight. Solid means at least: AKQxxxx (seven cards) or AKJxxxxx (eight cards). You cannot hold an outside ace or king for this bid.

Purpose is to take away bidding room from opponents, or help partner decide on going to game or slam, or make 3NT with a favorable lead and a couple of tricks from partner.

Responses And Rebids

Responder's Bids and Rebids

Opener's Rebids

	Pass = Responder will gamble on 3NT and has a stopper or two in the unbid suits, but not all unbid suits stopped.
	Pass = Responder is willing to play at 3NT because he has stoppers in all unbid suits.

4C = Fear of playing 3NT

	Pass if suit is Clubs
	Bid 4D if suit is Diamonds

5C = To play at 5 of opener’s suit

	Pass if suit is Clubs
	Bid 5D if suit is Diamonds

4H or 4S = Signoff, good suit, wants to play there

Pass

4NT = Quantitative bid

	6NT with an additional trick (i.e. eight-card suit or seven-card suit with an outside Qxx)
	Otherwise pass

4D = Responder has slam interest, asks opener to show a splinter (singleton or void).

	4H = Heart splinter
	4S = Spade splinter
	4NT = minor suit splinter
	5C = no splinter

6C = Small slam in opener’s suit

	Pass if suit is Clubs
	Bid 6D if suit is Diamonds

5NT= Grand slam try in NT

	Bid 7NT with super-solid trump: AKQxxxxx (eight cards); or AKQxxxx (seven cards) with an outside Qxx.
	Otherwise bid 6NT

Defense To Gambling 3NT

Double - Double is for penalty

Four Clubs - A 4C overcall shows hearts and a minor (this is actually the “Astro” convention).

Four Hearts - A 4H overcall shows spades and another suit.

All Other Suit Bids - All other suit bids are natural in meaning

Opening Leads - When a Gambling 3NT opening becomes the final contract, the opening leader should try to lead a winning card. The purpose is to retain the lead, so as to see the dummy and partner’s signal. This way, the best attack can be found.

For example: You have: K9754 AJ83 97 T2

[ 3NT Pass Pass Pass ..... Lead your AH. You will then be able to shift (probably to spades) if hearts are stopped by the enemy. Notice that a spade lead, if wrong, gives you no second chance.