[cencio]

During a bbo game I saw this auction. After reaching the contract of 4 spades responder bids 5 diamonds with empty in diamonds and asking bid for the queen of spades. the declarer responds 6 clubs having the queen and signaling the k of clubs, with subsequent closure at 6 spades.

I would like to understand what convention it is and how it works.

Thanks for any respons

[PrecisionL]

cencio, on 2026-March-19, 08:18, said:

During a bbo game I saw this auction. After reaching the contract of 4 spades responder bids 5 diamonds with empty in diamonds and asking bid for the queen of spades. the declarer responds 6 clubs having the queen and signaling the k of clubs, with subsequent closure at 6 spades.

I would like to understand what convention it is and how it works.

Thanks for any respons

This does not appear to be anything other then a Cue bid in diamonds showing interest in a spade slam. The whole auction needs to be shown to know what the exact meanings of 5♦ and 6♣ mean. You assumed Q♠ and K♣.

[cencio]

---

[jillybean]

1♠ opening bid
2♣ game forcing in a 2/1 auction
2♥ natural
3♠ unusual jump but agreeing spades
4♠ natural
5♦ cue bid in support of spades, void (Ace , King, singleton or void)
6♣. cue bid, K
6♠

This does not resemble an expert standard auction but got the job done.

[P_Marlowe]

jillybean, on 2026-March-19, 12:38, said:

1♠ opening bid
2♣ game forcing in a 2/1 auction
2♥ natural
3♠ unusual jump but agreeing spades
4♠ natural
5♦ cue bid in support of spades, void (Ace , King, singleton or void)
6♣. cue bid, K
6♠

This does not resemble an expert standard auction but got the job done.

3S ... it is always a debate, if 2S showes support or could be based on 2 cards, 3S also showes SI
4S min, 4C may be better, showing either A / K, but it is a crappy opening bid
5D is 1st round control, a void somewhere
6C I am not sure, I would have found the bid, but given that 2C showed clubs and 4S min,
it is a pretty good bid. I may have bailed out

I think the auction is not too bad.

[jillybean]

P_Marlowe, on 2026-March-19, 14:45, said:

3S ... it is always a debate, if 2S showes support or could be based on 2 cards, 3S also showes SI
4S min, 4C may be better, showing either A / K, but it is a crappy opening bid
5D is 1st round control, a void somewhere
6C I am not sure, I would have found the bid, but given that 2C showed clubs and 4S min,
it is a pretty good bid. I may have bailed out

I think the auction is not too bad.

2S is not a debate and shows 3 card spade support for ambiguous 2♣GF players.
N/S got to the slam but its not a great auction.

cencio, I'd be wary of learning systems from watching BBO players, unless the players are known experts.

[pescetom]

 jillybean, on 2026-March-19, 21:43, said:

2S is not a debate and shows 3 card spade support for ambiguous 2♣GF players.
N/S got to the slam but its not a great auction.

I for one play ambiguous 2♣ and 2♠ that can be 2 card support: I don't see any contradiction between the two treatments, although I agree that 3 card support is playable and has its merits.

I think it's an awful auction by North. I dislike initially hiding the clubs control, particularly if they are playing Serious 3NT as it seems, although I recognise that I am not in a majority on this. But it escapes me how she can force to slam with no Aces only knowing that partner has strong interest and controls diamonds but not clubs (and also why bother with 6♣ rather than 6♠ if she knows we are missing clubs Ace).

Not that it's easy to bid with other methods. In ours, South will not be able to convince North that diamonds must be a void and will probably just have to raise to slam on seat of pants (or RKCB directly over Non-Serious, which is much the same thing).

[mike777]

In the spirit of less control showing


1S-2NT
3C-6S
2NT=gf in spades
3C=minimum hand

[jillybean]

mike777, on 2026-March-20, 09:15, said:

In the spirit of less control showing


1S-2NT
3C-6S
2NT=gf in spades
3C=minimum hand

It appears that south did not have J2nt available

[pescetom]

 jillybean, on 2026-March-20, 09:19, said:

It appears that south did not have J2nt available

If South is willing to bid slam opposite a minimum and despite shortage in his clubs then he can always just jump to slam over the the minimum response to 3S (Non-Serious 3NT or 4S), or bid 4NT RKCB to give the opponents a little more to go on.

[jillybean]

pescetom, on 2026-March-20, 09:31, said:

If South is willing to bid slam opposite a minimum and despite shortage in his clubs then he can always just jump to slam over the the minimum response to 3S (Non-Serious 3NT or 4S), or bid 4NT RKCB to give the opponents a little more to go on.

Agree, see my comment above, I don't think south knew what he was doing

[johnu]

jillybean, on 2026-March-20, 09:19, said:

It appears that south did not have J2nt available

Many players, including me, prefer to show a good, long suit that can provide a source of tricks in a slam. Opener can upgrade hands with a club honor. If responder doesn't have a way to show diamond shortness later in the auction, that can be a problem as well.

[jillybean]

johnu, on 2026-March-20, 16:31, said:

Many players, including me, prefer to show a good, long suit that can provide a source of tricks in a slam. Opener can upgrade hands with a club honor. If responder doesn't have a way to show diamond shortness later in the auction, that can be a problem as well.

I agree, there are numerous ways to bid this hand.