Should be simple

[kenberg]

I think the reasoning is that bidding 3NT over 1m can make it hard to find slams. There are many hands where opener has fairly minimum values with a bit of extra shape, and needs to know whether to pass or bid. The principle is that with 13-15 hcp, you usually want to play 3NT. Bidding it directly deters partner from looking for slams: shapely minimums for partner should just pass. With 16-17 hcp there will often be a fitting slam, and it can be good to bid more slowly and let partner pattern out.

Possibly, but let's take the hand I held as an example. Partner had a minimum balanced hand and, although 6C was on, I think there is agreement that staying out is fine. In general, partner won't have 15 balanced, since we play a strong NT. Suppose he is modestly endowed and unbalanced. Let's give him five clubs and four of something else. If it's four diamonds he certainly knows there is a strong fit, quite likely a double fit, in one or both minors. With a four card major on the side he will be less ecstatic but he can still trust that there is an eight card club fit at least, and he knows pretty well what strength to expect. It's true that the jump to 3NT used up a lot of space for exploration but it's also true that at least one person has given an accurate and fairly detailed description of his hand. If I, as responder, have to start with some invented bid to feel partner out, it will be far more difficult to describe my own shape and strength. Perhaps I can gather enough information from partner to place the contract, and perhaps he will let my choice stand, but it seems like a bit of a seat of the pants operation.

 

I posted this hand feeling that the proper route is unclear. I still feel that way. In fact, I believe that the whole business of minor suit auctions could use a lot of work. At least mine could. What I would like is a reasonably effective, reasonably natural approach, one that doesn't involve bidding suits that I don't actually have (eg 1D with the current hand). It's true that 1m-3NT on 13-15 is something of that sort since it usually then goes all pass, usually it's correct, usually I don't get dealt 16-17 balanced and hear partner open, and even then 3NT is usually the right place. I am still hoping to do better than this without entering the land of exotica. Perhaps that is asking for the impossible. I don't actually abhor gadgets, but I have developed a skepticism except for pairs that spend a great deal of effort controlling the unwanted side effects.

 

Ken