Houston, we have a Problem


or, How to stay out of 3 NT with 5 quick losers

Finding the thin games is one way to get a swing in a team game.  Another way is stay out of the game which does NOT make.  

With 10+ points and no 4 card major, there are many times where bidding will go 1NT - 3NT and the defense will run off 5 heart winners.  The points for game are there and everyone is bidding it and everyone is down one.  

Here is a way to pinpoint a problem suit and stay out off the bad game.   The bidding will be focused on describing the shape of both hands in order to find the optimal contract.  This bidding style will also show the path to playing 5 or 6 of a minor instead of 3 NT down 1.

The bidding will utilize 4 suit transfers with super accepts as the "gap" bid.    The super accept is a maximum with 3+ to a high honor.

Here is an example hand with 10 points opposite a 1NT ( 15 - 17 ) opener.  Notice how all these hands have a flaw that makes No Trunp undesirable.

Qxx
x
KQxx
Kxxxx

1N - 2S (!1)
3C  - 3H (!2)

1 = transfer to clubs
2 = exceptionally bad hearts

By bidding after the transfer to clubs you have shown game values ( 10+ points ).  This is not a game forcing auction due to the shape problems and potential misfits.   You are not promising 6+ clubs, just 9+ cards in the minors and clubs of an equal or longer length than diamonds.  If the 3NT game everyone else is in doesn't make, a partial will be a great score.

Responses to the 3H problem bid  include:

3NT =  Don't worry about hearts, I got them covered.
3S   =   I have a 5 card spade suit.
4C   =   I like clubs but don't have a super accept hand.
4D   =  I have 4 diamonds.

"Bid what you have"


The key to responding to the problem bid is to bid your shape.  This will let partner gauge the potentials of the hand better.

Bidding 3H or 3S after transfering to a minor suit shows game going hands with the bid suit being a problem suit for No Trump.  What if both majors are potential problems?

xxx
x
KQxxx
KQxx

1N - 2N(!1)
3D - 3N(!2)

1 = transfer to Diamonds
2 = problems in both majors.

Simple.  Bidding 3N will show problems in both major suits, but 10+ points and 9+ cards in the minors.


Using problem bids to find minor suit slams

In the previous hands, problem bids were used to stay out of 3NT games that will not make.  What if responder has a big hand with a that is just short of the slam zone ( 14+ pts )?   Here we can use the problem bids to show a potential problem, but we can make an extra bid to show the extra values.  This can be useful after a super-accept to find a thin slam.

A
xxx
KQxxx
KQxx

1N - 2N (!1)
3C(!2) - 3H(!3)
3N(4)  -  4D(5)

1 = transfer to diamonds
2 = super accept of diamond transfer
3 = problem with hearts 10+ points
4 = heart stopper
5 = 14+ points, how about a diamond slam ( any other bid over 3N would say the same thing and could be used as a retransfer to diamonds.  Is 4C here keycard gerber or a retransfer ??)

Using keycard gerber in the minors after a super accept:

1N - 2N
3C - 4C = keycard gerber for diamonds



Problem bids and major suits

After major suit investigations over a 1N opener ( Stayman or Jacoby ), there could be a problem suit that will prevent 3NT from making.  Problem bids can be used here also.  The difference is not to show a problem suit, but to show a 2nd suit and by inference a flaw in your hand making it unsuitable for No Trump.  

The key is that the new suit bid is forcing to game and shows a distributional hand ( at least 5-4 ) with a problem suit.  This can be used over either Stayman or Jacoby.   Once again, the theme is to "bid what you got".  Show your shape by bidding length not shortness.  Use the information that partner is giving with the bids they make ( or bids the DON'T make ) to visualize their shape and points.

1N  -  2C
2H  -  3C

With this bidding responder has shown their distribution and the fact that they have game forcing values.
Responder has 4 spades and 5 clubs and 10+ points.  
How do we know this?
By using 2C ( Stayman ) to ask for a 4 card major, responder is showing a 4 card major.    By not raising hearts, that suit must be spades
( In 4 way transfers 2C does not promise a 4 card major, however without a 4 card major responder would have bid 2NT over the 2H or would have transfered to a minor suit and not used stayman )
With the 3C bid, responder is showing 5+ clubs and 10+ points by making a game forcing bid.

Here you have shown 9+ cards of you hand and bidding is still at the 3 level.  This gives the 1NT opener information to help determine the strain of the contract.

Over a Jacoby transfer, these bids will show a 5 card major suit ( exactly since you did not use Texas )  and a 4+ card minor suit.  With only 4 cards in the minor suit, then the hand should have a singleton.

1N  - 2H
2S  -  3D

This shows 5 spades, 4+ diamonds and 10+ points.

To continue this auction and illustrate the "bid what you got" style:

1N -  2H
2S  -  3D
3S (1)  -  4D (2)

1 = 3 spades and 15 - 16 pts ( if you play 2N as a super accept of spades with 3 card support and 17 points )
2 = 5 diamonds

Other continuations instead of 4D show shape also:
3N = 2 clubs and 2 hearts
4C = 3 clubs and a singleton heart
4H = 3 hearts and a singleton club

How do you know this?  This is by observing what partner did NOT bid.
With 5 spades, 4 diamonds and 4 clubs partner would have bid clubs instead of diamonds.
With 5 spades, 4 hearts and 4 diamonds partner would have used Stayman and Smolen to show 5-4 in the majors.

1N - 2H
2S  -  3D
4D(1)  - 4H(2)

1 = like diamonds, don't like spades ( only 2 ) , don't like No Trump with your distribution
2 =  3 hearts  ( 5 spades, 3 hearts, 4 diamonds and 1 club )

You can also show your shape after a 2/1 bid:

( 5 spades )                     1S  -  2C   ( 5 clubs, game forcing )
( 4 diamonds )                2D  -  2H   ( 4 hearts, less than 4 diamonds )
( 6 spades )                     2S  -  3D   ( 3 Diamonds )
( 3 hearts, no clubs )       3H  

Now opener's shape has been shown completely ( 6=3=4=0 ) and so has responder's ( 1=4=3=5 ), and the wonderful choice can be made as to which 7 card suit to choose for trump ( at least you found out before dummy went down! ).