[phoenixmj]

Hi - we are trying to learn more about slam bidding. We have recently introduced non-serious 3NT. Today we had a hand where I opened 1C. There was intervening bids so the auction went

1C, 1H, 1S, P, 2S, P , 3D

Is the 3d bid a cue bid showing 1/2 round control? What would this bid mean to you?

Any and all help is appreciated.

[ahydra]

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We can't be in a slam auction yet - opener has a minimum and responder has promised no more than perhaps 5 HCPs.

To me the 3D is a game try / advance cue bid.

• Initially opener assumes responder is showing a natural diamond suit (some may play other types of game tries such as showing suits with two losers / a shortage) and trying for game.
  
• If the diamond suit does not improve his hand and he has does not have a maximum for 2S, opener just signs off in 3S, otherwise he can bid 4S or perhaps a cue bid if his hand is really good.
  
• Responder is unlimited, however, and if he follows up opener's 3S or 4S with another bid, it implies the 3D was actually a cue bid showing 1st or 2nd round control in D and looking for slam.

ahydra

[apollo1201]

As Ahydra pointed ouf, it is too early to start cue bidding in view of slam.

Responder will more often have a game invitational hand than a slammish hand. So 3D is (for the moment) a further going bid, mostly looking for game if opener can cooperate with the appropriate D holding (depending on how you play game tries).

If responder further continues bidding below game, it will be for sure a slam interest, but it will be clearer that D is a real secondary suit. And it will also be a way to extract the required H control from opener.

[pescetom]

I would add that you can play Help Suit Game Try without the "Advance Cue Bid" implication and I suggest you do. In general it makes sense for intermediate players to restrict cue (control) bids to situations where trumps have been fixed and the bidding is above the level of trumps immediately below game - so the lowest possible control bid is 3♠ when hearts are trumps. This still leaves plenty of space to investigate slam and eliminates some risky ambiguity.

[msjennifer]

SIR,3D could be or may not be a cue bid.This will be clear only on the next round,To me 3D is a forcing bid asking opener to revaluate his hand in light of this bid to be taken as a natural bid right now.Opener may be minimum( as regards HCP) and/or shall revaluate and bid accordingly either 3S/4S.(if one is playing LTC). Any other bid should show a maximum hand(which could not bid 3S earlier)..If one is playing 3D as a game force then openers 3S is almost always a temporising bid allowing responder leeway for further clarification/exploration.

[dsLawsd]

Exactly. Although we have not seen responder's hand.

If a strong hand it might be appropriate to show shortness or show a second excellent suit to paint a picture for opener's presumed 11-14 HCP hand. Decide first to be in game most times. Opener responses will often be a guide.

It is quite excellent that you are slowly adding to your partnership agreements and evaluating how they work for you. This will add greatly to your judgment which in the end is how most slams are bid and marginal ones are not.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

it is a Trial bid.

Having said this: If your Trial bids promise values, most of the time, they will Show similar Holdings as a cue bid.
This is espesially true, if you agree, that the first cue is based on honors, rather than a shortage, i.e. controls
due to a shortage can be bypassed or are not denied when bypassed.
3NT by either side can be used serious / no serious style, as Long as you have agreed to Play the major, when a Major
suit fit is found.

With Kind regards
Marlowe

[pescetom]

P_Marlowe, on 2019-August-04, 02:36, said:

If your Trial bids promise values, most of the time, they will Show similar Holdings as a cue bid.
This is espesially true, if you agree, that the first cue is based on honors, rather than a shortage, i.e. controls
due to a shortage can be bypassed or are not denied when bypassed.
3NT by either side can be used serious / no serious style, as Long as you have agreed to Play the major, when a Major
suit fit is found.

I think it's more important to make effective replies to the trial (including shortage where present) than to cramp things with the antiquated advance cue bid approach. But to each his own.
Non serious 3NT is useful, but again it's important to agree what it means, and how it differs from a jump to game in a game forcing context.