3NT both majors

[gwnn]

Fred posted long ago that he likes 3NT=6-5 or better in majors, weak and we'd like to give it a spin.

 

What do you think would be the best follow-ups?

 

We were thinking:

a)

4C->4D; 4M: slam try

4D: no preference (I guess also hands with 1-card preference would bid it)

4M: to play

4NT: 6RKC, I don't care about your voids.

 

b)

4C shortness ask (4D: 1-1, 4H: 2-0, 4S: 0-2)

4d+ as above.

 

Which one would you prefer, if any? Something short and snappy probably since it doesn't come up that much.

[Kungsgeten]

Similar to your first idea:

 

4C = Puppet to 4D, then 4M is non-forcing slam-try

4D = Puppet to 4H. Then places the contract (which may be 4H, 4S or 5m)

4M = RKC in the bid suit

4NT = 6KCB

 

Other alternative:

 

4C = Optional RKCB in hearts. Opener bids 4D with no slam interest (then 4S is RKC)

4D = Optional RKCB in spades. Opener bids 4H with no slam interest (then 4NT is RKC)

4M = To play

4NT = 6KCB

5m = To play

[kenrexford]

In these situations, a method I like might be of interest. The idea is to force the person with the unbalanced hand to ask, thereby enabling Exclusion when that is possible.

 

Using the approach, 4♣ is a slam try in hearts. After this, +1 (4♦) is RKCB. +2 is Exclusion RKCB excluding the lower suit. +2 is Exclusion for the higher suit.

 

You can vary this theme, of course.

 

 

 

[Zelandakh]

It seems that we want to be able to play in 4M, to make a slam try in either major, to find out which major is longer, to initiate serious slam actions in either major, or to go with 6 keys. Can we do all of that? Well just about, although it is a bit of a squeeze. How about:

 

4♣ = asks for the longer major

... - 4♦ = longer spades

... - ... - 4♥ = slam try or better in spades

... - 4♥ = longer hearts

... - ... - 4♠ = slam try in spades

4♦ = slam try or better in hearts

4M = to play

4N = 6KCB

 

This is essentially using a similar idea as behind Ken's 1NT defence, so hopefully he also approves a little bit! :)

 

Another way would be to extend the relays to cover shortages:

 

4♣ = asks for the longer major

... - 4♦ = longer spades

... - ... - 4♥ = relay

... - ... - ... - 4♠ = 6511

... - ... - ... - 4NT = diamond void

... - ... - ... - 5♣ = club void

... - 4♥ = longer hearts

... - ... - 4♠ = relay

... - ... - ... - 4NT = 5611

... - ... - ... - 5m = void in m

4♦ = slam try in a major

... - 4♥ = decline in hearts

... - ... - 4♠ = slam try

... - 4♠ = accept hearts, decline spades

... - 4NT = accept both, no void

... - 5m = accept both, void in m

4M = to play

4N = 6KCB

 

I quite like this but it is probably not going to be worth it for an unusual sequence.

[jallerton]

Fred posted long ago that he likes 3NT=6-5 or better in majors, weak and we'd like to give it a spin.

 

What do you think would be the best follow-ups?

 

We were thinking:

a)

4C->4D; 4M: slam try

4D: no preference (I guess also hands with 1-card preference would bid it)

4M: to play

4NT: 6RKC, I don't care about your voids.

 

b)

4C shortness ask (4D: 1-1, 4H: 2-0, 4S: 0-2)

4d+ as above.

 

Which one would you prefer, if any? Something short and snappy probably since it doesn't come up that much.

 

I prefer scheme (a). It's more important to distinguish between good/bad hands for slam purposes than to locate Opener's void at the 4-level.