[jillybean]

Hi,
Im reading a lot about serious 3nt in BPO, can someone please explain what it is.


tyvm
jillybean2

[mr1303]

It's a convention that is part of the 2/1 system, and it works like this.

When neither side has limited their hand and the partnership is in a game forcing situation, with a major suit agreed as trumps, a bid of 3NT shows serious slam interest. E.g.

1S 2C
2S 3S
3NT

This is a demand for a cue-bid, but shows genuine slam interest. A direct cue-bid would by inference deny serious slam interest, but is mandetory in case responder has serious slam interest.

1S 2C
2S 3S
4C

denies serious slam interest.

This avoids getting to no-play slams when both opener and responder are minimum, but possess controls, whilst allowing sensible exploration when one or other has a strong hand, without his partner getting in his way.

In order for 3NT to be serious, a major suit has to be agreed, and the auction has to be game forcing.

Serious 3NT is also on in the following situations

1S 2C
3S

1C 1S
3S

2C 2D
3S

[Echognome]

You can read Fred's own disussion of this in his 2/1 articles. They are quite useful with several examples.

http://bridgebase.com/articles/

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

simply put, if you have found a fit in a mayor, 3NT bid by
either side is never to play.

Cue Bids below 3NT do not promise add. strength,
a Cue Bid which by passes 3NT denies add. strength.

Another situation, besides the given from mr1303, would be

1H - (2C) - 3C (1) - (Pass)
3NT (2) - ...

(1) fit for openers suit, limit or better raise
(2) serious, because partner did only promise only inv.
values, 3NT showes something around 16+, because
a Cue Bid would already promise enough strength to
justify accepting the inviation.
...

One should also keep in mind, that 3 NT is sometimes only
used as a relay, because one has a natural "slam" interest.

Playing strong jumb shifts,

1H - (Pass) - 2S (1) - (Pass)
3S (2) - (Pass) - 3NT (2) - ...

(1) strong
(2) fit
(3) serious

3NT could be used in this seq. to give opener a chance
to complete the discription.

With kind regards
Marlowe

[luke warm]

1- you must be in a game forcing auction
2- you must have an 8+ card fit in a major

imagine this auction

1H : 2D
2NT : 3H

now if opener has serious slam interest *without* a spade control (A or K), she bids 3NT... if she has a spade control, she must show it... to bypass the control to bid serious 3NT denies that control

if opener does not have serious slam interest, she cue bids in case responder *does* have such interest.. continuing from the bidding above, if opener has no interest in slam but has the club king, she'd bid 4C here... responder knows opener has no spade control *and* has no serious slam interest

it's a little more complicated, but that's basically it.. either partner, depending on what's bid and when it's bid, can use serious 3NT... fred's 3 articles are good places to start

[helene_t]

It's a dangerous convention, I think you should agree to play it only in specific, agreed situations and do not extrapolate to other situations. A couple of the examples that have been mentioned, I'm not so sure about:

1♦-1♠
3♠-3NT* - depends on your notrump range and rebid agreements. If opener could bid 3♠ with a balanced hand (16-18 points) then I suppose 3NT could be based on a 4333-shape or notrumpish 4432, suggesting to play 3NT if opener has a notrumpish balanced hand. Note that since opener's hand is limited (3♠ is not forcing, right?), serious 3NT is not necesary.

1♥-2♦
2NT-3♥
3NT* - If 2NT allready limits opener's hand (for example when playing French style, 2NT=15-17) then serious 3NT is not necesary so 3♥ could be taken is primarily choice of game with a 3343-shape or similar.

Btw, I just read The Useful Space so now I realize that when hearts is the agreed suit, 3♠ should be serious and 3NT should show a spade control.