Gambling 3NT Opening (Robinson)
This treatment of the Gambling 3NT opening is taken from Steve Robinson's "Washington Standard". I have
included basic responses (which everyone should play), and advanced responses (which only Life Masters like us
should play). I also included his suggested defense to an opening 3NT
An Opening bid of 3NT describes a hand with a long, solid minor suit, which can
be the basis of seven or more tricks in NT. There must be no outside Aces or Kings, and no outside 4-card suit.
Basic Responses to Opening 3NT:
1) With stoppers or length in all the other suits and at least a singleton in each minor, Responder will pass and expect to make 3NT. If Responder can count 12 or 13 tricks, he will bid 6NT or 7NT.
2) If Responder cannot play in NT, he will rescue to 4C, which Opener will pass or correct to 4D. With a strong enough hand, Responder will bid 5C, 6C or 7C. Opener will correct to diamonds if that is his suit.
3) In rare cases, Responder may have a hand so good that he wishes to play at game in a major, needing no trump help from partner. He will bid game (or slam) in his major, and Opener will pass.
Advanced Responses to Opening 3NT:
1) If Responder has a hand where slam depends on Opener having a singleton in a particular suit, he bids an artificial 4D. With a singleton or void in a major, Opener bids that suit. With no singleton or void, Opener bids 4NT. With a singleton or void in the other minor, Opener bids his long minor (this is to avoid being forced to slam when diamond shortness is not what Responder needs).
2) If Responder has 3 first round controls and needs Opener to have an 8 card suit in order to make seven, he bids 4NT (which is not Blackwood). Opener bids 5C to show a seven-card suit and 5D to show an 8-card suit. Responder then places the final contract by bidding 6C, 7C, 6NT or 7NT. Opener corrects from clubs to diamonds if necessary.
3) If Responder needs to know if Opener has a good enough suit to play opposite a void, he bids 5NT. Opener, with a suit such as AKQJxxx or AKQxxxxx bids 7 in his minor. Otherwise he signs off at 6.
Defense to Gambling 3NT Opening
1) Double is for penalty.
2) 4C shows hearts and a minor suit. Partner bids 4H if he holds 3+ hearts. He bids4D otherwise. Overcaller then places the final contract.
3) 4D shows spades and another suit, which could be hearts. Partner bids 4S with 3+ spades, or 4H with 3+ hearts and fewer than 3 spades, or 5C. Overcaller then places the final contract.
4) All other bids are natural (thank God).
5) When defending a gambling 3NT contract, a good opening lead is often an Ace or even an unsupported King. The idea is to try to find the winning defense, and a look at dummy and Partner's signal might be valuable.
