Source:
ABF youth bulletins
Take a look at this problem:
Jumping to 3NT may be your first instinct, but this is a bit premature. Imagine if partner has these type of hands:
(a)
Kx
Jxx
xx
AQJxxx Opposite this minimum hand, 5
is a much better contract.
(b)
Kx
xxx
Ax
AQxxxx Opposite this hand, 3NT is cold but 6
is also cold!
Essentially, with so many different possibilities, we must at least try and see whether 5
or even 6
is a possibility before we commit to 3NT. How do we do this? A very well-known convention, also known as the Bourke Relay, will help you out. When you have an uncontested auction of 1minor – 1Major – 2minor, use the next step bid as artificial and game-forcing. So in the auction above, that would be 2
. This would allow you and your partner to continue exchanging information about your hands until you both decide what the best contract is.
For example, imagine after rebidding 2
, your partner now rebids 2
, suggesting four hearts. You can now bid 3
(cannot be passed out as we are in a game-forcing auction!) and your partner now rebids 3
. What do you know? Your partner must be something like a 2=4=1=6 shape, and now you have the information that 3NT is likely down on a diamond lead! Not only that, 6
is starting to look like a real possibility!
