The DIET TAB
|
|
| |||||||||||||
|
| Opener | Responder |
1
| 2
|
| 2NT | 3
|
Let us assume that, in your methods, 3♥ is a slam try (else 4♥ by Responder here).
Opener A will now sign off in 4♥.
This will pose no problem to this Responder, who will pass.
Meanwhile, if Responder held a slightly stronger hand:
| ||||
|
We might hear:
| Opener | Responder |
| 1
| 2
|
| 2NT | 3
|
| 4
| 4NT |
5
| ?? |
Responder, who doesn't know whether Opener has the trump Queen, must now make a percipitous guess.
| ||||
|
Opener B will co-operate with the slam invitation, but will the partnership be able to discover the trump loser and avoid 6♥?
| ||||
|
... are all four of the "CATS" elements in place for a suit slam:
| Control of all four suits |
| Aces: 3 or all four |
| Trump quality |
| Strength |
(1) Trump-asking bid will solve the latter three of these concerns, allowing Cuebids to address the problem of controlling all four suits.
(2) Any direct raise of partner's major suit by an unlimited hand in a game-forcing auction is a DIET TAB. In response, the answering partner will deem his/her trumps as either
"Queen/Long" (i.e., including the trump Queen and/or extra trump length) or
"Male/Short" (i.e., notrump Queen, no extra trump length).
Answering partner will consider Trump King and any Ace a "Key Card". The responses are as follows:
| 1st Step | Minimum strength with Queen/Long trumps |
| 2nd Step | Any maximum |
| 3rd Step | Minimum strength, Male/Short trumps, 0 or 3 Key Cards |
| 4th Step | Minimum strength, Male/Short trumps, 1 or 4 Key Cards |
| 5th Step | Minimum strength, Male/Short trumps, 2 or 5 Key Cards |
These last three steps are duplicated if responding partner has a hitherto undisclosed void or, if a void is not possible, a solid or "semi-solid" (KQJx or better) side suit which may provide an unexpected source of tricks.
| 6th Step | Same as 3rd step but with a void/good side suit |
| 7th Step | Same as 4th step but with a void/good side suit |
| 8th Step | Same as 5th step but with a void/good side suit |
After a first-step reply (minimum, Queen/Long trumps), forcing partner can relay with the cheapest rebid in order to ask about Key Cards. The six possible response steps will be identical to steps 3 through 8 above.
|
|
The 4♦ bid (4th step) uncovered the minimal Opener as well as the missing Key card and trump Queen. Responder quickly applies the brakes in 4♥.
After a second-step TAB reply (which means any maximum), forcing partner can relay to ask about trumps and Key Cards. A first-step reply will show male/short trumps, while steps 2 through 7 show Key Cards with Queen/long trumps.
|
|
The 3NT (2nd step) encouraged Responder in the effort to reach a slam, but the 4♠ bid (1 Key Card, no
Once the Key Cards are disclosed, the forcing partner can sign
off in the final contract, cuebid for controls or initiate a string of Asking
Bids — all according to partnership style.
With bidding space always at
a premium, the DIET TAB works particularly well when used in conjuntion with
a GOLADY 2♣ response.
Here we see a pair using Italian-style cuebids to find a slam which many might
miss:
|
|
Playing Golady, 2♣ was Staymanic, asking Opener to transfer into a 2nd suit.What about minor suits ?
2♥ denied such a second suit.
2♠ was then a DIET TAB.
2NT by Opener warned of a minimum but promised theQ and/or a sixth Spade.
3♣ asked for Key cards, whereupon 3♠ disclosed two (the
Subsequently, 4♦ by Responder denied a Club control, which would send Opener scurrying to 4♠ if the Club suit were wide open. Hence, Opener's 4♥ cuebid promised a control in both rounded suits. This propelled the partnership to 6♠.
Here, a TAB at the 3♣ or 3♦ level is too artificial; it would not allow a minimal answering hand to show guards for the purpose of stopping in 3NT.
Towards this end, 3♣ and 3♦ are considered trial DIET TABs. The answering partner makes a TAB reply, starting at the level of 4-of-the trump-suit, only if maximal. In the case of Diamonds, a maximal answering hand will cuebid a Club control if one is present before replying to a 4♦ TAB.
All minimal hands will show stoppers at the 3-level.
| 1
| --- | 5+card Spade suit, opening strength | |
| --- | 2
| Natural 2/1 game force | |
| 2
| --- | 4+card Diamond suit | |
| --- | 3
| Diamond fit, hinting at slam | |
| 3
| --- | Minimum, Heart stopper, no Spade stopper | |
| 3
| --- | Minimum, Spade stopper, no Heart stopper | |
| 3NT | --- | Minimum, stopper in both majors or neither major | |
| 4
| --- | Cuebid of a Club control, maximum. Allows a 4 DIET
TAB
| |
| 4
| --- | Maximum with the Q and/or a 5th Diamond | |
| 4
| --- | A "super maximum" | |
| 4
| --- | Maximum, 4 Diamonds only, no Q , 0 or 3 Key Cards
| |
| 4NT | --- | Maximum, 4 Diamonds only, no Q , 1 or 4 Key Cards
| |
| 5
| --- | Maximum, 4 Diamonds only, no Q , 2 or 5 Key
Cards
|
Since its introduction in the August, 1978 issue of
The Bridge World magazine, the DIET TAB
has attracted a small but enthusiastic following.
Its most ardent practioners
consider it integral to any 2-over-1 gameforcing structure.
On to
The Toddler 2♦ article.
Back to
McGuinty Versus 1NT article.
Back to
Colin's Bridge Page
Back to
the Ward's Home Page
Links to
Other Bridge Pages