Advanced Lesson 3N by Richard Pavlicek
Advanced Lesson 3N by Richard Pavlicek
, 1 
or 1 
and a two-level nonjump response in an unbid suit. There are six possible sequences for the first two bids, and these are illustrated by Examples 1-6.
The Ground Rules
| A two-over-one response shows 4+ cards in a minor suit, or 5+ cards in hearts. |
| Responder indicates 11+ points and promises to bid again unless game has been reached. |
| Opener should describe his hand as naturally as possible. He may raise responder’s suit with three trumps. |
| All nonjump rebids by opener indicate 13 to 18 points. These are forcing because responder is required to bid again. |
| Jump rebids by opener show 19+ points except a raise from 2 to 4 shows 16-18 points. |
| If opener jumps after a two-over-one response, the purpose is not only to reach game but to suggest slam. Slam bidding is covered in another lesson. |
Invitational Auctions
| If responder rebids 2 NT, a suit shown by opener, or his original suit, it is nonforcing. |
1. 
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A Q 9 5 4 3 A 9 7 6 3 Q 2 | ![[W - E]](t.gif) | 4 3 Q J 9 K 4 2 A J 9 5 4 |
| West 1 2 | North Pass Pass | East 2 2 NT | South Pass |
West’s 2 bid does not require extra strength after the two-over-one response. East invites game with 2 NT, and West should pass with his bare minimum.
2.
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| Q 8 3 A J 8 6 5 K Q 10 4 3 | | 7 2 Q 3 2 6 5 4 3 A K J 5 |
| West 1 2 NT | North Pass Pass | East 2 3 | South Pass |
East’s hand is too strong for an immediate raise to 2 so he uses this sequence to invite game. West should pass 3 .
3.
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| K J 7 3 A K Q 5 2 2 9 7 3 | | 8 2 4 3 K Q J 10 8 6 A 6 2 |
| West 1 2 | North Pass Pass | East 2 3 | South Pass |
East shows a good six-card diamond suit (or any seven-card suit) and 11 or 12 total points. West should pass 3 .
4.
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| K J 9 6 5 A J 7 K 5 3 J 4 | | 4 3 Q 8 2 A Q 4 K 10 9 6 3 |
| West 1 2 NT | North Pass Pass | East 2 3 NT | South Pass |
East intended to invite game in notrump but now must carry on to game since he is not allowed to pass 2 NT.
5.
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| K Q 9 6 5 4 A 2 4 3 K J 3 | | J 8 8 5 A J 10 9 8 2 A 6 5 |
| West 1 2 | North Pass Pass | East 2 3 | South Pass |
East intended to rebid 3 but raises spades after West shows 6+ cards. West should accept the invitation and bid 4 .
6.
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| A K 8 5 4 Q 3 2 10 6 A 8 6 | | 3 2 K 9 8 7 4 A J 8 K 4 2 |
| West 1 3 | North Pass Pass | East 2 4 | South Pass |
East does not have enough strength to ensure game, but he is required to bid again; he cannot pass 3 .
| If opener bids a third time below game, it is forcing unless he has bid the same suit three times. |
I bid three times! Why would you pass me?
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| A K 9 8 7 3 A Q 9 7 2 9 3 | | 10 2 J 8 3 K 6 5 4 A Q J 8 |
| West 1 2 3 | North Pass Pass Pass | East 2 2 NT 4 | South Pass Pass |
After East’s 2 NT invites game, West’s third bid is forcing. West indicates 6-4 shape so East raises spades.
8.
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| A Q J 9 8 5 4 — A 8 2 9 5 4 | | 3 A Q J 9 8 5 4 9 7 Q J 6 |
| West 1 2 3 | North Pass Pass Pass | East 2 3 Pass | South Pass Pass |
Here West’s third bid is nonforcing because he repeatedly bid the same suit.
Game Going Auctions
9.
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| K J 8 5 2 9 2 K 9 3 A J 3 | | Q A K 10 8 7 3 A 8 2 10 4 2 |
| West 1 2 NT | North Pass Pass | East 2 4 | South Pass |
East’s hand is too strong to rebid 3 so he jumps to game expecting West to have two hearts for his 2 NT rebid.
10.
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| 4 3 K Q 9 7 5 3 A 8 K 8 2 | | A Q 8 4 K Q J 5 3 2 Q 10 9 |
| West 1 2 | North Pass Pass | East 2 3 NT | South Pass |
East judges that notrump will be the best game contract. Note that responder (unlike opener) does not suggest a balanced hand when he rebids in notrump.
11.
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| A 10 9 6 5 K J 7 3 A 5 4 3 | | K Q 4 A Q 8 4 8 2 Q 10 7 5 |
| West 1 2 | North Pass Pass | East 2 4 | South Pass |
East does not raise spades immediately with only three trumps as West might also have four hearts. A 4-4 trump fit is usually superior to a 5-3 fit.
12.
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| K J 7 A 10 2 K Q 9 3 9 5 2 | | Q 8 6 K J 4 5 2 A K Q 10 6 |
| West 1 2 NT | North Pass Pass | East 2 3 NT | South Pass |
East is satisfied with game in notrump. Note that in this case East would make the same rebid with 11-12 points.
In other cases the two-over-one responder (with 13+ points) will be unsure of the best game contract, or he may have interest in slam. In that event responder will not wish to bid game at his second turn, so he must choose a rebid that is forcing. He cannot make one of the nonforcing rebids described earlier.
| If responder bids a new suit or jumps below game, it is forcing. |
13.
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| 6 2 K 10 9 A K J 8 5 4 J 3 | | A J 8 7 4 3 2 3 A K Q 5 2 |
| West 1 2 2 NT | North Pass Pass Pass | East 2 2 3 NT | South Pass Pass |
East does not know the best game contract so he bids a new suit (forcing). West logically bids notrump with a stopper in the unbid suit and East continues to game.
14.
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| Q 3 A K 8 7 6 5 3 Q 8 2 2 | | 6 5 2 9 A K 5 A Q 10 9 8 4 |
| West 1 2 3 | North Pass Pass Pass | East 2 3 4 | South Pass Pass |
Sometimes you have to improvise. Over 2 East is too strong to bid 3 and a bid of 3 NT is foolish without a spade stopper; hence 3 (forcing). West bids his suit a third time so East finally raises.
15.
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| K Q J 5 2 A J 9 4 2 Q 7 2 | | A 8 4 K Q 3 K J 10 8 4 3 3 |
| West 1 2 4 | North Pass Pass Pass | East 2 3 Pass | South Pass Pass |
East’s jump to 3 is forcing. West has a minimum opening so he just goes to game. If West instead held A-7-2 he would bid 4 (a control-bid) over 3 and an excellent slam would be reached.
Passed Hand Situations
| After a two-over-one response by a passed hand, opener should pass with 13 points or less. |
16.
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| 4 2 4 3 K J 7 A Q 10 8 6 5 | | A Q 8 7 6 K Q 2 5 4 3 4 2 |
| West Pass 2 | North Pass Pass | East 1 Pass | South Pass |
East opened light in 3rd position so he passes the 2 response; game is clearly out of reach.
| When opener does bid again, he should have 14+ points and the structure is unchanged. |
17.
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| Q 10 4 8 2 A J 9 8 6 K J 3 | | A 5 A Q J 4 3 K Q 7 3 8 2 |
| West Pass 2 3 NT | North Pass Pass Pass | East 1 3 Pass | South Pass Pass |
The bidding continues just as if East had opened 1 in first seat. Especially note the raise to 3 with 18 points; it is forcing so West logically tries 3 NT.
18.
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| 9 7 9 7 3 K 8 4 A K 8 5 4 | | K 10 3 Q J 8 A Q 10 3 Q 9 2 |
| West Pass 2 3 NT | North Pass Pass Pass | East 1 2 NT Pass | South Pass Pass |
East should have 14+ HCP to rebid 2 NT (forcing) since he should pass 2 with 13 or less. West is obliged to bid again so he continues to game.
Copyright © 2007 Richard Pavlicek. All rights reserved.