X-Clubs Play_05
How many of us play the “Gambling 3NT”? How many even know what it is and how it works?
I believe that the classic Gambling 3NT should be very specific: a seven or eight card totally solid minor. That doesn’t happen very often. In the old days, the gambling 3NT opening bid would also, ideally, have a partial stopper outside the suit, like Kx or even Qx, but one solid suit plus that is at least a 12 count and would usually be opened 1C or 1D. So, most exponents of the gambling 3NT will have a solid minor and NOTHING in any of the other suits. That makes it easy for partner, but should also make it easy for opponents when the 3NT opening becomes the final contract. Surprisingly, the defence is often pretty abysmal, and the gamble may come home thanks to poor defence. In the old days, the recommended way to defend against a 3NT opening that becomes the final contract is to lead an ace if you have one. That makes total sense, because you will see dummy and have a better idea how to continue. Declarer’s hand will be an open book and the defence should be pretty much ‘double dummy’.
From Tuesday, 19/10/21 at X-Clubs
Board 19 Dealer S EW Vul
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K73
QT7
AKQT
953Could South not have a more perfect “Gambling 3NT” as opening bidder? Only at three tables did South open 3NT. Other Souths opened with a preempt of 3C and played there, some ended up as dummy when North tried 3NT and other Souths opened 1C and became dummy in a subsequent 3NT by North. The defence in all cases was, to put it kindly, not the best. Against the gambling 3NT passed out at two tables, both Wests started with the SIX of spades opening lead, and the gamble paid off to the tune of +460! Look what happens if West knows what to do when on lead against a gambling 3NT.
West starts with the SA, sees dummy, and has a double dummy decision next and switches to a heart, East taking the next five tricks. The defence when North ends up as declarer should also be just as easy if East starts with the ace of hearts. Seeing discouragement from West, and seeing seven club tricks in dummy, a spade switch is at least 50-50. West wins the ace and returns a heart to East. Same result as before: down two. The problem for the defence if East starts with the HA is that if they are playing ‘reverse attitude’ East may read West’s FOUR of hearts as encouraging. How many Easts would just assume that West’s four is a low card and encouraging. No wonder I don’t like reverse signals of any sort!
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