One way of thinking about the jump to 6NT. Suppose you change the
![Spades Icon !S](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
Q in the opening hand to the
![Spades Icon !S](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
A. Now at least there is a chance.. But not a great one. In top tricks you have the AK of spades, the A of hearts and 7 diamonds. That's ten tricks. And that includes a seventh diamond. It really would not occur to me to bid 6NT with that hand. And I don't hate blasts, but it would not occur to me to do it with that hand. If changing a Q to an A iin the opening hand, and leaving a seventh card in a suit that on the auction might well be six cards long, still leaves me with work to do, then I think 6NT qualifies as highly optimistic.
For the reasons I have stated, a solid seven card suit, a stiff in their suit, two queens in the suits partner is likely to have, I think 3
![Diamonds Icon !D](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
is clear cut. Not a lie, not a stretch, it is a completely reasonable bid. I can say why I think so, and I have. After that I must accept that others will think differently. If everyone bid and played in the same way there would be a lot of flat boards.
As to 3NT: The way I play 3NT openings is that the suit must be solid and 7 cards long, this qualifies on that score. I play it as having no outside A or K. Check. I can dig up references for playing it this way but I would say this is pretty standard. Not universal, but pretty standard. Can I have some queens? Yes, I suppose so. So I can imagine a 3NT opening. But with the stiff club and a couple of queens, that might be a good way to miss a diamond slam. I don't feel strongly about 3NT versus 1
![Diamonds Icon !D](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
. I can see arguments both ways. It's sort of an interesting question what responder will do after a 3NT opening. He can count 8 tricks for declarer. But 8 isn't 9 and declarer has to get in. Remember it is the hand with the long diamonds that is declaring if opener starts with 3NT. The hand with the black kings will be in the dummy. That
![Clubs Icon !C](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
9 might prove pretty useful in stopping opponents from running clubs. Maybe he leaves 3NT in. Maybe not. It's iffy. It would be a lot safer if the hand with the black Kings was declaring and the hand with the long diamonds was dummy.
Summary:
I can imagine someone convincing me to open 3NT. I am not convinced, but I can imagine it. However if I open 1
![Diamonds Icon !D](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
then after 1
![Diamonds Icon !D](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
- Pass - 1
![Spades Icon !S](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
- 2
![Clubs Icon !C](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
I will be bidding 3
![Diamonds Icon !D](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
. Yesterday, today and tomorrow. And if I held the other hand I would bid 3NT over the 3
![Diamonds Icon !D](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
. I am confident that it would be my choice. When I am not certain what I would do I say so. for the choice of 1
![Diamonds Icon !D](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
versus 3NT I am uncertain, and if opener starts with 3NT I am uncertain what I would do as responder. Leave it in I think, but I am not sure. For the 3
![Diamonds Icon !D](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
rebid after 1
![Diamonds Icon !D](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
- Pass - 1
![Spades Icon !S](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_spades.gif)
- 2
![Clubs Icon !C](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_clubs.gif)
, and then the 3NT over 3
![Diamonds Icon !D](http://iac.pigpen.org.uk/smf/Smileys/default/icon_diamonds.gif)
, I am certain.