How many HCP do you need for 6NT?

[barmar]

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=saq3hqj54dkj85c76]133|100|Scoring: Total Points

1♣ 1♥

2NT 6NT[/hv]I was taught that with flat hands, you need 33 HCP to bid 6NT. In this case, GIB knows we have 31-32 and probably no long suit. Guess what 8 of the 9 HCP we didn't have were.

 

Would it kill him to use Gerber to find out that we're off two aces?

 

To make up for it, I bid a no-play grand on the next board, when GIB opened and I had 20 HCP (the small slam was makable, but requires a squeeze, endplay, and you have to decide whether to play for a 3-3 break in a side suit or 4-2 with the long hand having the long trumps -- I just finished the chapter on this in Rubens's book).

[hv=d=s&v=n&s=saq3hqj54dkj85c76]133|100|Scoring: Total Points

1♣ 1♥

2NT 6NT[/hv]This one was a little better, it has 14 HCP and a long suit, as well as an honor in my suit. It made an overtrick because this time we weren't missing any aces, 2 of 3 finesse were on (for a bonus, they gave me a free finesse in the third suit on the opening lead), and both our 5-2 suits broke 3-3.

[nigel_k]

Unfortunately for you, 31-32 HCP does usually make 6NT double dummy because all the finesses are taken the right way and double dummy analysis is how GIB decides what to bid.

[barmar]

True. And when you're missing 8 or 9 HCP, the chance that you're missing two aces is pretty low. But Gerber should still be used to make sure.