Nagy Game Tries

1S:-2S:; ?

2NT = asks in which suit responder would accept a help suit game try. Reponses:
3C: = accept clubs. If opener now bids 3x it is a help suit in that suit.
3D: = reject clubs, accept diamonds
3H: = reject minors, accept hearts
3S: = reject anything ever
3NT = natural, choice of games
4x = cue bid
4S: = accept game tries, no slam interest (rare--- typically bids 3NT)
3C:, 3D:, 3H: = short suit game tries
3S: = choice of
a) power try
b) trump try
c) 123 stop
Since I never hold (b), we can use 2NT to start (a), and 123 stop is silly when you hold spades, I don't care much. If you don't either, make it (a).
3NT = choice of games
4C:, 4D:, 4H: = long-suit (not help-suit) slam tries, promising a 5-card side suit and a good hand

Over 1H:-2H:, same applies, only 2S: is the ask, with notrump's now meaning spades, and 2NT is a short suit try in spades. 3S: is natural, 5-6 slam try.

After short suit tries, a repeat of the short suit try is a void suit slam try. A different suit beyond 3M is a cue bid and shows a short suit slam try with a singleton.

After 2NT, opener's new suits above 3M show a help-suit slam try (probably in an accepted suit) and are cue bids.


Jeff Goldsmith, jeff@tintin.jpl.nasa.gov, Aug. 27, 1996