PhilKing

Four Clubs.

And he doesn't have a balanced hand, either. :huh:

We can shut out the preempt, so give me J9xxx or better and I am bidding 3NT. This will often come home on a combined 23 count. Sadly this is not even an option ... :(

The original file was put together by Sally Brock (mysteriously not listed on the acknowledgments). There were two versions - this one (?) and a slightly expanded one with lots of optional extras (these were put in large grey boxes), such as Weak Twos, Lebensohl over reverses, Jacboy Raises, 15-17 NT rebid. In fact, pretty much every "standard" modern Acol treatment. And .... less strict requirements for 1NT openings. I used this file when I was running the under-20 squad, since all players were required to play with eachother, and so they needed a common system, and given that most players had learnt Acol, Sally's "modern+" file was perfect. Glancing through the current file, maybe Sally's file was too modern and they scrapped it and started again! What a waste of money.

I think the situations are sufficiently close enough that we should play the same defence. That may not be theoretically best, but it's easier.

So why not bid 5♦ and over 5♥ bid 5♠? Then partner will know he needs heart control and a good hand? 6♠ is out to lunch and gains exactly never imo. Even 5♦ is pushing it. If you bid six, they are leading a trump approximately never.

Fortunately I am usually only baffled by hogwash. :)

We already have - auction: 1NT-?. Basically we are almost always cold for slam. How that can't be useful information baffles me. I can find out if he is min with only two spades if you want and we are generally still making slam more often than not. The real issue should be whether we could reach seven (it was solid a few times). The "mild invite" crew obviously don't see it that way, but maybe looking at a basic sim might cure them. For me, 1NT-2♥ is invitational or better with 5+ spades, so exploring seven is easy on this hand type. On the actual hand low-level RKCB would allow a stop in Four Spades.

fyp

FWIW, on the 32 hands I generated in total, it was never necessary to play from our side. On one occasion slam made from partner's side only and on a few more it was better from partner's side but made regardless.

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Just to check my own judgment (drive slam via RKCB, however your methods allow) I generated 16 boards on playbridge.com, giving opener a strong no trump with 2-3 spades (it's probably irrelevant how we bid when he has 4). Slam was at least playable on all 14 of the 16 hands where we were not missing an ace and the trump queen (albeit not making all 14 times - only 13). When we stopped in 5 it made an overtrick once and went down once. I ran a separate sim for decent 14 counts with a five card minor, and punting slam was still a winner. 6NT was a good shot if you think the field will be in 6♠, but based on how people here are undervaluing this hand, we should settle for 6♠ in most fields.

You might be on to something.

Because you have the good raise far more often and it is far more important. Over 2NT you have room for a dialogue rather than just answering "yes" or "no" to partner's 3♦ game try as you would playing transfers. Snap! See above, although different conclusion - I play transfers in most competitive auctions but not where we lose space for the good raise.

First is not a slam try, since partner is also supposed to construct hands (he needs a real perfecto, probably with good clubs, and many good hands we have with controls and fit yield little play). I don't think you can justify the second either. He needs controls - not slow values like the diamond queen or Jxx of hearts. I don't see how he can think we are likely to have a slam. As to Codo's point that we may be missing the AK of spades, that gives partner xx QJx AKQxxx AK (a proper slam try) on which he should jump to 4♦. On the actual auction, I place him with a control rich hand with honours in every suit, otherwise he ain't got his bid!

Six Diamonds. Zia says I must construct at least 3 hands before misbidding a slam. So ... Opposite as little as ♠Ax ♥Qx ♦At9xxx ♣AKx we are on a 1-1 break for grand. How bad can it be? Even a sub-min ♠Kx ♥Jx ♦Akxxxx ♣AQx is worth being in. If we have matching club doubletons and partner has Jxx of hearts, things aren't so good, but we can't find that out, and we are still decent opposite ♠Ax ♥Jxx ♦Akxxxx ♣AQ and solid if he has the club king. There are some losing constructions, but I am prepared to take a chance.

A possible hand which Mr Ace quoted in his first answer, I believe!

Ducking the first club is OK as long as you duck the first spade, even if you misguess hearts. Winning the first spade looks odd - if ever there was a hand for tightening up the position, this is it.

In the four card ending you describe (which they cannot avoid), playing a second heart is safe, even against Benito Rodstroth. West is down to ♠T8 ♥? ♦- ♣Q, and East has only one diamond winner. In fact, I think almost any slow line works - the people suggesting some sort of a club duck will probably make nine tricks. Leading hearts up twice makes me shudder.

OP has not played against enough third-in-hand Zia 1NT openings.

Next! East flies with the East and plays AK and another club, West ruffing the third round.

Plan looks good up until not putting the ♥9 in. The only player who can have five clubs is East. If he wins and does not cash, the heart nine is safe.

Does anything really matter? However, it was your teammates who made 6♣. The 1♣ opening is vile but the subsequent auction I kind of like.

I could be wrong, but I suspect our side did. Would you mind terribly telling us what the bids were?

Can't answer without an auction, since it may increase the chances that the lead is from a 3-card suit.