This is a poor use of Gerber. Trying to get into slam if pard gives a good response, rather than staying out of slam if pard gives a bad response is not using Gerber wisely. Missing only one Ace should not be a barrier to bidding slam. A combined 31hcp is on the cusp of what is needed when u hold a good 5 card suit opposite a 1NT. Perhaps pass would be best, otherwise next best would be a quantitative invite of 4NT. If the partnership opens 5332 shapes with a 5 card major 1NT then it would be sensible to have a mechanism to check for a 5-3 fit (particularly given the ruffing value with the doubleton ♠), and then do a quant. invite if one was deserved.
How to double check whether to invite or not. Try the Perfect Minimum test. Give South A♣, K♦, K♥, Q♥. Looks to be a struggle with only 11 tricks so pass is in order.
Query re Perfect Minimum test. I normally "fill in" my long suits first, which in this case was the CA. However, if I fill in the short suits first with DA,DK, HK, HQ, I get to 12 tricks with a 12 count. The difference being the CA replaces what is highly likely to be a trick, the C5, whereas in the "short suit" Perfect Min the DA replaces a loser. Is there any guide as to what is best to use?
This is a poor use of Gerber. Trying to get into slam if pard gives a good response, rather than staying out of slam if pard gives a bad response is not using Gerber wisely. Missing only one Ace should not be a barrier to bidding slam.
ReplyDeleteA combined 31hcp is on the cusp of what is needed when u hold a good 5 card suit opposite a 1NT. Perhaps pass would be best, otherwise next best would be a quantitative invite of 4NT.
If the partnership opens 5332 shapes with a 5 card major 1NT then it would be sensible to have a mechanism to check for a 5-3 fit (particularly given the ruffing value with the doubleton ♠), and then do a quant. invite if one was deserved.
How to double check whether to invite or not. Try the Perfect Minimum test. Give South A♣, K♦, K♥, Q♥. Looks to be a struggle with only 11 tricks so pass is in order.
Query re Perfect Minimum test. I normally "fill in" my long suits first, which in this case was the CA. However, if I fill in the short suits first with DA,DK, HK, HQ, I get to 12 tricks with a 12 count. The difference being the CA replaces what is highly likely to be a trick, the C5, whereas in the "short suit" Perfect Min the DA replaces a loser. Is there any guide as to what is best to use?
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