MACMILLAN 3's................Bill Macmillan 24 June 2002

In June 2001, I applied to the EBU for a licence for a new type of pre-emptive 3-level opening bid. In a letter dated 18th June, 2002, the EBU licensed this convention at Level 3 under a new blanket licence, as from 1st September, 2002. A new paragraph will be inserted in the next Orange Book after " 13.4A Three of a suit opening bids" ......

13.4A.1 You may play these to have any meaning which includes length (at least 4 cards) in the bid suit.

Hereunder, I describe how I originally envisaged this type of bid might be used. However, you are, of course, at liberty to construct your own convention within the definition above.

In some ways the following suggestions are a little like Multi-2D sequences. The point range may be as partners agree. I suggest 11-14 points. The proposed openings bids are ~

3C.................... 4+ Clubs and a 6-card major.

3D.....................4+ Diamonds and a 6-card major.

3H.....................exactly 4 Hearts and exactly 6 Spades. (You may not fancy this!).

The ensuing sequences are -

3C-3D................Which major?
3C-3D-3H..........6 Hearts and lower half of point range.

3C-3D-3S...........6 Spades and lower half of point range.

3C-3D-3N..........Not used.

3C-3D-4C..........6 Hearts and upper half of point range. GF

3C-3D-4D..........6 Spades and upper half of point range. GF

3C-3H................Asks opener to Pass with 6 Hearts, else bid 3S. Responder may raise to 4S or bid 3N (unlikely).

3C-3S.................Pass with 6 Spades, or bid 3N (shows 6 Hearts). Responder may pass 3N or bid 4H.

3C-3N................Natural, but unlikely.

3D-3H................Asks opener to Pass with 6 Hearts, else bid 3S. Responder may raise to 4S or bid 3N.

3D-3S.................Pass with 6 Spades, else bid 3N showing 6 Hearts. 3N or 4H now possible.

3D-3N.................Natural, but unlikely.

3D-4C.................Which major? Possible slam interest. GF

3D-4C-4D............6 Spades and upper half of point range. Bid 4S or cue bid.

3D-4C-4H............6 Hearts and lower half of point range. Pass or cue bid.

3D-4C-4S.............6 Spades and lower half of point range. Pass or cue bid.

3D-4C-4N............6 Hearts and upper half of point range. Sign off in 5H or cue bid.

On rare occasions Responder may choose to play in the opened minor.

I suggest that 3S should be used as a traditional pre-empt. Standard pre-empts of 3C, 3D or 3H cannot now be made. Such hands may be bid on merit, ie pass, open at the 1-level, open at the 4-level, use multi-2D or weak 2's.