Gambling 3NT

The Gambling 3NT is an opening 3NT bid showing a solid 6-8 card minor suit. It typically denies a void or 4+ card side suit. Side suit strength depends on partnership style. Opener may have anywhere from 0-3 outside suits stopped. Let us call these the aggressive, moderate and conservative approaches.

Aggressive 84 42 73 AKJT763

Moderate Q32 A82 9 AKQ975

Conservative A K43 KT AKJT872

The aggressive style is more preemptive by definition. With the example hand above, it's clearly more obstructive to open 3NT instead of 3. This hand type is also more common than the conservative hand with a running minor suit AND all side suits stopped, which appears about as often as Halley's Comet. However, the disadvantage of an aggressive approach is that it may wrong-side the contract when partner holds stoppers (tenaces) in the side suits.

There are several flavors of responses to play. Below is a summary of some common approaches.

Responder's Bid	Meaning
4	There are a couple ways to play this: A weak bail-out bid, asking partner to pass or correct to 4. Artificial, strong and forcing. Shows interest in slam. Asks opener to clarify her hand.
4	Again, a couple ways to play this: Gerber, asking for aces. Responder should have a clear vision of what the final contract might be. Artificial, strong and forcing (if 4 is weak).
4	Natural, showing a good 6+ card heart suit.
4	Natural, showing a good 6+ card spade suit.
4NT	Quantitative, inviting 6NT.
5	Bail-out bid, showing major-suit weakness but good support for both minors. Asks opener to pass or correct to 5.

There are multiple ways to define opener's rebids.

1. In response to a strong 4 ask, opener may:
   • Bid 4 Gerber.
   • Bid 4/ to show a side-suit ace.
   • Bid 4NT with a minimum.

   The same rules can apply over a strong 4 response, except that opener cannot use Gerber.

2. Alternatively, opener's rebids may describe suit length. In response to a strong 4 ask, opener can:
   • Bid 4// to show a singleton in that suit.
   • Bid 4NT with a semi-balanced hand, i.e. 2-2-2-7 or 2-2-7-2.
   • Bid 5 to show long diamonds with a singleton club.

   The same rules apply when replying to a strong 4 inquiry, except that opener must bid 5 instead of 4 to show long clubs with a stiff diamond.

• If the opponents double 3NT for penalty (how unsporting!), responder may bid 4 as a runout bid, asking opener to pass or correct to 4.

• If the opponents overcall, a 4NT bid by responder is natural. It is neither quantitative nor Blackwood.