July 2020 - 59

Special Contributors

Dear Billy
BY BILLY MILLER

Dear Billy,
Playing in a local sectional Swiss
teams, I picked up the following:
♠Q 10 9 4 3 ♥4 ♦K Q 6 5 3 ♣5 4.
My partner opened 2NT. I transferred to 3♠ and followed up with
3NT. Holding three spades, partner
took it back to 4♠. With 7 HCP I saw
no reasonable way to look for slam.
It did not seem justified. As luck
would have it, partner had an amazing fit, and slam was gin. Here was
his hand:
♠A K 7 ♥A 10 3 2 ♦A J 4 ♣A 8 2.
I was left wondering if there was
anything we missed? Still trying to
improve my game.
Lost In Austin
Dear Lostin,
You bid this hand the way 97% of all
partnerships would bid it, so don't be
too upset. It just so happens that I have
been playing an ultra-cool gizmo for
many years that is used in this exact
situation. And the best thing about it
is that it is free! And by "free," I mean
that you are giving up nothing to use it.
Follow me on these auctions:
1a. Opener
Responder
2NT
Transfer to major
One over major
This sequence shows a super-acceptance of partner's major: a maximum
with four-card support plus five key

dearbilly@aol.com

cards. Examples: 2NT-3♦; 3♠ or
2NT-3♥; 3NT.
1b. Opener
Responder
2NT
Transfer to major
Two over major
This sequence shows a super-acceptance of partner's major: a maximum
with four-card support plus four key
cards. Examples: 2NT-3♦; 3NT or
2NT-3♥; 4♣.
1c. Opener
2NT
4M

Responder
Transfer to major

This shows a super-acceptance of
partner's major: a maximum with
four-card support plus three or fewer
key cards. Examples: 2NT-3♦; 4♥ or
2NT-3♥; 4♠.
2a. Opener
2NT
3M
4♣

Responder
Transfer to major
3NT

This sequence shows a super-acceptance of partner's major: a maximum
with three-card support plus five key
cards. This is exactly the hand your
partner held! Examples: 2NT-3♦;
3♥-3NT; 4♣ or 2NT-3♥; 3♠-3NT;
4♣.
2b. Opener
2NT
3M
4♦

This shows a super-acceptance of
partner's major: a maximum with
three-card support plus four key cards.
Examples: 2NT-3♦; 3♥-3NT; 4♦ or
2NT-3♥; 3♠-3NT; 4♦.
2c.

Opener
2NT
3M
4M

Responder
Transfer to major
3NT

This shows a super-acceptance of
partner's major: a maximum with
three-card support plus three or
fewer key cards. Examples: 2NT-3♦;
3♥-3NT; 4♦ or 2NT-3♥; 3♠-3NT;
4♦.
You give up nothing to show your key
cards on the way to game.
Imagine with your hand that partner
had showed five key cards and three
spades. Wouldn't you jump to 6♦ giving partner a choice of slams? Must be
cold. In fact, if partner happens to have
four or five diamonds in addition to
three spades, you might be cold for 7♦!
It's great that you are continuing
your pursuit of improving your game.
That's the best way to play the game. I
hope you will start to use this fabulous
and fun gadget. Please send me a note
with your first home run.
◾

Responder
Transfer to major
3NT

July 2020 Bridge Bulletin

59
July 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of July 2020
