[Cyberyeti]

Teams:

---

Make N's first bid then read the spoiler

Spoiler

E bids 2♠ if sufficient otherwise passes

We missed a laydown slam here, any suggestions ? We also fortunately missed 3N and played 5♦+1.

On this one, you can't cover everything, but how do you play 6♠, I wasn't in it but made it, some people were in it and didn't

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unopposed auction starting with a slightly bent weak NT from S so played from the short hand, W leads ♣K, E plays the lowest remaining club (standard count)

[pescetom]

 Cyberyeti, on 2019-September-21, 08:31, said:

We missed a laydown slam here, any suggestions ? We also fortunately missed 3N and played 5♦+1.

In North I would probably cue 2♠ and partner might well kickback on that, all he needs is aces and a king.

[Cyberyeti]

 pescetom, on 2019-September-21, 11:47, said:

In North I would probably cue 2♠ and partner might well kickback on that, all he needs is aces and a king.

No he doesn't, he needs more than that, particularly if I have 3-4 clubs (or the 2 major aces)

[pescetom]

 Cyberyeti, on 2019-September-21, 12:37, said:

No he doesn't, he needs more than that, particularly if I have 3-4 clubs (or the 2 major aces)

My diamonds must suck and yet I'm still making an aggressive raise... if I have clubs they can hardly be less than QJx(x) and I still must have something more than the 2 major aces. But yes I agree it is not automatic or without risks, I said might.

[FelicityR]

Easier seeing both hands, but South's hand isn't suitable for no trumps really with its 7-4-1-1 shape. If North calls 2♠, it shows that North hasn't got 4♥s as he/she would have doubled. After North calls 2♠, South could call 4♥ as a splinter. That's a slam try in my book. Though it's still hard to bid the slam I feel, whoever takes control of the bidding. More a let's bid it and hope scenario.

[Cyberyeti]

 FelicityR, on 2019-September-21, 14:26, said:

Easier seeing both hands, but South's hand isn't suitable for no trumps really with its 7-4-1-1 shape. If North calls 2♠, it shows that North hasn't got 4♥s as he/she would have doubled. After North calls 2♠, South could call 4♥ as a splinter. That's a slam try in my book. Though it's still hard to bid the slam I feel, whoever takes control of the bidding. More a let's bid it and hope scenario.

How far do you play 2♠ forcing ? It's not worth a GF opposite what we open, x, Qx, KQJxxx, QJxx is a comfortable opening bid

[rmnka447]

 Cyberyeti, on 2019-September-21, 08:31, said:

Teams:

---

Make N's first bid then read the spoiler

Easiest bid would be 2 ♠ by North. Since North doesn't double, implying 4+ ♥, it must show some sort of ♦ fit and good hand. South has a 4 loser hand so must do some sort of driving of the hand. I think South bids 3 ♣ trying for 3 NT. North can bid 3 ♠ showing the stopper.

Then if I were South, I'd continue with 4 ♥ which must be a control, and likely shortness, as 3 NT was NOT bid. It sets ♦ and suggests slam interest. 4 ♠ by North shows a ♠ control and your off to the races.

[Cyberyeti]

 rmnka447, on 2019-September-23, 13:09, said:

Easiest bid would be 2 ♠ by North. Since North doesn't double, implying 4+ ♥, it must show some sort of ♦ fit and good hand. South has a 4 loser hand so must do some sort of driving of the hand. I think South bids 3 ♣ trying for 3 NT. North can bid 3 ♠ showing the stopper.

Then if I were South, I'd continue with 4 ♥ which must be a control, and likely shortness, as 3 NT was NOT bid. It sets ♦ and suggests slam interest. 4 ♠ by North shows a ♠ control and your off to the races.

And how is this auction different opposite AK(x), Qx(x), xxxx, Axx(x)where you have 2 of the 3 (x)

We have the complication that 4♥ would ask aces

[kuhchung]

I would just bid 3N (or 2N depending how light you open.) Having spades 4 times stopped and 4 bad diamonds, making a cue raise would not occur to me...

Over 3N I think S should probably bid 4D. I still don't know that I'll land in 6D.

[mikeh]

In my current partnerships we open virtually all 11 counts: assuming that cyber's comments about his openings are not implying even lighter hands.

The question is, then, is this hand good enough to drive to game opposite what could be an ugly 11 count?

My answer is 'yes' but I bid game with no guarantee of making. AKJ10 in a suit where I 'know' the queen is onside and where I expect, more times than not, the lead from my unsuspecting LHO, plus an Ace plus enough length in diamonds that I can hope for opener's suit to be a source of tricks....picture AKxxx opposite xxxx rather than AKxxx opposite xxx.

So I bid 3N. A spade cuebid is simply misdescriptive, showing (in most partnerships) a limit or better diamond raise...subsequent notrump bids won't convey the certainty with which I stop spades, and the cuebid overstates the diamonds. IMO.

After 3N, opener will usually pull: 3N is a fairly wide-range action and it is easy to picture slam if dummy is maximum (and of course here slam is great even with a minimum). We can always stop in 4N, and should be safe there, since I am delivering a lot of winners.

Over 4D, responder has an easy 4S, over which opener should be encouraged....and should bid 5C. That should imply a heart control, since responder has denied one and opener is still trying for slam.

Responder's hand is now enormous....the spades rate to be worth 3 tricks, and we almost surely have no diamond losers, and we can ruff a club or two. Anything other than at least 6D is chicken. The only issue is whether we are worth 6C and I think the answer is yes.

Partner might have, for example, x Ax AKJxxx Kxxx, and we want to be in the nearly laydown grand.

On the second, win the club and lead a spade towards dummy. If they win the first spade, I can play another round before trying to ruff my diamond, having pitched on the third heart. If the Queen wins, I will have to read the cards and the opps. I doubt that most RHOs would duck with A third, so they may 'get me' if I later guess to ruff the 3rd diamond with the spade K. I'd need to be at the table, to assess how I'd play.

No way am I going to try to set up clubs by ruffing...there are too many ways that loses, with our having no trump spots.

[Cyberyeti]

 mikeh, on 2019-September-25, 12:10, said:

In my current partnerships we open virtually all 11 counts: assuming that cyber's comments about his openings are not implying even lighter hands.

The question is, then, is this hand good enough to drive to game opposite what could be an ugly 11 count?

My answer is 'yes' but I bid game with no guarantee of making. AKJ10 in a suit where I 'know' the queen is onside and where I expect, more times than not, the lead from my unsuspecting LHO, plus an Ace plus enough length in diamonds that I can hope for opener's suit to be a source of tricks....picture AKxxx opposite xxxx rather than AKxxx opposite xxx.

So I bid 3N. A spade cuebid is simply misdescriptive, showing (in most partnerships) a limit or better diamond raise...subsequent notrump bids won't convey the certainty with which I stop spades, and the cuebid overstates the diamonds. IMO.

After 3N, opener will usually pull: 3N is a fairly wide-range action and it is easy to picture slam if dummy is maximum (and of course here slam is great even with a minimum). We can always stop in 4N, and should be safe there, since I am delivering a lot of winners.

Over 4D, responder has an easy 4S, over which opener should be encouraged....and should bid 5C. That should imply a heart control, since responder has denied one and opener is still trying for slam.

Responder's hand is now enormous....the spades rate to be worth 3 tricks, and we almost surely have no diamond losers, and we can ruff a club or two. Anything other than at least 6D is chicken. The only issue is whether we are worth 6C and I think the answer is yes.

Partner might have, for example, x Ax AKJxxx Kxxx, and we want to be in the nearly laydown grand.

On the second, win the club and lead a spade towards dummy. If they win the first spade, I can play another round before trying to ruff my diamond, having pitched on the third heart. If the Queen wins, I will have to read the cards and the opps. I doubt that most RHOs would duck with A third, so they may 'get me' if I later guess to ruff the 3rd diamond with the spade K. I'd need to be at the table, to assess how I'd play.

No way am I going to try to set up clubs by ruffing...there are too many ways that loses, with our having no trump spots.

We open pretty much all rule of 19 hands where there is not a Jxx, Quackx or stiff K/Q/J.

On the second hand if you lead a spade to dummy, E wins and returns the 10, it turns out he had A109 which combined with his stiff club now sinks you as you have no way back to dummy after taking the ruff without promoting. You have the same issue I think if he has a small doubleton club and returns one (although if you believe the signal with a stiff in dummy he doesn't have that).

[mikeh]

 Cyberyeti, on 2019-September-25, 12:28, said:

We open pretty much all rule of 19 hands where there is not a Jxx, Quackx or stiff K/Q/J.

On the second hand if you lead a spade to dummy, W wins and returns the 10, it turns out he had A109 which combined with his stiff club now sinks you as you have no way back to dummy after taking the ruff without promoting. You have the same issue I think if he has a small doubleton club and returns one (although if you believe the signal with a stiff in dummy he doesn't have that).

I think you mean East has A109.

[Cyberyeti]

 mikeh, on 2019-September-25, 12:54, said:

I think you mean East has A109.

Sorry yes, corrected

I was only in 4, so didn't think too hard and played a spade to the K so I had a small trump to exit with from hand after the K held and I took my discard and ruff.

[Fluffy]

My thoughts on the first one where the same as mikeh.