ACBL04G – Notrump: Gambling 3 Notrump Ward Trumbull
Dec 19, 2007
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Stop using 25-27 HCP as an opening 3 notrump bid.
How often do you pick up a hand with 25-27 HCP? Once a year? Two
years? If so, how often is it a balanced notrump hand? Every 3 years?
So why waste an opening bid on a hand that so seldom comes up?
Instead, use an opening 3 notrump bid for Gambling Notrump hands.
What is a Gambling 3 Notrump?
It is a hand that has:
1. A 7+ card minor suit headed by at least the ace, king and
queen
2. At least two quick tricks in the other 3 suits, that is, two aces
or an ace/king in one suit
3. For an overcall – two outside quick tricks, where one of them is
the ace or king of the opponent’s opening suit
Why is it called a Gambling 3 Notrump?
You may not make 3 notrump because:
1. The 7+ card minor suit might not run, i.e., an opponent might
have jack 4th in that suit.
2. The opponents may take 5+ tricks in the suit(s) that you don’t
have a stopper.
3. On an overcall notrump, the LHO might not lead his/her
partner’s bid suit.
How much of a gamble is it?
Gambling 3 notrump bids make about 80% of the time. Do you make
80% of all you 3 notrump contracts? Probably not.
ACBL04G – Notrump: Gambling 3 Notrump Dec 19, 2007
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What is in your favor?
You make Gambling 3 Notrump contracts because:
1. Partner’s hand may have a stopper and/or length in the suit(s)
you don’t have stopped (no quick trick).
2. LHO will almost always lead RHO’s opening suit when you
make an overcall 3 notrump.
3. When you have quick tricks in two outside suits (aces), the
odds are 2 to 1 in your favor that the opening lead will be one
of those suits.
4. The opponents may be 4 opposite 4 in your unprotected suit,
which means you will take the last 9 tricks.
5. The unprotected suit might get blocked up due to bad
defensive play.
Example 1
S - A x x (17 HCP)
H - A (2 quick tricks - aces)
D - A K Q x x x x
C - x x
With a heart or spade lead, you should make 3 notrump.
With a club lead partner may stop the suit, they may only take 4
tricks or they may switch to hearts or spades.
Example 2
S - A K x (16 HCP)
H - x (2 quick tricks - ace/king)
D - x x
C - A K Q x x x x
With a spade lead, you should make 3 notrump.
With a diamond or heart lead, you will need some luck.
But isn’t that what gambling is? Luck!
ACBL04G – Notrump: Gambling 3 Notrump Dec 19, 2007
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Example 3
S - A x (16 HCP)
H - K x (1 and ½ quick tricks - ace/king)
D - x x
C - A K Q x x x x
RHO opened one heart, and you overcalled 3 notrump. The
expected opening heart lead should help make 3 notrump. If
not a heart lead, partner’s hand might produce a spade or
diamond trick.
Alerting
Even though many pairs now play the Gambling 3 Notrump, you are
still expected to alert the bid by saying:
“ Gambling”
Defense
The recommended defenses against Gambling 3 Notrumps
1. Lead an ace to look at the dummy to help determine the best
defense, even if it is an unprotected ace, i.e., you don’t have
the king in that suit.
2. On an overcall Gambling 3 Notrump, don’t lead partner’s suit
unless partner has doubled the contract.
3. Beware of leading a minor suit unless you are sure it’s not the
declarer’s long minor suit. If you have the ace, king or queen
in that minor suit, it can’t be declarer’s suit.
Finally, how do you bid 25-27 HCP notrump type hands?
Open 2 clubs and then jump to 3 notrump on your next bid.