Gerberitis

[kriegel]

Almost everyone is familiar with Gerberitis, the overuse of Gerber and the assumption that any 4♣ bid is an ace-ask. I see it frequently at my local club, but I never thought it could strike me. Two years ago at a regional, when I was a novice (or more of a novice than I am now - I've only been playing for four years), I experienced this auction as well as a case of Gerberitis.

 

Partner opened 2NT, to which I responded 3♣, Puppet Stayman. I was informed that partner had one or both 4-card majors via 3♦, and I bid 3♥ to show spades. Partner bid 3♠ to show a slam-positive hand with a spade fit. I now cuebid 4♣ and partner bid 4NT. At this point, Gerberitis struck.

 

For some reason, I decided that my (expert) partner believed my 4♣ to be Gerber. I had not intended it that way, but that was the only possible explanation that came to me during my 30 second huddle. Spades were agreed, we were trying for slam, and partner bid 4NT - yet, "Blackwood" never crossed my mind. I eventually decided just to jump to 6♠, after all we had all the aces (partner's 4NT showed 3). The full auction was:

 

2NT - 3♣ (Puppet Stayman)

3♦(4-card major) - 3♥ (spades)

3♠ (spades, slam interest) - 4♣ (Gerber, in my mind)

4NT (3 aces) - 6♠ (I have no idea what's going on)

Pass (Neither do I)

 

The play involved picking up this trump suit for no losers:

 

♠AQxx

 

♠KT9x

 

Unfortunately, my partner played the honors in the wrong order and lost a trick to Jxxx, so we were down one. In 6NT (where we would have ended up had I remembered Blackwood), it's possible to get a count on the hand, so no mis-guess.

 

It's embarrassing to have been the goat in this scenario, but at the very least, I have a lot of empathy when my partners forget certain keycard responses or what the ask is. I've been there.

[jjbrr]

With all new partners that I play with, when we get to the ace asking section of the ACBL convention card, the first thing I say is "Gerber, but only in the auctions 1NT - 4♣, 2NT - 4♣, and 2♣-whatever; 2NT - 4♣.

 

It hasn't come up in about 5 years.

 

Hope that helps.

[Stephen Tu]

With all new partners that I play with, when we get to the ace asking section of the ACBL convention card, the first thing I say is "Gerber, but only in the auctions 1NT - 4♣, 2NT - 4♣, and 2♣-whatever; 2NT - 4♣.

It hasn't come up in about 5 years.

 

Does anyone have a nice comprehensive structure for showing minor suit hands, nicely utilizing both 3s/4c responses? With 3nt response as still to play.

I think I'm up to 7 years w/o bidding Gerber, so I want to use it for something else, but I haven't yet seen anything I really like.

[Zelandakh]

Does anyone have a nice comprehensive structure for showing minor suit hands, nicely utilizing both 3s/4c responses? With 3nt response as still to play.

I think I'm up to 7 years w/o bidding Gerber, so I want to use it for something else, but I haven't yet seen anything I really like.

This came up in a recent thread from Rainer. Here is mine, with the most relevant sections bolded:-

 

2NT

===

3♣ = Puppet Stayman (3♦ = 3-4 spades and/or 4 hearts); 3M = 5 in M; 3NT = 2♠3♥)

3red = transfers

3♠ = 5+ clubs, SI (3NT = no club fit; 4♣ = fit and decline slam try; others = fit and accept)

3NT = to play

4♣ = 6+ diamonds, SI

4red = transfers

4♠ = Baron range ask

--

 

2NT - 3♠; 3NT

=============

4♣ = 6+ clubs (4♦ declines a slam try; others accept and show key cards)

4♦ = 5+ diamonds, no void (4♥ declines a slam try in diamonds, others show key cards)

4M = 5+ diamonds, void in M (4M+1 declines a slam try, others show key cards)

4N = RKCB for diamonds excluding spade ace

 

Note that if Opener has 2 clubs they always have 3+ diamonds so we can assume diamonds are agreed for the 5-5 hands. Also, you could reverse the meanings of 4♣ and 4♦ if you preferred for right-siding purposes. The 4N bid is also somewhat unnecessary (4♠ can handle this, albeit 1 step higher) and easily forgotten so feel free to remove it if you try these methods out.

--

 

2NT - 3♣; 3♦

========

3♥ = asks if Opener has 4 spades; either spades or a minor suit slam try or a hand that wants to play 3NT

3♠ = 4 hearts, not 4 spades

3NT = 4-4 majors, NF

4♣ = 4-4 or better majors, SI

4♦ = 5 spades, 4 hearts, pick a major

4♥ = 5 clubs, 4 diamonds, SI

4♠ = 5 diamonds, 4 clubs, SI

 

It is not necessary to play this version of Puppet for the scheme to work - any method that handles 5♠4♥ hands as well as minor suit slam tries where a fit is not certain can slot in here. The 4M rebids are very useful for handling (31)(54) hands. Don't forget them though!

 

This structure handles most hands. There are still some problem types but accounting for them would reduce accuracy on the much more common types so does not seem to be worth the trade-off. There is a fair amount to remember but I do not think it is more than most other (good) methods around at the moment. Several others posted alternative good methods in Rainer's thread too so I would suggest taking a look there if the above does not inspire you.

[neilkaz]

With all new partners that I play with, when we get to the ace asking section of the ACBL convention card, the first thing I say is "Gerber, but only in the auctions 1NT - 4♣, 2NT - 4♣, and 2♣-whatever; 2NT - 4♣.

 

It hasn't come up in about 5 years.

 

Hope that helps.

Same for me.