[jillybean]

---

How would the auction go at your table?

[pescetom]

Did West scratch her ring indicating short diamonds?
If not, it would either start 1D or finish with an argument.

[pescetom]

It's still a tricky board to bid on both sides.
Maybe
1D P 1H P
3D X XX 3S
4D 4S P P
5D 5S P P
P


I wouldn't hang my partner whatever happened, on either side.

[mike777]

8 diamonds, both non vul, first seat, I will open 5d.

[pescetom]

 mike777, on 2025-November-06, 14:54, said:

8 diamonds, both non vul, first seat, I will open 5d.

If they were vulnerable at IMPs it's a no brainer, but here I prefer to take it slowly. Partly a question of style.

[Huibertus]

3NT pass pass pass.

[pescetom]

--

[mw64ahw]

Hmm - 8 playing tricks equal vulnerability so I want to be in at least 4♦, but my 4♦ is Namyats so my best guess on the auction

2N some preempt
(X) takeout guessing the preempt is ♥
P
(4♥) guessing the preempt is ♦
P
(P) confused
P

But the ♦ hand looks too strong for a preempt so playing my Esoteric unbalanced ♦
1♦ - (P) - 1♠ GI - ?
4♥ even KCs - (P) - 5♦ - (P)
or
1♦ - 1♠ GI
2♦ - 2N
3N

[mike777]

No one mentioned this but has it become more modern for gambling 3NT openings to show a solid major suit rather than a solid minor suit?

If so then 4c or 4D can now be some type of asking bids by partner over the 3NT.
4c may ask for shortness..

[DavidKok]

I do think 3NT as a strong preempt in an undisclosed major is a fine use, but I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the constructive system. 3NT is still a massive preempt with 4♥ as the safety level.

If East opens a gambling 3NT I don't think I would find it in me to pass as North in fourth seat.

[P_Marlowe]

We would end up defending 4D.

Given the colors, I dont mind 5D, which will also end the auction.

[P_Marlowe]

<snip>

[WasWinM]

Grateful the opps aren’t playing gambling 3NT.

[mycroft]

Heh, out of context, but I thought of this thread when *this* happened:

---

From the common game yesterday. Yeah, I realize it's not "game both ways"...

[jillybean]

mike777, on 2025-November-06, 17:18, said:

No one mentioned this but has it become more modern for gambling 3NT openings to show a solid major suit rather than a solid minor suit?

If so then 4c or 4D can now be some type of asking bids by partner over the 3NT.
4c may ask for shortness..

I have not seen this but I'm not playing tournament bridge so wouldn't know. I would not be surprised to see Gambling 3nt losing popularity,

I like Fred's treatment but still waiting to add it to the CC


the hand

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fred, on 2025-June-22, 15:28, said:

I like to play a 3NT opening shows a hand like this (a preempt with at least 6-5 in the majors - obviously, as with all preempts, the vulnerability matters).

I invented (or, more likely, unknowingly reinvented) this convention about 25 years ago.

Doesn't come up very often of course, but it seemed to work better than any of the alternatives for 3NT openings that I have tried over the years. Admittedly it is hard to be objective about such things and I certainly have not made any real effort to keep track of the results.

You need to play reasonable methods over this for it to be workable. If anyone is interested, I will post what we came up with. I might not be able to do so immediately as I am in the middle of playing in a serious tournament.

It is a fun convention to play which, for me at least, is a nice plus

[mike777]

I see it on Chip Martel's convention card, not sure about other players...With the Vanderbilt coming up in a few weeks, will see if any other top players are doing this...

[jillybean]

I did not play this hand but as you can imagine, there were numerous different contracts played over 20 tables.

mycroft, on 2025-November-07, 10:41, said:

Heh, out of context, but I thought of this thread when *this* happened:

---

From the common game yesterday. Yeah, I realize it's not "game both ways"...

Beautiful, if you are sitting NS

mike777, on 2025-November-07, 10:44, said:

I see it on Chip Martel's convention card, not sure about other players...With the Vanderbilt coming up in a few weeks, will see if any other top players are doing this...

Good luck in the VB

[mike777]

I am not in the VB, watching it at home..