How many of us have come across/use the ‘Gambling 3NT bid?

Definition:  a 7 card suit (never 6) in either minor, solid i.e. AKQJ742, no void, no 4 card Major; opens with 3NT.
What is it, and more importantly, how do you respond to it!
 

These are the kind of hands you would expect.  It will always be the first positive bid (as opposed to Passes) of an Auction.

7 example hands below to decide whether or not 3NT is the correct opening bid.  Below that 4 examples of responder hands and bids amd finally opening lead suggestion. 

For some reason you may have to click the show detail button to see the hands, probably too many hands on a single page!

Perfect hand for an opening 3NT bid, a solid minor.

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An 8 card suit, Robin would open 3NT.  In any case, the opposition may have 4 of a major on, and not be able to bid it.

Has the right points, but it has 2 first round controls.  Robin suggests that you never open 3NT with a void. Opposite ♠ AK9842  ♥ AKQ  ♦ 72  ♣ 54   You would want to be in 6♠ but partner will probably expect two losing diamonds.

pass, or bid 5♣ ,  see below, for explanation!   (KEY response 1)
  

Bid 1♣,  not 3NT.  You would never open 3NT with a  4  Card Major.

Open 1♦,  not 3NT. You have an outside King, and therefore (with Especially good support for Spades), you  would never open 3NT with an outside King.  You would  hate to miss 6♠  on  ♠ A Q J 10 4 2   ♥ 6 4 2  ♦4   ♣A K 7,  which you certainly will if Partner opens 3NT  - you could not visualise a slam where you were missing the King of spades, and you were unsure whether you had 1, 2 or 3 heart losers.

Open 1♦, with only a 6 card solid suit;  you definitely need 7 to open 3NT.

Once again, we have found a suitable hand to open 3NT.

How do we respond to the opening 3NT bid?  If you bid over 3NT, you will generally be playing in partners minor suit, at some level. There will be very few cases where you will play in a suit contract other than the long minor Partner has.

You hold  ♠ KQJ9  ♥ AQ7  ♦ 987  ♣ 852  If the opposition decide to lead the other minor, they could take the first 5 tricks, i.e. 4 tricks the other Minor and Ace of spades. So, it is best to take it out into Partner’s  suit  

How do you do this?  By bidding 4♣  which is called Pass or Correct.  Partner will pass if he has a solid club suit, and will bid 4♦  which will be bid if his suit is diamonds.

You hold ♠ K Q J 9   ♥ A K Q 7   ♦ A   ♣ 9 8 5 2      On this hand I just bid 6♣ . You can count 12 tricks – 7♣, 3♥, 1♦ and 1♠  once the Ace is knocked  - No lead does you any harm, since you have 2nd  round control in both the red suits. Note - you will be playing the 6♣ contract,    

You hold  ♠  A K 10 7 2  ♥  A 9 4 2  ♦  A 8 7  ♣ 8   Slightly more difficult this. You may make a slam in clubs (you know Partner has a club suit), but are safer just bidding game!

How do you do this?  Similar to Response 1. This time, you bid 5♣,  again, Pass or Correct. Partner will pass with clubs, or bid 5♦ 

You hold  ♠ J 10 9 2   ♥ A 9 4 2   ♦ A 8 7   ♣ 8  This is a difficult one, if you are not used to it.  

The correct response is to Pass 3NT. Why?  You know that your Partner has 7 solid clubs (he can’t have 7 solid diamonds, since you hold the Ace; the singleton club acts as communications to the 7 card club suit. This is why it is so preferable to have a suit of A K Q J x x x. This will normally provide 7 tricks against a singleton  in the other hand (i.e. Response 3 above), i.e. 7 clubs, 2 aces, and possibly even 1 spade.  The important thing is that the defence cannot take 5 spade tricks, before you win 9!  19 point game.

If you are on lead against an opening 3NT bid, what should you lead?

This is the most important part of defence to 3NT; It is important that you see what dummy holds, Therefore, the best lead is an Ace; once this lead is made, and knowing that Declarer has no outside immediate entry to the clubs, you can easily determine the best defence – either to switch to dummy’s weakest suit, or continue with your suit.