Complex Three Spades

The Complex 3♠ Opening is another Multi-style Opening that shows one of the following hand-types:
The Opening is unconditionally forcing for one round. As you can imagine, this is not an opening used frequently and 9 times out of 10 when it is used, it will be showing the Acol-style Gambling 3NT. The original idea for the Opening was to protect Responder's hand when we opened a Gambling 3NT by effecting a Transfer. The other hand-types we added because we liked Multi-style Openings. The 32-33 balanced hand is not entirely theoretical. Jason and I had one once (and struggled to show it), so we stuck it in here, but it's never occurred since. The Intermediate Major suit hand is, in practice, likely to be sub-minimum in that, for many OCP Practitioners, even a hand as weak as ♠AQxxxx, ♥KQxxxx, ♦-, ♣x is arguably worth upgrading to a 1♣ Opening

Responses & Continuations

A relay of 3NT is forced (except in a few instances, as detailed below) and continuations are as follows:

3♠ -3NT -Pass shows the Acol Gambling 3NT
-4♣ shows both Minors. Now all continuations are natural and non-forcing except:
-4♥ is Gamma in Clubs (6-card length assumed). Asking Bids established.
-4♠ is Gamma in Diamonds (6-card length assumed). Asking Bids established.
-4♦ shows both Majors. Now all continuations are natural and non-forcing except:
-5♣ is Gamma in Hearts (6-card length assumed). Asking Bids established.
-5♦ is Gamma in Spades (6-card length assumed). Asking Bids established.
-4NT shows the strong balanced hand. Continuations are exactly as over any other 2+NT rebid showing a strong balanced hand (ie: Puppet Stayman, 4-way Transfers etc).
-4♣ shows a fundamentally weak hand that does not wish to play in 3NT opposite a Gambling 3NT (for whatever reason). This response should not be used if Responder does not want to play in 4♣ opposite an Acol-style Gambling 3NT with Clubs (because the Response is not foprcing and Opener will pass with that holding. (See 4♦ Response below)
-Pass shows a Gambling 3NT with Clubs
-4♦ shows a Gambling 3NT with Diamonds
-4♥ shows both Majors. Now:
-4NT is a general slam try with equal support for both Majors
-5♣ is Gamma in Hearts (6-card length assumed). Asking Bids established.
-5♦ is Gamma in Spades (6-card length assumed). Asking Bids established.
-4♠ shows both Minors. Continuations natural.
-4NT shows the strong balanced hand. Continuations are as over any 2+NT rebid (ie: Puppet Stayman, Transfers etc)
-4♦ shows a hand that does not wish to play in 3NT opposite a Gambling 3NT (for whatever reason), but one with no further ambitions if partner has the Gambling 3NT based on a Diamond suit, but with game or slam ambitions if partner has Clubs.
-Pass shows a Gambling 3NT with Diamonds
-4♥ shows both Majors. Now:
-4NT is a general slam try with equal support for both Majors
-5♣ is Gamma in Hearts (6-card length assumed). Asking Bids established.
-5♦ is Gamma in Spades (6-card length assumed). Asking Bids established.
-4♠ shows both Minors. Continuations natural.
-4NT shows the strong balanced hand. Continuations are as over any 2+NT rebid (ie: Puppet Stayman, Transfers etc)
-5♣ shows a Gambling 3NT with Clubs
-4♥ shows a strong hand with Hearts and both Minors
-4♠ shows both Majors. Now:
-4NT is Epsilon in Spades (Hearts automatically being agreed here).
-5♣ shows 1st round control of Clubs but no 1st-round control of Diamonds. Tells Opener to bid 6♥ with a void Club (and 5♥ otherwise).
-5♦ shows 1st round control of Diamonds but no 1st-round control of Clubs. Tells Opener to bid 6♥ with a void Club (and 5♥ otherwise).
-4NT shows both Minors. Continuations natural
-5♣ shows the Gambling 3NT hand with Clubs. Continuations natural, but if Responder bids again it is a cue-bid with the Minor suit agreed, and opener is invited to cue-bid a shortage if possible.
-5♦ shows the Gambling 3NT hand with Diamonds. Continuations natural, but if Responder bids again it is a cue-bid with the Minor suit agreed, and opener is invited to cue-bid a shortage if possible.
-4♠ shows a strong hand with Spades and both Minors
-4NT shows both Minors. Continuations natural
-5♣ shows the Gambling 3NT hand with Clubs. Continuations natural, but if Responder bids again it is a cue-bid with Clubs agreed, and opener is invited to cue-bid a shortage if possible.
-5♦ shows the Gambling 3NT hand with Diamonds. Continuations natural, but if Responder bids again it is a cue-bid with Diamonds agreed, and opener is invited to cue-bid a shortage if possible.
-5♥ shows both Majors, upper range. Continuations are natural but Spades are automatically agreed
-5♠ shows both Majors, lower range. Continuations are natural but Spades are automatically agreed

Notes

  1. Responder should always convert to 4♣ or 4♦ if they have a void in a Minor suit. Given that the only remotely frequent hand-type for this Opening is the Acol Gambling 3NT, it is almost a racing certainty that Responder's void will be Opener's long suit in this situation. Given that Opener is very unlikely to have any entry outside their suit, 3NT is a dead loss in these circumstances.
  2. Over Intervention:
    Once again, it's relatively safe for Responder to assume that Opener has the Acol Gambling 3NT hand, but needn't feel the need to compete unless they can support either Minor.
    • With a strong hand they can bid 5♣ as a takeout over a 4-level overcall by Opps and now Responder will correct to Diamonds with single-suited Diamonds suit or to Hearts with both Majors.
    • Double by Responder over an overcall is 100% for Penalties and Opener should not compete further.
    • 4NT over a 4-level overcall is "to play", showing a 19+ balanced hand with a good double-stop in Opps' suit. Opener may convert to 5♣ with both Minors, or to 5♥ with both Majors, but should Pass if single-suited.
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