ACBL39 – Notrump: Quantitative 4/5 Notrump Ward Trumbull
Feb 6, 2011
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What
This is a slam bidding convention used when partner opens a notrump.
The goal is to have enough HCP between the hands to warrant a slam
contract. The standard for notrump slams is:
33+ HCP for a small slam (12 tricks)
With that count you could not be missing 2 aces.
37+ HCP for a grand slam (13 tricks)
With that count you could not be missing any aces.
Note that in suit slams distribution points may be included but not in a
notrump slam.
Options
1. In response to an opening notrump bid you can cheaply ask for aces
by using the Gerber convention (a bid of 4 clubs). This can be used
directly or after a Stayman or Transfer bid.
2. You could also use Blackwood (a bid of 4 notrump) in the same
situations.
3. The third option is to use a direct 4 notrump bid (not as Blackwood)
but as a quantitative bid (HCP) to see if your pair has 33+ HCP for
a notrump small slam.
4. The fourth option is to use a direct 5 notrump bid as a quantitative
bid to see if your team has 37+ HCP for a notrump grand slam.
Remember that in all four cases the responder is in control, and the
opener does what the responder asks or tells him/her to do.
ACBL39 – Notrump: Quantitative 4/5 Notrump Feb 6, 2011
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Quantitative 4 Notrump (Notrump Small Slam Invitation)
1. Our one notrump range is 15-18 HCP. If the responder has 16-17 HCP
he/she can invite a small notrump slam with this bid. The opener’s
options are:
15 HCP - pass the 4 notrump bid
16 HCP - gamble and bid 6 notrump, hoping responder has 17 HCP
17-18 HCP - bid 6 notrump
2. Our Trumbull 2 club notrump range is 19-21 HCP. In this case the
responder needs only 13 HCP for the invitational 4 notrump bid.
The opener’s options are:
19 HCP - pass the 4 notrump bid
20-21 HCP - bid 6 notrump
Note that with 14-15 HCP responder would have just bid 6 notrump.
3. Our two notrump range is 22-24 HCP. Now the responder needs only
10 HCP to query. The opener’s options are:
22 HCP - pass
23-24 HCP - bid 6 notrump
Quantitative 5 Notrump (Notrump Grand Slam Invitation)
The logic for 5 NT is the same as it is for 4 NT, except the stakes are
higher.
1. Over one notrump, a 5 notrump response indicates 19-20 HCP. The
opener’s options are:
15-16 HCP - bid 6 notrump
17 HCP - bid 6 notrump or gamble with 7 notrump
18 HCP - bid 7 notrump
ACBL39 – Notrump: Quantitative 4/5 Notrump Feb 6, 2011
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Quantitative 5 Notrump (continued)
2. Over the Trumbull 2 club notrump (19-21 HCP), the responder needs
16-17 HCP for the 5 notrump query. The opener’s options are:
19 HCP - bid 6 notrump
20 HCP - bid 6 notrump or gamble with 7 notrump
21 HCP - bid 7 notrump
3. Over two notrump (22-24 HCP) the responder needs 13-14 HCP for the
5 notrump query. The opener’s options are:
22 HCP - bid 6 notrump
23 HCP - bid 6 notrump or gamble with 7 notrump
24 HCP - bid 7 notrump