DEFENSE AGAINST GAMBLING 3NT OPENINGS

This defense is a variation of "Ripstra," a convention that was originally aimed at a 1NT opening:
"Bid your better minor to ask for a major." That usage is obsolete now, but has been resurrected for
use as a counter to the gambling type of 3NT opening (showing a solid seven-card minor and little
outside).

-- A double is for business.
-- A major suit overcall is natural.
-- A minor suit overcall asks for partner's better major. The overcaller is showing his longer minor,
Ripstra-fashion, so partner can pass (or raise) with extreme shortness in the majors and length in the
minor. This call can also be made with spades and a minor when the spades are not good enough
to bid at the four level. If partner bids 4H, you bid 4S and she will know you have a two-suiter with
spades plus a minor (4NT asks which minor).

-- A 4NT overcall shows hearts plus a minor; i.e., it is unusual notrump for the "lower two unbid
suits." Lacking four or more hearts, partner bids 5H when not holding more cards in a minor; 5C
with longer clubs than hearts (If overcaller then bids 5D over 5C, he has hearts and diamonds); 5D
if she prefers hearts to clubs and has more diamonds than hearts. A bid of 5S in response to 4NT
is a signoff, showing a long spade suit that can play opposite a singleton.

		South   West   North   East
		  3NT      4NT   Pass     5H - prefers hearts
				     5C - prefers clubs
				     5D - prefers diamonds
				     5S - natural
				     5NT - your minor?

If the opening could be based on a major suit, then 4NT is for the minors. Partner prefers clubs
wtih equal length.

				The Opening Lead
When leading against a gambling 3NT bid, the standard advice is to forget fourth best leads and lay
down high cards in the hope of finding partner with solidifying cards in some long suit, or enough
top cards in multiple suits to defeat the contract.

When not leading a winner, the opening lead should express attitude, not count. This is also true of
continuations and switches. Lead low from strength, high from weakness.