TWO4BRIDGE

Let's see.. when it comes to NT bidding, what does Ken Rexford say about stoppers ? .... oh, yes, I recall now... see my signature below .

I agree with Cyber... You need the ♠AKQ.....for slam, and no way to explicitly show that with 2 keys + ♠Q .

This is actually a good question. North takes control. As far as he knows, they have a double-fit with 8 cards in each Major From the cue bidding, he knows South doesn't have 2nd Rnd Ctrl in Cl, but that he does have the ♦Ace. And from the key card-ask, he knows ONE is missing.... but which one ? ***[ You want to pick the trump suit with at least the TOP TWO honors so you can effectively utilize the Diam suit to get rid of Club loser(s) after the expected Cl lead]*** . If the RKC-ask is for Hts: is South missing the ♥A or ♥K, but has the ♠A ? ---in which case 6S is better. Or does he have both but is missing the ♠ A ? --- in which case 6H would be safer. If the RKC-ask is for Sp, the situation becomes clearer: Since you have the ♠K, then the missing key card must be the ♥K. --- Make 6S the final contract.

I have a primitive way, yet effective for me at least. I use the "Drafts" section of my Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail to save bridge "topics" . The topics are automatically sorted alphabetically ( when you click on the "Subject" heading ). I add to a given topic -- say: "Splinters" or "Jac2NT" -- when something new or interesting is posted here on the forums....or something I found elsewhere on a blog, etc ). I just copy-and-paste portions I want to save... including the thread name, URL, date, and poster's name ( and/or replier's name ). You can also sort by "Date" with a click. You can also make "Sub-headings" under the "To" category ( eg an Author of the post )... and sort with a click.

Continuing from my post #5 after 3S!jump by North: 4D ( Diam Ctrl, no Cl Ctrl) - 4NT ( 6 Ace-RKC, including sQ but not hQ; lower rank hQ can be found later ) 5C ( 0/3 ) - 5D ( sQ-ask ) ?? ...5H ( sQ + hQ, since hK would be in key card reply ) ...5S ( no sQ ) ...5NT ( sQ , but no outside K or hQ ) ...6C ( sQ + cK, but no hQ ) ...6D ( sK + dK, but no cK or hQ ) After the 5H reply: 5H - 6S ( at least we find out about the hQ [ as well as sQ ] ; would have passed the 5S reply [ no sQ ] but the final contract could be in peril after a 5NT reply ).

The grand is out of the question since you are off 1 key card which could be the ♥Ace ( assuming North took control ).

I know some here by-pass an immediate GF raise w/4 cards ( like Jacoby2NT ) in favor of a 2/1 source-of-tricks ( as in your example )... but I'm not one of them.

It's hard to top Ken's cuebid methods, namely the 3S! = 2 of top 3 Sp . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I've been toying with another idea. We had a similar problem recently ( a non-slam hand ) involving a double-fit in Sp/Hts . 1m - 1S 1NT - 2om! ( NMF ) 3H!jump = max, 3s/4h ( an suggestion by Lorne Russell ). - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - An unnecessary 3S!-jump could be used here to carry additional information, since 2S is all that is needed to show support in the GF auction South.... North 1S - 2D! ( 2/1 GF ) 2H - 3S!jump = 3s/4h double-fit

Opp must have been a BOT... Once they start DBLing, you can't get them to stop !

I say it is natural ( 3 or 4 cards ) and NO ♣-stop ( or a half-stop ) . 3C says: no 3s, no 4h, no 6d ... ergo: 2 3 5 3 or 2 3 4 4 . [ With ♣-stop(s), you would have rebid some number of NT ] .

I was just guessing as to your follow-ups. I assumed after: 3C( 4c ) - 3S (set trump, asks for shortness ) ?? 3NT = red suit VOID ........... - 4C! = asks where ; ...................... 4D = 5 3 0 5 ...................... 4H = 5 0 3 5 4C = 5 ( 1 2 ) 5 ........... - 4D! ( asks again) ...................... 4H = 5 1 2 5 ...................... 4S = 5 2 1 5 4D = Diam shortness ( 5 3 1 4 ) 4H = Ht shortness ( 5 1 3 4 ) 4S = no shortness ( 5 2 2 4 )

I only mentioned the opps giving ♣COUNT on two leads , because COUNT -- count -- count.... is important to slam defense when 12 tricks may hinge on a possible squeeze . [ The prime Club suit is hidden from defenders in this case so, as such, they might be uninhibited ] . However, my thoughts about it are flawed. If the defender with the ♦Q shows an ODD # of Cl, then he has 3 or 5 which won't help you unless he has five and his partner drops the 10, 9 bare. And if he shows an EVEN #, it probably is extremely hard, if not impossible, to know if it is from two or FOUR ( the magic # )...[ the outstanding Cl are 2 4 5 6 7 9 10 ] .

I thought you had it right the first time. The opp with the sure trump trick needs to have 4 cards Cl of 4-3 outstanding , or a 31% probability whereas the Sp finesse is 50%. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - EDIT: Can you derive something from playing a few rounds of Cl first before the possible Sp finesse ? Would the opps dare to show COUNT ? If they did, and the opp with the trump Q showed an ODD # of Clubs ( and confirmed by the other opp showing an EVEN # ) , then you have to fall back on the Sp finesse .

I had a feeling I might get a " slight optimization". Let's see how it might work with the example I gave: North South K Q x x x ..... A J 10 9 x x ................. A Q x x J x x ........... x A 9 x x ........ K Q 10 2S ( max ) - 2NT! 3C ( 4c ) - 3S ( set trump, asks for shortness ) 4H ( 5 1 3 4 ) - 4NT ( RKC ) , etc ... well, in this case we are at the same place ... but one example doesn't prove anything.

Eventho I don't play Muiderberg much, I found the following treatment very interesting ( posted on another board in 2002 from a talented player in Poland ): Some Muiderberg notes: When you play Muiderberg, it's very important to have a system that allows the opener to describe his distribution. Some developments: After 2S-2NT-3C: 3D = set clubs as trump, game force, ask distribution 3H = own suit, game force, ask for support. 3S = set spades as trump, game force, ask distribution 3NT = to play 4S/5C = to play 4C!! = set spades as trump, ask about quality of suit (not interested in distribution) After 2S-2NT-3D: 3H = own suit, game force, ask for support 3S = set spades as trump, game force, ask distribution 3NT = to play 4C = set diamonds as trump, game force, ask distribution 4D!! = set spades as trump, ask about quality of suit (not interested in distribution) After 2S-2NT-3C-3S (distribution ask): 3NT = 4 clubs and no void, bid 4C please ... - 4C: ........ 4D = diamond singleton, 5314 ........ 4H = heart singleton, 5134 ........ 4S = 2/2 in d/h, 5224 4C = 5 clubs and no void, bid 4D please: ... - 4D: ........ 4H = heart singleton, 5125 ........ 4S = diamond singleton, 5215 4D = diamond void, 5 clubs, 5305 4H = heart void, 5 clubs, 5035 4S = heart void, 4 clubs, 5044 There is no 2S opening with 4 hearts in our version of Muiderberg. Similar scheme follows 2S-2NT-3C-3D and 2S-2NT-3D-4C. The goal is to describe all possible distributions BELOW game level in the agreed suit (4S, 5C or 5D respectively). Similar developments follow 2H - 2NT. Of course, all asking bids are slam tries. Here is a hand that I had posted at the time where we had missed slam ( 2S - 4S, all pass ) Using his treatment follows: North South K Q x x x ..... A J 10 9 x x ................. A Q x x J x x ........... x A 9 x x ........ K Q 10 2S (1) - 2NT (2) 3C (3) - 3S (4) 3NT (5) - 4C (6) 4H (7) - 4NT (8) 5S (9) - 6S (10) (1) DISCIPLINED Muiderberg, always upper range when partner is not a passed hand. No need for a min/max question bid and we very rarely give large penalties. (2) Forcing relay (3) Clubs (4) Set trump, game force, ask distribution (5) No void, relay to 4C (6) automatic (7) heart singleton (exactly 5134) (8) rkcb for the agreed suit (spades) (9) 2 + the queen (10) ruff 3 hearts and claim

I think I have an even easier method than my last post ( # 12 ) -- for memory purposes -- In either ♣ or ♦ transfer case, 3m! = Majors and 3om! = THAT other bid minor and a Major: 1NT - 2S! ( ♣) / 2NT ( ♦ ) - ?? DBL! = long suit somewhere >> relays to next step to ask where 3m! = Majors; for 3H/3S = to play ( Edited ) 3om! = om + Major ; for (1) PASS or (2) 3H for pass or correct to 3S

EDIT: See my next post ( # 13 ) first . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I have to weigh in on this too. I'm not sure if this is any better or easier to remember, but it does get in all the options including the long, unbid suits: 1NT - 2S! ( ♣ ) - ?? DBL = long suit somewhere >> relays to next step, 2NT; ........... - 2NT; then 3D/3H/3S 2NT! = Diam+ Major ........... - 3C! ( asks Major ) ........... - 3D = to play 3C! = majors ........... - 3D! ( asks Major ) 1NT - 2NT! ( ♦ ) - ?? DBL = long suit somewhere >> relays to 3C! ........... - 3C! ; then pass/3H/3S 3C! = Cl + Major ............ - 3D ( asks major ) 3D! = majors ........... - 3H for pass or correct to 3S

This is essentially a Leaping Michaels situation over a 3-minor preempt. There are a couple of methods to show your 2-suiter. But normally it shows a BIG 2-suiter which you don't have. Anyway, whether over 2S! ( ♣ ) or 2NT!( ♦ ) one method is similar to Andy's: 4C! = other minor (om) and a Major .............4D! ( asks Major ) 4D! = both Majors 3m = asks for a stop 3om/3M = natural

When ♥ are trump and ♠ are out of the picture, 4S! = RKC and 4NT! = Voidwood, excluding ♠ ( Meckwell ) . If 5♠ is used as Exclusion, then Responder will reply 5NT or 6C (showing zero ) and 6D could be construed as a specific K-ask. 2C - 2D 3H - something 4NT! - something 6D! ( 3rd Rnd Ctrl-ask ... since have by-passed the K-ask -- thus, no confusion ) ...... - ?? 6H = no 3rd Rnd Ctrl in ♦ 7H = x x doubleton ♦ 6NT = ♦Q 7D = ♦Q J This also works here even if you don't play Meckwell Exclusion. You don't care if partner has the ♠A or not. 4NT ( regular RKC ) - 5C/5D 6D!

Ok, one more try: 1S - 2H! ( 2/1 GF w/5+Hts ) 2S - 2NT 4D! ( self-splinter: now there is no question that ♠ is 6+ cd suit and a good one at that ! )

I was thinking the same thing. If partner has the ♦ A , then your Ht loser has a parking spot. Next, you can ask for the ♠ Q ... if he has it, you will find out about the ♣ K as well. If ♠Q but no ♣K, then you can hope he has the ♣J.

I know I'm going to get in big trouble with this one: 3♥ self-splinter... showing a good 6+ card Sp suit. You still have an opportunity to raise Diam if Sp doesn't work out. The T/O DBL showed Hts/Cl. Partner didn't make a Support RDBL, so he has at most 2 cards.

4♦ !

Another reason for North ( Opener ) to show 3 card Ht support on his rebid with x x x ( I know it was "poo-pooed" here ) is that finding out about the ♥Q is important if and when he takes control ....And what better way to find out than with a key-card ask. And if the auction permits, he has the top dog Spade suit as the slam suit choice. 1S - 2H ( 2/1 GF ) 3H - 3NT ( would have bid 3S with 3 cards... so less than 3 cards Sp ) 4C - 4H ( no Diam Ctrl; actually this is good news... must have helpful hcp in CLUBS and perhaps the ♠J for his 2/1 GF) 4NT - 5S ( 2 + ♥Q )... and the 2 key cards MUST be the ♥ A & K !!! 6H/6S

Here's another defense from KenRexford ( from 2008 ) : kenrexford said... " Many years ago, I played in a midnight game with a young player of great talent. We were supposed to play six boards but only made it through four before the round was called, comparing to a huge win. The opponents played Precision and fell apart against our defense. The idea was that all two-level overcalls showed various rwo-suited bids (nothing exciting), and 1NT shows balanced (weird, but OK). One-level calls (double for clubs) showed either the suit bid (1♠ shows spades) or shortness in that suit and the other three suits (1♠ also could be 1-4-4-4 or something resembling that). If Responder liked spades, he picked the side suit that he liked best. If partner disliked spades but liked some side suit a lot, he raised spades. If partner liked spades and liked some side suit, he could jump. Kind of psychotic paradox advances. Needless to say, the opponents had no idea what was going on. I'm not so sure this would work against good opponents, but it was hilarious in the midnight game. Beer makes all conventions work better. " August 11, 2008 9:52 PM