[mikeh]

Finally, for now, hers one where I fell asleep and got undeservedly lucky


You hold, in first seat, Ax AQxx AKJ Kxxx

You open a 20-21 2N.

Partner transfers to spades then raises to 4S.

We play texas transfers so going through a 3 level transfer then bidding game is a mild slam try.

I have a good hand. Very rich in controls. I’d like another spade but the hand is, imo, still worth a try.

Since cuebidding won’t help, I hauled out keycard. Our usual rules say that the big balanced hand doesn’t use keycard, but this auction is an exception…4N can’t be an offer to play.

I was already focusing on what to do opposite one or 2 keycards. I’d persuaded myself that I’d not bid grand opposite KQxxxx and the club Ace since he can’t have anything much more and not have made a stronger slam move. But he bid 5D, showing zero keycards, so I had an automatic 5S. However, I was not focused and, expecting at least the spade king or the club ace for a slam try, I bid 5H, asking for the trump queen….realizing my error just as I let go of the 5H bidding card….and at that point no TD should allow a change. Partner bid 6S and I awaited dummy while castigating myself or putting us into a contract thst, on a good day, would be low percentage

The opening lead was the club Ace and partner delighted me by tabling Q109xxxx KJx xxx void!

Spades were 2-2 so there was no defence. Sometimes being lucky is better than being good.