Robert Todd
(636) 3NT Rebids by Responder

3NT is our favorite contract.  That makes bidding it a requirement as often as we can – we cannot play there unless one of us bids it.  If we are going to bid 3NT in a variety of different situations, with a variety of different hands (to allow us to play there), then we need to have good agreements about what a 3NT bid shows.  Responder is most likely to be the one bidding 3NT, so let’s discuss many of these possible bids.

(636) 3NT Rebids by Responder
Constructive: Opener
Robert Todd
(635) 3NT Rebids by Opener

One of the most common misunderstandings about Opener’s hand concerns rebidding 3NT.  What does it show?   As we would expect, the answer is different in different situations.  It is key for us to make the right interpretation of partner’s bid and to make sure we don’t make false assumptions. These kinds of bidding mixups can lead to playing the wrong game or missing an “easy’ slam.  Let’s look at some auctions and make sure we have good agreements with partner.

(635) 3NT Rebids by Opener
Robert Todd
(634) Smolen and 5/5 Majors After a 2NT Opening

When partner opens the bidding 2NT then it gives us less space to investigate a Major suit fit (or any fit) and keep the auction below 3NT.  That makes it important to make use of our space efficiently and determine if we have a fit and then determine if we belong in game or higher.  Here we look at how to balance communicating with partner and a lack of bidding space.

(634) Smolen and 5/5 Majors After a 2NT Opening
More NT
Robert Todd
(633) Stayman Auctions After a 2NT Opening

When partner opens the bidding 2NT they eat up a lot of bidding space.  As the Responder we need to search for a Major suit fit (or even a minor suit fit) while keep the auction from getting too high.  Our most common action will be to start with a 3♣ Stayman response.  Let’s take a look at these auctions in detail and make sure that we are on the same page as partner.

(633) Stayman Auctions After a 2NT Opening
Robert Todd
(632) 1M - 3NT* a Good 1M - 4M Bid

In general, we use jumps in competitive auctions as weak bids (0-5 points) applying the Law of Total Tricks (LOTT) -- (though sometimes the modern approach can be to use mixed bids, 6-9 points).  The key is that we jump to our Law level, eating up bidding space, to quickly and narrowly define our hand. 

(632) 1M - 3NT* a Good 1M - 4M Bid