Serious 3NT

One of the worst bidding crimes is showing your values to partner then essentially bidding them again. The Serious 3NT is a tool to get to slams from both sides of the table. The rule for Serious 3NT theory is that either side cuebids as a courtesy in case the other side in unlimited and has slam aspirations. If one side does not bid 3NT when they have the chance there is no Serious slam aspirations. That should be a signal to stay in game unless exceptional distributional hands. cue bidding of course does not show any extra values with Serious 3NT theory. Serious 3NT only applies with a major suit fit and at least a 4-4 fit in trump.

Once you do make a Serious 3NT bid you have indicated to partner that you want to go to slam. Once you have got that bid off your chest and do not have any extra you can bid game with impunity knowing that you have done your duty. If partner does not carry on there must be a reason so the hand probably belongs in game.

A partner and I had a Serious 3NT auction where the principle of bidding your hand the 2nd time came up. Partner opened 1 and I bid 2 which brought 3 from partner. I bid 3 and partner made a Serious slam try with 3NT. I had xxx AK10xxx x AQx so as ordered I bid 4 and partner bid 4. I complied with 4 and partner bid Blackwood. With all the aces we contracted for 6 which was a hopeless slam and went down one. Why was the slam so bad? The main reason was that it was bid from only one side of the table. Partner had a nice hand for his Serious 3NT bid but nothing really extra for a Serious slam try bid. He was all in (to borrow a poker expression) with his 3NT bid so he can bid 4 over my 4 with impunity. Now my judgment comes into play. I have exactly zero HCP in his two suits. I have nice controls outside which I have showed him. I will drag my feet and pass 4 and that’s the limit of the hand. Both sides contributed to the final game contract and avoiding the bad slam.

There is no such thing about being embarrassed about your opener and not show controls when asked by the Serious 3NT bidder or an unlimited hand. An unlimited hand demands a cuebid just as much as a Serious 3NT bid. Say you open 1 with this bow wow A109xxx xx Qx KQ10 and partner bids 2. You choose 2 (maybe 2NT would be better) and partner bids 3. This shows that partner is unlimited and demands a cuebid. You cannot refuse to do so because your hand is bad. The reason will become obvious later in this auction. You bid 4 and partner bids 4 and you retreat to 4. Partner holds xxx KQJ1098 AKJ10 void and partner gives up as you have shown duplication of value in clubs and you never made any Serious slam try yourself. You win 12 IMPs as the spades do not behave and 5 does not make! The opponents were in 5 down one on an aborted slam try!

OK. See what happens when if you do not cuebid 4 as asked by the unlimited hand and bid 4. Partner now knows that there is no duplication of value in clubs! In order to have an opener your points must be in spades and possible the heart Ace. Knowing that you do not have the Ace or King partner now bids 4NT and you are too high. The Serious 3NT philosophy is supposed to allow the partnership to explore slam below game level. If you break the rules you end up like the standard bidders the ignominy of a 5 level contract going one down.

There are a number of unique and useful inferences playing Serious 3NT theory. The jump to game is a picture bid showing no outside controls. This means that partner has good trump or an opener does not exist.

AKQxx Qx QJxx xx

The auction goes:

1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	2	Pass
4

Partner has 109x Kx AKx AKxxx and knows that you do not have the heart Ace. You points must all be in spades for your opener. He bids 6 after your 5 Blackwood response because the slam is better then 50-50 with the known AKQ of trump over there. The heart Ace can be onside or partner can hold the heart queen which makes the slam very very good.

Serious 3NT is the philosophy behind our cue bidding after finding a major suit fit. Invented by Meckwell, 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 jumps 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 cuebid in case there is slam. This cue 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 cue bidding from the partnership and Italian style cue bidding is used. Since Italian cuebids 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.

Cue bidding is done up the line. Fred Gittleman has some partnership understandings with cuebids that an established partnership might want to borrow. Fred says after partner has made a 2/1 and you cuebid that suit it can be the queen i.e. one of the top 3 honors! If the 2/1 cuebids his own suit it must show at least 2 of the top 3 honors!

In fact, in the order of things (up the line) the Queen in partner's 2/1 MUST be cuebid before an Ace!

KJxxxx AJx Qx xx

You open 1 and partner responds 2. A 2 rebid brings 3. The cheapest cuebid is the diamond Queen in partner's 2/1 suit!

After Blackwood we can count 13 tricks in 7NT because of the diamond queen.

AQx xx AKJ10xx Ax

The 2/1 cue bidding her own suit to show 2 of the top 3 honors is a bonus.

1 and partner bids 2. You bid 2 and partner raises to 3. You bid 4 and partner cuebids her own 2/1 suit showing 2 out of the top 3 honors. Subsequent investigation shows the trump queen and the Ace of clubs. You now bid your 27 HCP grand slam. Some new way thinking necessary to play this style of cue bidding. After not cue 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 cue 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 cue bidding structure should work out in many hands.

AKJ10xx QJx Axx x

Qxx AKxxx xx Axx

Subash was telling me that among world class players "Serious 3NT" has replaced the principle of fast arrival in 2/1 auctions and Jacoby 2NT with major suit fits. I have leaned so heavily on that “fast arrival “ principle and that cuebids show extra for so many years it is a drastic change for me. The new way of thinking has the jump to game virtually extinct. Cuebids no longer show extra because the other hand is unlimited. The 3NT bid with a fit has replaced the "slow arrival" trump raise to show the Serious slam try. Advocates of this way of bidding says it drastically cuts down futile slam tries at the 5 level and partner does not pre-empt you out of slams by jumping to game. Experts who play this also play the Italian style of cue-bidding where the cuebid can be 1st or second round control when initially bid. We have discussed this Serious 3NT style in many articles before but as a review let’s review the basics:

1. 3NT is never to play once a major fit has been established. It makes the raise below game now just a noise where before it showed extra. 3NT asks for a cuebid.
2. The jump to game still exists but it is a real dog showing no outside controls. Fast arrival is virtually extinct.
3. Cuebids do not show extra when the other hand is unlimited.
4. 3NT in Jacoby or splinter auctions does not mean duplication of values, fast arrival does mean duplication of value.

Let's bid a couple of hands some the old way and some the new way with Serious 3NT understandings.

AKxxx Jxxx Kx xx

xx AKxxxx Ax KQx

OLD WAY.

1	Pass	2	Pass
4*

* minimum the old way

NEW WAY.

1	Pass	2	Pass
3	Pass	3NT*	Pass
4	Pass	4**	Pass
4***	Pass	4NT	Pass
5	Pass	6

* Serious
** did duty with 3NT
*** good min

AKxxx AKxx Qx xx

xx xxxx AKJxx Ax

OLD WAY.

1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	4*	Pass

* minimum old way

NEW WAY.

1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
3NT*	Pass	4	Pass
4**	Pass	5***	Pass
6

* Serious 3NT ** did duty with 3NT
** good minimum

On both these hands the minimums took the push as the Serious slam try was made with the 3NT bid by partner. These minimums could have been a lot worse so if the big hands were pushy at the 5 level disaster could have occurred. All the bids the new way were bid below game.

One thing I was worried about is that these auctions give too much information to the opponents for opening lead purposes. However, you have an inference that partner did not bid a Serious 3NT so you can leap to game or sign off in game with a minimum armed with that information.

1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
4	Pass	4*

* partner did not bid 3NT and you are minimum

Gittleman does not like cue bidding at the 5 level and has defined a different meaning for the bid (Exclusion Blackwood). I would not go that far. Cue bidding past the Blackwood level must show 1st round control unless the suit has been cuebid previously. This saves the embarrassment of the opponents cashing an Ace against your grand.

Taking Control

There are more Bridge guidelines for when one partner should take control of the bidding. Sometimes that decision has to be made immediately. Partner opens a major and you have a choice between bidding a splinter or Jacoby 2NT. if you have a monster hand why tell partner that you have a singleton? Take control by bidding 2NT and ask partner about her hand. Also just because partner bids 2NT and you have a singleton you are not obliged to show it. You may want to bid a Serious 3NT instead and take control of the hand. Do not fall into the trap of rote rules.

Over cue-bidding is another pitfall partnerships fall into. At some point in an auction one side has to decide to take control by Serious 3NT or by bidding Blackwood. Here is a hand from last Wednesday night that demonstrates that point.

xxx AKJxxx A10 Qx

1	Pass	1	Pass
2	Pass	2	Pass
3	Pass	4*	Pass
4	Pass	4	Pass
4	Pass	?

* Sets trump with partner being a 6-5

Do not jump in forcing auctions. You have way more points than partner can possibly imagine so keep the bidding nice and low. Italian cue-bidding comes to the fore in this auction. The king of diamonds can be shown before your spade control to save bidding room. Anyway, what should you bid after 4? Another cuebid is not productive. Partner has described her hand as a 6-5 with a spade control and the King of diamonds. She can't possibly know that you have this rock, so take control by bidding Blackwood. Partner shows the AK of clubs and the Ace of spades as well as the King of diamonds you knew about. You can bid 5NT as a grand slam invite or just bid 7 clubs yourself. By not taking control, you are discounting a grand slam which is very possible on this auction. The 5NT bid puts partner back in the picture for grand slam purposes.

Playing Serious 3NT it is very important for one partner to assume control. The negative inference of one partner not doing so is a building block of the system. Do not shirk your duty and take control when you should and do not take control when you should not. Experience and bidding judgment is your guide.

Another auction where not taking control led to disaster.

1	2	Pass	Pass
Dbl	Pass	Pass	2NT
Dbl	3	4	Pass
?

You hold x Kxxx Kxx AKQJx, so what do you bid?

Playing the Italian style of cue-bidding it is very important to play cuebids above game as 1st round control and cuebids below game as either/or. You have received enough information to take control of this auction. Partner has shown at least 10 probably 11 cards in the majors and enough to jump to a heart game. Showing her a singleton spade is redundant. She knows that you have a singleton spade but more importantly so do you. So take control by bidding Blackwood. Do not fall into the over cue bidding trap.

Partner may infer that since you did not use Blackwood, Aces are not a concern so may bid 6 with any good 6-5. This is what happened and two Aces were cashed. Not using Blackwood or Serious 3NT are two very important negative inferences for slam bidding.

Serious 3NT - Holes

Assuming a major fit, Serious 3NT is an integral part of the slam bidding structure. There is also a cue bidding inference with the Serious 3NT when hearts are the agreed trump. Bidding 3NT denies a spade control. Therefore partner still may have Serious slam interest with a 3 cuebid so she must cuebid on that basis.

There are some holes in this Serious 3NT cue bidding structure that must be filled with a cue bidding understanding. This hole comes from the simple Bridge fact that the order of cue bidding can result in higher ranking suits shutting out lower ranking suits and you have reached game level. You do not want to go to the 5 level to cuebid as in the American style of cue bidding but you are still interested. Cue bidding at the 5 level kills Blackwood and the Italian style of cue bidding 2nd round controls first. You need a way of telling partner you have that control but not go beyond game or Blackwood. This understanding is called Last Train to Clarksville and means a bid in a suit just below your major suit game is a Serious slam interest and shows the control in a lower ranking suit but not the suit bid.

This understanding is a message to partner. Partner has two inferences on what you did not do. You did not sign off in your major suit game and you did not take further control by bidding Blackwood. Therefore you are lacking a key control to bid Blackwood but you are making one last attempt at slam. Last Train is not that hard a concept. Why is partner not bidding 4NT? Review the cue bidding and you have your answer.

Some sample auctions to further describe the concept:

1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
3NT	Pass	4	Pass
4

You have Serious slam interest via your 3NT bid. Partner has denied a club control and you have it or you would have signed off in 4. You are telling partner that you have a club control by still trying for slam

1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
3NT	Pass	4

You have denied a spade control by bidding 3NT. I have a spade control but I can not bid it below game. I do not have a club control or I would have bid it so I am making a last try at slam with the spade control.

1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
3NT	Pass	4	Pass
4

The 4 is a last try for slam saying I do not have a diamond control but I am still interested via overall strength.

1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
4	Pass	4

4 was a courtesy cuebid so 4 is an asking last slam try attempt. It says I do not have a diamond control but I am still interested in slam.

1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
4	Pass	4

Since the 4 bidder denies a club control, 4 must say I still have interest and the club control but I still do not have enough to take control by bidding 4NT. Over to you.

1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
4

This is simply a diamond control showing no spade or club control and no Serious slam interest.

This Last Train cue bidding style is a part of Serious 3NT theory. Interestingly, Bridge World standard has adopted Last Train cue bidding with any slam strain but not Serious 3NT. Here is the definition from Bridge World Standard.

Last Train: Any time there is only one call that indicates slam interest or further slam interest without raising the partnership's level of commitment, it is a Last Train slam-try, unrelated to the strain named (unless followed by an uninvited further action).

Serious 3NT Unlimited

Playing courtesy cuebids opposite unlimited hands needs some clearer definition. Cuebids under game as showing extra is ingrained in standard bidding. Serious 3NT theory is not standard bidding. Unlimited in Bridge, does not have the dictionary meaning of unlimited. Unlimited means a bid with a broad range. A reverse can show a hand with just an Ace above an opener up to a gilt edged 21 HCP. In my mind, that hand is unlimited for Serious 3NT theory. A 2/1 and an opener is unlimited as the range could be very substantial. Strong jump shifts, jump bids have a high end and a low end for the bid. These bids are unlimited as far as Serious 3NT bids are concerned.

If your hand is pre-emptive or defined within a very narrow range, Serious 3NT theory does not apply. I opened 1 and the opponents overcalled 1 and BJ bid 3. I bid 3NT so is this the Serious 3NT? Of course not, as BJ has limited his hand already so I am just offering a choice of contracts. A cuebid is an unlimited bid with a huge range. Same auction but this time BJ cuebids 2 and they bid 3. I bid 3NT so is this the Serious 3NT? Of course it is, as we have a major fit and his hand is unlimited with the cuebid. I want to show my slam intentions immediately or make a courtesy cuebid in case he is unlimited.

A takeout double and a D.S.I.P. double are unlimited hands. If with this auctions, we establish a 4-4 major suit fit, Serious 3NT applies. Splinters and Jacoby 2NT are unlimited bids as far as Serious 3NT theory is concerned.

1	Pass	2NT	Pass
3

3 has a wide range from a hand just a above a minimum to 21 HCP rich in controls. 3NT by partner is obviously the Serious 3NT. If partner shows a singleton or void with Jacoby 2NT, it shows a hand just above a minimum to a huge 21 HCP hand. If partner now bids 3NT, it is a Serious slam try as you want the cuebid to be courtesy bids. Same with splinters as their range is unlimited. 3NT is always Serious and fast arrival shows duplication of value.

The Serious 3NT is a nice tool like D.S.I.P. doubles to give partner some idea of the range of your hand. If you make an overcall, takeout double or a negative double and subsequently make a D.S.I.P. double, you are showing the upper range of your bid. Same idea with Serious 3NT theory. By bidding 3NT, you are telling partner you are on the upper range and have Serious slam aspirations. Once you have made this bid, partner can take control of the hand.

You have AQxxx AQxxx x xx and partner opens 1 and you respond 1. Partner bids 3 which is a splinter in your methods. A splinter has quite a range as it can be from invitational to a huge 21 HCP hand again. If partner now bids 3NT, it is not an offer to play the hand in that spot or showing duplication of value, it is a Serious 3NT (partner's hand has such a broad range). On these auctions, you want responder's cuebid to be a courtesy as partner's hand could be very strong. A Serious 3NT is a depending on context bid which is predicated on partner's bid. That is why it is nonsensical to say a Serious 3NT shows 18 HCP. Serious 3NT applies in all hands where partner has a high range or otherwise unlimited, you have a major suit fit so you would cuebid as a courtesy for partner. In this particular hand, you bid 3NT to find out under game if partner has a club control. Maurice did hold a club control and 6 was cold.

Jacoby 2NT and Serious 3NT

Incorporating Serious 3NT into your Jacoby 2NT should involve redefining some of your Jacoby 2NT bids. The Serious 3NT concept was not invented when Oswald Jacoby came up with his ideas. O.K. the first things to throw in the waste basket are the rebids of the trump suit to show a minimum and maximum. Playing Serious 3NT will tell the partnership if the hand is weak or not. Therefore the jump to game does not show a minimum and the rebid of the trump suit still shows an intermediate hand with no singletons.

My partners play 3 after Jacoby 2NT as a catch all for weak hands. All other bids imply some values. They are telling bids and the 2NT responder is in control of the auction. If you want to reverse this master-slave relationship you bid the Serious 3NT. Partner must cuebid his lowest ranking control. The time to take control is when you have a void and lots of distribution and you need specific controls. Another time is when you have a huge flat hand yourself. Remember a jump does not show a void but a 2 suiter. The Serious 3NT can be bid from either side of the table as shown in the first example below.

The jump to game is still around and should show a dog with no outside controls (singletons, Kings or Aces)

Cue bidding auctions are under the Serious 3NT structure. They are courtesy cuebids in case partner has the good hand (Jacoby 2NT unlimited). Jump to game by the 2NT bidder is a no no.

Spade Kxx Heart Axxxxx Diamond Ax Club Kxx

Spade AQx Heart J109x Diamond Kxxx Club Ax

1	Pass	2NT	Pass
3*	Pass	3NT**	Pass
4	Pass	4	Pass
4	Pass	4NT***	Pass
5****	Pass	6

* good hand no singleton
** serious slam try
** Keycard Blackwood
**** 2 with extra length

Spade AKxxx Heart x Diamond AQJ10x Club Ax

Spade QJ10x Heart AKx Diamond Kx Club xxxx

1	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT*	Pass	4	Pass
4NT**	Pass	5	Pass
5***	Pass	5****	Pass
7NT

* taking control
** Keycard Blackwood
*** Trump queen ask
**** Yes and the Heart King

Spade Kx Heart AQxxx Diamond Axx Club KQx

Spade Axx Heart Kxxx Diamond KQxx Club Ax

1	Pass	2NT	Pass
3NT*	Pass	4	Pass
4	Pass	4	Pass
4NT**	Pass	5***	Pass
6****	Pass	7*****	Pass
7NT

* Serious 3NT
** KCB
*** 0 or 3
**** Specific Suit ask
***** 2 of 3

One of the purposes of Jacoby 2NT is to ferret out duplication of value. Severe duplication of value is shown by fast arrival as there is no need to play 3NT with a 5-4 major fit (possibly in matchpoints). Using 3NT to show duplication of value is redundant to fast arrival. Jacoby 2NT is an asking bid of opener. If opener wants to turn tables and ask responder, she can bid the Serious 3NT. Having 3NT to show duplication of value is a terrible waste of a good bid. We all uses Serious 3NT with 2/1 after a major fit is found, 4th suit forcing when a major fit is found, splinters when a major fit is found so it is an easy transition to the Jacoby 2NT. We are accustomed to courtesy cuebids when one hand is unlimited. Without the Serious 3NT to fall back on, courtesy cuebids are impossible or must be redefined with complicated auctions. Serious 3NT is an important part of the Jacoby 2NT and even more so if you play the bid as limit raise or better.

Playing Jacoby 2NT as limit raise or better which most of us do by now, raises the importance of the Serious 3NT in Jacoby 2NT auctions. Jacoby 2NT hands are three tier auctions. Limit raise, courteous cuebids and Serious slam tries. Failure to use the Serious 3NT bid is a very important negative inference in these auctions. You hold Axxx Axx Qxxx xx and partner opens 1. You bid 2NT and partner bids 3 saying she has a good hand with a singleton minor. You are not strong enough to ask the location of the singleton so you show your limit raise by bidding 3. Partner now bids the Serious 3NT so you cuebid 4. Partner bids KCB and you get to your 6. Partner's hand is KQJ10xx Kx AKJx x which is a hand she would have made a slam try opposite a limit raise.

Do not forget that with 3 showing all weak hands, a jump to game is a picture bid. This is a distributional stab at game which shows most of your HCP in the trump suit with no controls on the outside. If you have a good 14 HCP and no singletons you bid 3 of your trump suit. Partner has an obligation to bid 3NT as a Serious slam try with a super hand, a cuebid to show better than a limit raise or returning to the suit to show the limit raise. With hearts trump, a Serious 3NT denies a spade control as you must show your spade control first (fundamental of Serious 3NT theory).

Serious 3NT is a tool to assist in bids like 2/1 and Jacoby 2NT bids which have a huge range. Show partner immediately that you have Serious slam interest rather than cuebid. Once you have that bid off your chest, you can give partner leeway as you have in effect done your duty. You do not have to retreat to the trump suit just because you have a limit raise. If you have nice controls, bid them as a courtesy. A good 10 with controls is better than 13 HCP with queens anyway. If you have an atrociously bad limit raise, fast arrival to game would be the bid of choice when partner shows a good hand. Pre-empting partner who has an unlimited hand is a pretty rare bid playing the Serious 3NT style of bidding.

I prefer using Serious 3NT with voids. Forcing partner to cuebid ferrets out duplication of value if she cuebids your void. If she bypasses your void with a forced cuebid, you have hit gold. A jump to the 4 level is a 2nd suit and not Exclusion or a void. Showing a 2nd suit helps partner count tricks for slam and location key controls for slam purposes. A leap to the 5 level would be Exclusion Blackwood.

4th Suit Forcing - Serious 3NT

Serious 3NT auctions occur in forcing to game auctions after a major suit is established and either hand could be unlimited. In our bidding methods this occurs in 2/1, Jacoby 2NT, splinter, negative double, reverses and 4th suit forcing auctions. Here we will discuss the implications of merging Serious 3NT into 4th suit forcing auctions.

Prior to Serious 3NT theory in 4th suit auctions, if you did not bid the 4th suit and instead jumped to game this abides by the principle of fast arrival and showed a minimum hand that had a shot at game. You showed strong hands by bidding the 4th suit first instead of a game jump. With Serious 3NT, this jump to game has to be a very tightly defined rare picture bid so it does not come up very often. Serious 3NT and fast arrival do not mix. By taking things slowly we find out if we have the controls and fit to make slam even with minimums. This is specially so when the opener might be very strong for her one level rebid.

1	Pass	1	Pass
1	Pass	?

Spade AJxx Heart Axxxx Diamond Qx Club Qx. Not playing Serious 3NT you would leap to 4 showing a minimum.

With Spade AJxx Heart AKxxx Diamond Qx Club Ax you must bid 4th suit first as too strong for a 4 bid.

Playing Serious 3NT you can not leap to game with the first hand because the 1 rebid by opener can show a wide range of hands. You must bid 4th suit with that hand also. In fact you must bid 4th suit with all non invitational hands with major fits and allow the Serious 3NT to sort things out later to show the strength of your hand.

Therefore what should this rare leap to game mean? To be consistent with other jump to games with Serious 3NT implications it should be a dog with no outside controls. These hands usually show good trump. Spade AKJx Heart QJ10xx Diamond xx Club xx

Let's try some Serious 3NT auctions with its usual understandings.

Spade KQxx Heart x Diamond AKJxx Club Kxx

Spade AJxx Heart Axxxx Diamond Qx Club Qx

Old way:

1	Pass	1	Pass
1	Pass	4

Trying for slam is very iffy (5 level could go down)

New way:

1	Pass	1	Pass
1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	2	Pass
3	Pass	3	Pass
3NT	Pass	4*	Pass
4NT	Pass	5	Pass
6

* could not be King or Ace as bypassed to bid 3

Do not forget that in Serious 3NT auctions, the Italian style cuebids are used. Bypassing clubs denies the 2nd round control in clubs. Therefore the King of clubs is cuebid before the Ace of diamonds. The Serious 3NT implications (cuebids do not show extra) allowed the weak hand to cuebid her Ace of hearts and her diamond Queen. Italian style cuebids demands that responder cuebids her diamond control before her heart control.

I find the Italian style cuebids very effective and I am starting to get used to them. As long as the auction is under 4NT, controls (2nd or 1st) are bid up the line. There is the usual inference that if you skipped a suit you do not have a control in it. With Italian cuebids, this means you do not have 2nd or 1st round control in the skipped suit. Blackwood is necessary on all cue-bidding auctions as we can not assume 1st round controls bid initially.

I can see why the Italian Blue team always beat the Americans in slam bidding.

Serious 3NT vs Blackwood

Serious 3NT to replace the single handed Blackwood is a great tool for putting on the brakes after a light opening bid. The Serious 3NT or the inference that you did not use the bid speaks volumes and it all takes place under game. Bidding your hand again is the most obnoxious of all Bridge faults. Tom and I had an auction where the inferences demanded in Serious 3NT theory keeps the partnership out of a bad slam. I opened 1 and Tom held J10xx xx AQxx AKQ. What do you respond with this hand? There is no exact bid so you should pick the best lie. Responding a spade on that suit is quite lame. You could go to the two level in diamonds or jump to 3NT immediately. The jump to 3NT is systemic showing 15-17 HCP and 4-4 in the minors. AKQ is good as any 4 card suit so that's the lie I would choose.

Say instead, you bid 2 going in and partner bids 2. You bid 3 which shows an unlimited hand and brings all the Serious 3NT inferences into play. If partner has a Serious slam try, he will bid 3NT. If partner has any sort of a hand he will make a forced cuebid. If he returns to the trump suit it is the death response as far as slam tries go. I bid 4 which should show no outside controls with most of my HCP's in spades. AKQx QJxxx xx Jx is a likely hand on this auction. Even with a minimum, I am obligated to show a heart control if I have one. The beauty of Serious 3NT is staying out of slams rather than just getting to them.

What if partner did bid 4 over your 3 bid? Do you bid Blackwood? Again you have the Serious 3NT to fall back on. Partner did not make a Serious slam try when he had the chance. If you had AKxxAKxxx xx xx or better which is needed to make small opposite so many HCP's in the minor suits he would have bid the Serious 3NT. Partner's failure to do so means that 6 is highly unlikely with these cards.

You do not need a moose to bid the Serious 3NT, it is still a slam try after all. Once you have made your Serious 3NT bid you have got that off your chest. This allows you to retreat to game knowing you have done your duty. The onus shifts to partner if there is a slam for the partnership. On this auction I would have bid 3NT with as little as AKxx AQJxx xx xx. Since I did not, there cannot be a slam with partner's cards.

Opening light in the majors has a good tactical advantage. The Serious 3NT is a great tool to allow you to back track once you have done so. Partner, with good hands, must infer that you did not use the Serious 3NT for a reason or in rare cases did not show any controls when asked to do so. Serious 3NT theory was invented in part to prevent the 4NT bid and single handed placing the partnership in slam or going down at the 5 level.

Remember to use the Serious 3NT with all major suit hands where you are making a Serious slam try instead of a courtesy slam try. Maurice and Susan had this auction in the CNTC zone finals in Red Deer.

1	Pass	1	Pass
3	Pass	?

The 3 is a splinter with their methods and Susan holds AQxxx AQxxx x 109. Although it seems very anti-intuitive with a 5-5, a Serious slam try should be shown immediately. You have an offensive 5-5 opposite a jump to the 3 level so a 3NT bid conveys the message. Partner bids 4 and you are off to the races. If you bid 4 instead of 3NT you push the level to 5 and say you are only making a courtesy slam try. 3NT is a cuebid so you can bid it with any distribution!

Serious 3NT Splinters

Serious 3NT theory was built for splinters. Splinters show at least a 4 card major fit and are unlimited. Serious 3NT theory conflicts with old fashioned splinter theory as splinters originated in the 1970's. Before Serious 3NT was invented, fast arrival to game after a splinter was common meaning we have a shot at game. 3NT was showing duplication of values with extras, and suggesting a contract. Ditto with Jacoby 2NT and singletons. Serious 3NT changed all that. Fast arrival with splinters now shows duplication of values with a good hand. Duplication of values with a minimum meant a retreat to the trump suit a the 3 level. Courtesy cuebids apply if you have no duplication, as partner's splinter is unlimited. Leaping to game should be a picture bid.

Going to the 5 level after a splinter or Jacoby 2NT to try for a slam is just as disgusting as with 2/1 auctions after finding a major suit fit. Partner's fast arrival bid is misguided. The Serious 3NT as a cuebid conserves useful space and allows courtesy cuebids which are so valuable when the other hand is unlimited. Partner opens 1 and you have Axxx x KJ10x AQxx so you splinter with 3 or (3 with masked splinters) and partner bids 4 not playing Serious 3NT. So you bid KCB or worse a 5 level cuebid so you go down in 5 as partner holds KJ10xx AQxx xx Kx and the diamonds are located poorly and the trump are 3-1.

Same auction and this time partner holds KJxxxx xxx Ax Kx and 6 is cold but partner did not move with her good hand. This hand is built for a courtesy cuebid in case partner's splinter is unlimited. Jacoby 2NT is the same idea. Do not waste the 3NT bid to show duplication of values. This treatment blows away Serious 3NT theory. That is 1970/s thinking or modern matchpoint thinking at best. It does not allow courtesy cuebids and encourages the evils of fast arrival with slam tries at the 5 level. Horrible Bridge thoughts in this day and age.

Partner's splinter or Jacoby 2NT is a variable range bid. Serious 3NT helps sort out this wide range and complies with the useful space principle. 3NT as a cuebid shows your intentions immediately and allows for a cheap cuebid from the other side. Partner does not pre-empt you by bidding game and forcing you to use KCB as a slam try. Keep slam bidding and the game of Bridge as a partnership game.

Serious vs Natural 3NT

In order to get maximum effectiveness from the Serious 3NT in 2/1 auctions you need some partnership understandings. A common 2/1 auction involving Serious 3NT after a 2/1 is finding your 4-4 major suit fit. There is an understanding that why play 3NT as natural if you went to the trouble of finding your 4-4 fit so 3NT is a Serious slam try cuebid. What about 5-3 major suit fits where a 3NT bid could be a suggestion that 3NT is a better natural contract? My opinion is that 3NT as a cuebid is too valuable a tool to not use it as a Serious slam try in these auctions. A leap to 3NT is never a Serious 3NT cuebid so that jump suggests an alternative contract.

1	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	2	Pass
2NT*

* 2NT or 3NT

What about if NT rears its head in these 5-3 major fit hands? I believe that you should not be able to suggest a NT contract twice in the same auction with 8 card fit major hands (5-3 or otherwise). If you or partner have suggested NT as a contract and it has been rejected by finding a 5-3 fit, 3NT is now a cuebid. Klimo and Tom had an auction that demonstrates this nicely.

Tom 10xx x AJxxx AQJx

Klimo AQxxx AKQ Qx xxx

The auction goes:

1	Pass	2	Pass
2NT	Pass	3	Pass
?

Klimo bid 2NT as an either or bid. A hand that evaluates to 18 or a minimum. Tom rejected a NT contract by finding a 5-3 spade fit. 3NT now must be a cuebid in support of spades and shows Serious slam interest and the higher NT range. Tom now dutifully bids 4 and Klimo bids 4 denying a diamond control. Tom now knows the partnership is off the diamond King and his spades are not good. Tom accordingly signs off in 4. Klimo is all in with his Serious slam try so they avoid the 5 level which is precarious to say the least.

Say you bid the hand the so called standard way. Klimo bids 4 suggesting a slam try and Tom signs off. Klimo bids 5 and that does not help Tom's hand since he had a singleton and duplication of values is present. Therefore Tom shows good hand evaluation by signing off again. However it is too late as we have reached the 5 level. 5 ended up with a 4-1 break and two spade losers so it's a terrible contract. 12 IMPS thrown away for not using the Serious 3NT tool. The 5 level is for the opponents for slam tries also.

Serious 3NT Major Fits

Unlimited hand vs limited hands is a hand evaluation concept that must be understood. Major suit fits with an unlimited hand bring in the concept of courtesy cuebids. This means you can cuebid 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 singleton to show an unlimited hand. Therefore, a cuebid by responder may be done as a courtesy. The cue bidding system structure falls apart unless you have the 3NT bid to fall back on by either side to show Serious slam interest opposite an unlimited hand. This of course is also true with the Jacoby 2NT structure.

It makes no sense to revert to standard cue 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 cuebids that show extra. Courtesy cuebids would be ambiguous so 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 cue bidding structure should be consistent throughout your system whenever you have a major suit fit. 2/1, splinters, 4th suit forcing and XYZ. Exceptions to your cue bidding structure should not be made with your systemic 2NT major fit bid.

1	Pass	2NT	Pass
3	Pass	3

Axxx Kxxxx Kx xx

Responder bids 3 as a courtesy in case partner is unlimited. Partner has Kx Axxxx Axx AKx so bids 3NT to show Serious slam aspirations.You now 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 bid to mean something rather than a Serious cuebid you lose that very important ability to assume control. Your hand would have to remain a puppet as with standard Jacoby 2NT. Also it is nice for the other hand to bid 3NT to take further control and show Serious slam interest. Over the years, Serious 3NT has become an integral part of our cue bidding strategy and our Jacoby 2NT structure. Do not throw it away by defining 3NT to be something other than a cuebid within the Jacoby 2NT structure.

Serious 3NT - Limited Hands

Serious 3NT theory is based on the fact that partner may have an unlimited hand. You cuebid as a courtesy. What if partner has limited his hand in some way? How much should you have for a Serious 3NT slam try? If partner has made a 2/1 or a Jacoby 2NT or a splinter, a Serious 3NT slam try is made if the possibility of a slam exists opposite a minimum or you are making a grand slam try. The operative word here is a slam try. If the limited hand brings you near the slam zone, you should flash your Serious slam intentions immediately. If you do not, the limited hand is under no obligation to cuebid. Kiz and I had a hand tonight that shows this principle in action.

Do not forget that Standard bidders do not cuebid as a courtesy. A cuebid shows extra and is a slam try not a slam force. Playing Serious 3NT theory you need a replacement for the standard American cuebid or there is ambiguity with cuebids. You can not make a courtesy cuebid with 11 HCP and make the same bid with 17 HCP as a slam try. The Serious 3NT cuebid is that replacement. A Serious 3NT is a cuebid too big just to cuebid as a courtesy.

I held KQxx KQJ10x Kxx x and opened 1 and Kiz responded 1. RHO made a takeout double for the minors and I bid 3 which is a limited invitational bid showing 16-18 in support of spades counting distribution. Kiz held A10xx Axx Ax 1098x so do you make a token slam try of 4 or a Serious slam try of 3NT? You have 3 Aces which is more than partner can reasonably expect for a non Serious slam try. If you bid 4 partner can infer that you do not have Serious intentions unless he has a super maximum of near 18 HCP's for his previous bid. I would not bother showing my heart king with my minimum and sign-off in 4.

With a Serious 3NT, I am obligated to cuebid 4 minimum or not. Slam in spades is reached on an excellent auction. Serious 3NT usually applies when unlimited hands are involved. In rare cases you can use the tool opposite limited hands when you do not need a maximum from the limited hand to make slam. A Serious 3NT is not a demand to play a slam. It is still a try so do not hesitate to use the bid. It is a devastatingly accurate way of getting to slams. Just ask Meckwell!

The Serious 3NT is especially needed if you are playing Jacoby 2NT as limit raise or better. Otherwise, it would be like pulling teeth to get the limit raise to cuebid a valuable card. Responder would always want to return to the trump suit to describe the limit raise rather than joining the party. This is normally the first duty of responder to describe the limit raise. Quite often the Serious 3NT does not care as she is just looking for specific controls for slam.

Serious 3NT brings in other concepts like order of cue bidding, 1st and 2nd round controls, Last train slam tries and Lackwood. These tools are for expert Bridge players only. Takes time to study the concepts and practice them. You must get used to bidding 3NT as a cuebid as it is not a natural reflex. Partner does take inferences when you do not use the bid though.

Serious 3NT in Competition

The Serious 3NT inference is everywhere in your cue bidding style. If the opponents interfere with your auction, your cue bidding style does not change. As long as you remain under game, cue bidding does not show any extra and a 3NT bid after a known 5-4 major suit fit is still the Serious 3NT. A hand came up tonight that shows this in action.

My partner held Kxx xxxx AQxx Jx

My hand was void AKQ10x J10x K109xx. The auction went:

1	1	2	3
4	Pass	?

A 4 bid here is not obligatory as partner did not bid 3NT. A 4 bid can be made though as it does not show extra but what's the point? Partner is just cue bidding and bypassed the Serious 3NT cuebid. You do not what to encourage him with your minimum and wastage in spades. Assume partner did bid 4 and we bid 4. This should end the auction as partner has not made a Serious slam try. He was bidding 4 in case your hand was unlimited. My partner did bid 4 so I though he had a better hand and bid 6 which was a lucky make. Change the spade king to the club Ace and a grand slam is possible.

Tom and Klimo had an auction where they did not get to slam due to a Serious 3NT inference missed in competition. 1 by Klimo with A J10xxx AQJxx Qx and LHO doubles. Tom bids 3 with Jxx AKxxxx x Kxx and Klimo bids 3. Tom dutiful bids his club control and Klimo bids 4. This ends the auction from Tom's perspective as he did not hear an obligatory 4 cuebid from his perspective. 6 is lay down but the partnership missed a chance to use the Serious 3NT bid properly. Tom, in my opinion anyway, should cuebid 3NT over Klimo's 3 saying I have a Serious slam try here. Once he did not make that cuebid, Klimo is off the hook for not cue bidding the diamond Ace. If partner is not making a Serious slam try, Klimo is under no obligation to show the diamond Ace. With no Serious 3NT bid by partner his 4 bid should show a better hand than he had. Obligatory cuebids only occur as a courtesy in case partner has an unlimited hand. When Tom bypassed the Serious 3NT he limits his hand so further cue bidding by the opener is based on a good hand. Cue bidding does show extra when partner has limited his hand.

At our table, Kiz and Terplawy held these cards and they had a rougher ride. Maurice doubled a heart and Kiz bid 3 but I crawled in 3. This took Allan's cuebid away so he should pass as he has a lot of defense in diamonds and if partner can double 3 they will get massacred. Is a double of 3 D.S.I.P. and committing the partnership to game? Again in a competitive auction the Serious 3NT is a fine tool. Kiz bids 3NT as a Serious slam try. Allan can now bid 4 and Kiz can bid 4 as she did her duty with the 3NT bid. Allan can now bid 4 as another try and its all over as Kiz will bid 6 after Blackwood.

Their auction brings up another point worth mentioning. What is 3NT after a splinter? This does not show duplication of value in diamonds but a Serious slam try so lets get cue bidding. The Serious 3NT is a cuebid in itself saying I am Serious over here and not just cue bidding because we are under game level. By getting the Serious 3NT off your chest you can calmly retreat to game and the ball is in partner's court. The Serious 3NT is a new cue bidding tool introduced by Meckwell so it will take time to get used to it. The Serious 3NT is part of your cue bidding repertoire so do not forget to use it! There are many inference taken if you do not bid the Serious 3NT.

Serious 3NT - Trump

Serious 3NT theory introduces many new concepts. Courtesy cuebids, last train slam try, fast arrival and of course the Serious 3NT cuebid itself. Cuebids are bid as a courtesy opposite an unlimited hand or a strong limited hand with a wide range. The last train concept is a bid just under the trump suit when you are still interested in slam but a flaw prevents you from bidding KCB. The Serious 3NT is a cuebid to differentiate between a Serious slam try cuebid and a courtesy cuebid.

Quite often Serious 3NT theory comes up in a splinter auction. You want to inform partner that the splinter improved your hand so you want to make a move towards slam. A cuebid also informs partner that there is no duplication of value but normally a cuebid is made on a weaker hand. Here is a hand that gives you the option between a last train slam try, a Serious 3NT and a cuebid. Upon what criteria should the decision be based?

You hold Axxx xxxx Q10xx K with partner opening 1. You respond 1 and partner bids 3 splinter. This is a limited bid but with a wide range and many many hand types. For the purpose of Serious 3NT theory, we consider partner's splinter as an unlimited hand. With this hand, the obvious danger signal is the trump suit. Even though this is a nice hand, I would downgrade this hand to a 4 cuebid rather than a Serious 3NT cuebid. Same hand and add the Q10xx of trump, I would bid a Serious 3NT. I think a basic inference for partner is that a Serious 3NT cuebid should not be done on a hand with horrible trump.

Because of the diamond fit, I might even bypass the heart response with this hand. To make game in hearts, partner needs a heart reverse or equivalent anyway. I would respond 1 instead and see what happens as I have a good diamond fit. If we lose the 4-4 heart fit no big deal as it is so weak anyway. Before the advent of 5 card majors, Bridge suits had to be biddable? 5 card majors changed all that so bidding on xxxx was correct to find your 4-4 fit. Change this hand to Axxx xxxx K Q10xx, I would respond 1 as there is a danger of a misfit. With the first hand if partner has a game going hand, my strong diamonds are an asset for an alternative game contract so I am showing where I live with my spade response. We do not have to sort out the choice of contracts issue later in the auction. Bridge is a game of suits so bidding non suits seem to complicate many auctions.

Serious 3NT - Clubs

The more practice I get with the Serious 3NT, the more I think the bid meshes with the club suit. Why? The Serious 3NT demands that partner cuebids. Cuebids are done via rank order with the lowest ranking control bid first i.e. clubs. Therefore, if you have a club suit or a club void, the Serious 3NT is a good way of getting the information you need. If you have a club suit, partner will show the club control you want to hear about. If you have a club void and partner bypasses a club control, happiness.

Perry held this hand AQ10xxx x x AQ109x and he opened 1. I responded with 2NT and the obvious bid by Perry is to bid 4 which shows a two suiter. This relinquishes control to my side as he is describing his hand to me. I hold KJxx AJ10xx Ax Kx and I indeed take control of the auction. However, if Perry is 5-5 with a doubleton heart, I can not bid 7 without a heart asking bid later in the auction. The solution is for Perry to take control via the Serious 3NT as he has the club suit and a 6-5. I must bid 4 as that is my lowest ranking control. Armed with the information that I fill his club suit, Perry bids KCB and bidding 7 is a simple bid. The Serious 3NT keeps control of the auction to your side. If I deny a club control, Perry keeps a lid on the auction and only tries for a small slam.

Here is another auction from the Bermuda Bowl. You have AQ10x AKJ10x J10xx void and you open 1. Partner bids 2NT so you have a choice of bids. You can bid 3 which shows a strong hand with shortness in a minor but you relinquish control to partner. Serious 3NT and 4NT KCB are two bids that allow you to control the auction (Kiz will love that). I contend that you should bid a Serious 3NT with this hand as you have a club void. Partner has Kx Qxxx AKQx Qxx and bids 4. This means that partner does not have either the Ace or King of clubs! The bulk of her HCP's must be in the other suits so we start investigating a grand slam.

I would bid KCB and then go into a series of suit asking bids. Over my 4NT bid, partner bids 5 so I bid the queen ask. Partner bids 5 saying she has the spade king as the lowest ranking king at the 5 level along with the trump queen. I now bid 6 asking in diamonds and partner bids the grand slam with her KQ of diamonds. Very simple KCB auction once you start with the Serious 3NT. The Serious 3NT along with being a cuebid itself is a mini KCB in that partner must cuebid her controls. It is a nice device in that you are making a Serious slam try under game. KCB gets you too high in a lot of auctions.

Serious 3NT - Hearts

The following is a quote from Fred Gittleman in his original article on the Serious 3NT. When hearts are agreed at the three level, opener must bid 3 if he has a control in spades. Any other bid would deny a spade control (3NT would be Serious with no spade control). In effect, in this one situation you can be making a Serious slam try by bidding 3. I suggest that in this one auction only (hearts agreed), a Serious 3NT bid over the 3 bid have a specialized meaning. I feel 3NT in this auction should show very good hearts. Why? Because 3 is ambiguous. Instead of a courtesy cuebid, partner could have Serious slam interest but she is just not allowed to bid 3NT as she has a spade control.

A Serious 3NT is a cuebid which must follow the up the line principle of cuebids. NT is higher ranking than spades therefore as in all cue bidding theory, failure to cuebid in a lower ranking suit (spades) denies a control in that suit. Therefore if hearts are agreed and partner cuebids 3, care must be taken. Partner could have a Serious slam try and not just bidding spades as a courtesy. If she retreats to the trump suit at the first opportunity, the 3 bid was probably a courtesy.

It is hard to grasp the concept that 3NT is just a cuebid as in standard American bidding. You need this bid or else you could not cuebid as a courtesy. There is no HCP standard for a Serious 3NT cuebid. It is just a hand that is too strong for a cuebid. Quoting Meckwell If you fail to bid Serious 3NT when you have the opportunity and cuebid instead, that carries the following message: "Partner, I do not have Serious slam interest, but I am cue-bidding in case you do." This understanding takes away the Standard American notion that you can cuebid with a good hand. If you have slam intentions, the Serious 3NT cuebid is used.

BJ Trelford and I had a hand last night. AKxxx 987x QJ AK. I opened 1 and BJ bid 2 followed by 2 by me. BJ raised to 3. I would love to bid the Serious 3NT signaling my slam intentions but I cannot as that would deny a spade control. So I bid 3 and partner has Jx AQJ10 AKxxx xx. I think the correct bid is 3NT saying I have excellent trump. If you do not have excellent trump, just make a courtesy cuebid of 4 and partner may be clued into a trump problem.

In our system after a 2NT opening if you accept the transfer, it shows a major fit. This leaves the door open for a Serious 3NT bid and a spade cuebid by responder. Same rules apply as 3NT would deny a spade control but shows Serious slam interest.

2NT	Pass	3	Pass
3	Pass	3NT*

* Serious slam try, no spade control.

2NT	Pass	3	Pass
3	Pass	3NT

I suggest that in both these auctions, the Serious 3NT should suggest good trump by responder. A direct cuebid could pin point weakness in trump. If you have both good trump and a cuebid, always bid 3NT first.

The Serious 3NT cuebid is such an important cuebid in our auctions that show a major fit, I do not know how we bid slams before. I think slams were just a random stroke of good or bad luck before.

Serious 3NT (Spade Void)

When hearts are the agreed trump suit, a problem that crops up time and time again is showing a spade void. Due to the rank of the “bully suit”, jumping to show a spade void is bad because you are past game. In the rare occasion that you do not care if you are past game, a jump in spades should be interpreted as Exclusion KCB. It is important to remove the ambiguity between showing a spade void as opposed to a spade cuebid. Showing the spade Ace or King sends a drastically different message than showing a void. Duplication of value can be assessed.

Here is a hand held by Kiz Fung recently void KQ109x AJ109x xxx.

Partner opens 1NT so you transfer to hearts and partner super accepts by jumping to 3. If no spade duplication of value, there could be a grand slam with this hand. An example xxx AJxxKQx AJx or many many other hands. How do we just make a slam try in hearts with your void in spades? In Bridge theory it’s sometimes best to fight fire with fire. Spades are the highest ranking suit in the deck but NT is even higher ranking. With a super accept in hearts this means hearts are trump. It is silly to suggest an alternative contract of NT when you have a super fit already and this contradicts Serious 3NT theory. Therefore, 3NT in these auctions is the Serious 3NT. There is a rule playing the Serious 3NT that a spade control has precedence over a Serious 3NT. Failure to cuebid spades denies a spade control as you are cue-bidding up the line with the 3NT cuebid so to speak.

What if you deny a spade control with a Serious 3NT bid, followed by a cuebid in spades? This is a contradiction so define this sequence as showing a spade void. However, there is another good way to find out duplication of value with Serious 3NT theory. This concept is using the “Serious 3NT” to force a cue-bidding auction so you just listen to find out if partner cuebids spades. Kiz bids the Serious 3NT with this hand. Partner cuebids 4 so Kiz bids 4. Partner now retreats to 4 denying either the Ace or King of spades! 6 is a simple bid now and investigation for a grand slam should follow. With the actual hand Susan held, she bids 4 denying a club control so you sign off in 4. Susan had horrible spade duplication of value so no slam.

In the Red Deer Calcutta playing with the same Kiz Fung, I got pushy with my spade void and lost 12 IMPS. void KQ109x Qxx AQ10xx. Kiz opened 1NT and I transferred to hearts. Kiz bid 2 so I bid 3 which was followed by 3 which confirms hearts as trump. I now bid 3 and Kiz bid 4. I now plowed the hand to 6 and we went one down. The problem was that Kiz liked her KQJ because I cuebid spades. The KQJ of spades just turned out to be horrible duplication of value rather than a good thing. Ambiguity between a void and an Ace reared its ugly head.

Let's back up and over 3, I now cuebid 3NT showing a Serious slam try. Kiz bids 4 as ordered and I now bid 4. This is a contradiction as I could have cuebid 3 over 3. I must have a spade void on this sequence so Kiz now makes the “death response” of 5 and we obtain +650 instead of –100. The Serious 3NT brought partner into the picture instead of me “taking a shot” and hoping there was not Serious spade duplication of value. The Serious 3NT can be used to handle the difficult spade void situation when hearts are trump. You can also have the understanding that once you initiate a Serious 3NT auction and partner complies with a cuebid, bidding 4 by you shows a spade void. Why are you retreating to game after initiating a Serious 3NT? That makes no sense. This sequence shows the spade void at the game level.

Taking Control

The theme today is taking control of a hand. Taking control is a bridge hand evaluation skill. This hand is from Calgary and involves one of the Pitbulls (since only one of you went to Calgary it is easy to figure out who). She held AKQJxx Axx x KJx, opened 1 vulnerable. She heard LHO overcall 2 and partner (Tom Gandolfo) bid 3. This Pitbull decided to splinter to 4 which describes her hand to partner but allows him/her to take control of the hand which he dutiful did and leaped to 6. You hesitate a while with your monster hand but you do not want to bid 7 off an ace so you pass. Partner's hand is xxx void Axx AQ10xxxx and you have 15 top tricks in 7NT! The problem here is the wrong person took control of the hand! You do not need to tell partner you have a singleton diamond as you know you have the solid spade suit, the Ace of hearts, the club fit. Therefore taking control with Blackwood is in order. You find out partner has 2 Aces and the Queen of trump and 5, 6, or 7 clubs. You can count 13 tricks in NT and you claim before the opponents lead.

To play Serious 3NT, you have to decide who is going to take control of the hand by bidding the 3NT cuebid as a Serious slam try. As a general rule, the stronger hand takes control but that is not cast in stone. The decision will be ultimately be made by who needs the information the most. For example you open 1 with QJ10xxx void Ax AQJ10x and partner bids 2NT Jacoby. You would like to know about partner's King of clubs, trumps and controls so let's not tell her about our heart void right away and take control of the hand. Bid the Serious 3NT cuebid and force these bids from her. Partner bids 4 so we have found the club King! You can now bid Exclusion Blackwood in hearts finding she has 2 aces outside the heart suit which must be the AK of trumps! You bid 7 spades and dummy is AKxx xxx QJ10 Kx so you have your 13 tricks. Exclusion Blackwood has taken the necessity out of showing voids in Jacoby 2NT and splinters. You can keep the secret from partner when she has some key cards outside the suit, you can always Exclusion Blackwood to find out the Aces. Jumping to show voids should be very very rare with this new we open.

Another auction. You hold AKxxx x KJ10x KQx, you open a spade and partner bids 2NT. Your hand is not suited to take control, so you inform partner of your singleton heart. Partner takes control by bidding 3NT so you cuebid your club king. Partner bids 4 and you bid 5 and partner now bids the grand slam force. You comply by bidding 7 spades and partner's hand is QJ10x AxxxAQx Ax. The hand with no duplication of value in hearts took control. Therefore you reached your lay down 7 spades.

With the Serious 3NT cue-bidding inference when neither side bids 3NT, bells should start ringing and you should stop in game in most instances.