McCallum/Sanborn January 2000 5NT.

287

287 5NT

Very little in this section applies with Lynn beyond the basics
– 5NT is normally COS, but most of the rest is completely
undiscussed. We have almost no follow-ups.

5NT is always forcing.

Normal meaning of 5NT is "pick a slam".
Secondary meaning is Grand Try.
GSF is a remotely possible interpretation, but only if
absolutely clear.
Default meaning of any ambiguous 5NT is "pick a slam."
All of the above has been discussed and will apply with Lynn at
some point, but she is not completely comfortable yet.

Grand Try
In RKC sequences, 5NT follow-up (by 4NT bidder) says we have all
the KeyCards & asks for responder's opinion about a Grand. If
interested he shows specific Kings (Exclusion style).
• 6T = no interest in Grand.
Above applies with Lynn, but the rest of this section is
undiscussed.
5NT in competition = Grand Try without control in opponents'
suit. 6Q = Grand Try with 1st round control
• Applies only when both 5NT and 6Q are available below 6T.
1NT-5NT is COS, NOT a Grand Try.
5NT after SuperGerber response is a Grand Try. 5NT, when
SuperGerber was available but not used, is COS, not a Grand
Try. General Rule: If we have room to do so, we must check
for Aces first before making a Grand-Try.
No agreements with Lynn about 5NT in competition (unless we’re
saving), and no agreements relating to SuperGerber sequences.

5NT As Grand Slam Force

Rarely needed since RKC and SBW solve most, perhaps all, trump
honor problems.
GSF used only when absolutely clear, and when we have one and
only one possible trump suit. For example: 2♠-5NT: GSF.

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When responding to GSF:

• The more you bid, the more you have. (See Section 275 for
specific steps) No specific follow-ups with Lynn.Bid 7
with 2 top honors (but always bid 7♣ to cater to partner’s
other possible plans) Does not apply with Lynn.
• In rare cases you need 3 honors to bid 7 (e.g., when you’ve
bid your own suit 3 times and it hasn’t been raised). See
Section 275 - GSF. Does not apply with Lynn - undiscussed.

CHOICE OF SLAMS VS. GRAND TRY VS. GSF

See Section 279 (GRAND SLAM BIDDING)
• The default meaning of any ambiguous 5NT is "pick a slam."
• In general, if we have had a lengthy auction or complicated
auction, then 5NT is COS.
• If we have clearly AGREED one and only one suit (so that
5NT COS makes no sense)
o A jump to 5NT is presumably GSF (rarely needed since
RKC and SBW solve most, perhaps all, trump honor
problems).
o Any non-jump 5NT is presumed to be a general Grand
Try. (GSF may be possible, but unlikely.) Does not
apply with Lynn – no agreements other than 5NT COS.
1NT-5NT is specifically defined as COS. We must
check for Aces first if we intend to make a Grand
Try.
o 1N-5♣; 5X-5NT is Grand Try.
o 1N-5♣; 5X-5X+1 is relay to 5NT (possibly to play there)
• When 5NT is clearly defined as a GRAND-TRY, 6C offers a
CHOICE OF SLAMS - so long as ♣’s are not our likely trump
suit. When ♣’s are a possible trump suit, 6♣ is natural and
there is no COS call available. Discussed with Lynn, but
has never come up – avoid for now.
o 1♠-2♥; 3N-4♠; 4N-5♦; 6♣: 6♣ cannot be to play. 5NT
would have been a grand try. Therefore, 6♣ is COS(♠’s
or NT). Would not make this call with Lynn.
• If both 5NT and 6Q are available below 6T, in a competitive
auction where it is clear what our trump suit will be, then
5NT is COS and 6Q is the Grand-Try (1st round control).
(Need to make rules??) Does not apply with Lynn.
• If they've jammed us at the 5-level we usually don't make a
Grand-Try. We put the emphasis on strain
o We may make a Grand-Try, if it is clear what trumps
will be. But, if there is any ambiguity, then 5NT is

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a flexible COS, and 6Q is a first-round control, but

not really a Grand-Try. 6Q is informative, showing
the control and suggesting no difficulty in handling
the auction , i.e., 6Q bidder knows what to do. 5NT
does not deny control. Flexibility for choice of
strain is more important than either showing control
or making Grand-Try.
o 3♣-(X)-5♣: Important to have 5NT available as COS, so
that if the doubler has no preference he can Q-bid 6♣
over responder’s 5NT, asking responder to choose the
suit. This avoids playing silly 4/3 fits at the 6-
level. Here, responder's direct 6♣ should suggest
first-round ♣ control, with no preference (certainly
no preference for a lower-ranking suit).

Responding To 5NT After BW (Grand Try, Asks Specific Kings)

Because of the lack of space above 5NT, EXCLUSION responses work
better than the Standard Specific King Response - they allow
us to show two Kings with one bid.
Rather than showing the specific King we have, we respond
EXCLUSION. A new-suit bid over 5NT is either the King of that
suit, or the other two Kings. REMEMBER.
Used only in BW and other Ace-asking sequences where it is clear
that responder has been asked to show specific Kings if he
likes his hand for a Grand. Specifically NOT used after
Quantitative 5NT, nor after 5NT-“Pick-a-Slam.”
EXCLUSION King-responses discussed with Lynn, and agreed upon,
but it hasn’t come up at the table. Undiscussed with Kerri.

Bidding After Quantitative 5NT (where Grand has been

suggested)

5NT is always forcing.

Bid suits up the line if interested in a Grand. i.e. new suits
are forward going, but passable (need help to run this suit
for a Grand).
6NT is no interest.
Direct 5NT is not Quantitative (i.e., not Grand Try), merely
Choice of Slams.
General Rule, we must first check for Aces if we want to make a
Grand Try (so that we don’t play a Grand off an Ace!).
Section does not apply with Lynn – undiscussed.

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Bidding After COS 5NT (where Grand is out of the question)

5NT is always forcing.
Since 5NT offered a choice, the next call will probably end the
auction.
If the 5NT bidder bids over partner's "choice," the likely
interpretation of any ambiguous call is
• "not that suit, pick again" (if logically possible),
otherwise…
• Grand Try
A Grand Try after 5NT-COS is uncommon and would probably occur
only if there was no other Grand Try available.
Section does not apply with Lynn – follow-ups to 5NT-COS are
undiscussed.

Priority
Occasionally, in a complex auction, a 5NT call may still be
ambiguous. Should this occur, the following order of priority
is employed (QCGG):
1) NATURAL (but forcing)
2) QUEEN ASK
3) COS (most frequent interpretation)
4) GRAND-TRY
5) GSF
Section does not apply with Lynn - undiscussed.

NOTE: I think it is perhaps possible for a weird 5NT to be a

natural (sign-off), but it violates our basic principle that
5NT is always forcing. If it occurs, we will restore it to
it’s former position as the number one priority for an
ambiguous 5NT, but right now I can’t think of why we had
agreed upon this in the past.

Potentially Ambiguous Sequences

1N-5N: COS. Not a Grand Try (start with 5♣ SuperGerber for
Grand Try) Does not apply with Lynn – undiscussed.
1N-2♣; 2X-5N: COS. Not a Grand Try (Use 5♣ SuperGerber over
Stayman response for Grand Try) Does not apply with Lynn –
undiscussed.

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