The Major Suit Spiral Raises & Notrump Ladder will be a 2-hour session delivered on Friday, March 20th, from 10 am to noon.
Understanding and adhering to the Notrump Ladder is essential for every partnership. This portion of the session will provide an account of every high card point you may have in your opening hand, ranging from a total of 12 to 27 high card points. The Notrump Ladder applies when the opener bids notrump at various points throughout an auction.
The Major Suit Spiral Raises convention addresses the situation when an auction proceeds as follows:
1 minor (e.g., 1 club) - Pass - 1 major (e.g., 1 heart) - Pass - 2 of the same major (i.e., 2 hearts) - Pass - ...
Without a convention at their disposal, responder is in a tough spot. Did opener raise responder's major suit with 3- or 4-card support? Does opener have a bare minimum opening hand or a stronger hand? If responder has an invitational hand, should responder invite opener to bid game in the major? Should responder bid game in the major?
This session will address these and other questions, helping you to eliminate the uncertainties regarding this type of auction, as well as to embrace 4-3 major suit fits ("magical 8-card major suit fits" are no longer essential!)
The cost of this session will be $20, payable via either Venmo, Zelle or cash. Materials will be provided following completion of the session.
