rhaas

If there's a bidding sequence that shows this kind of hand (a ton of spades but not a lot high-card strength), that sequence should not kill chances of slam. I think 1♠ followed by 4♠ or maybe just 4♠ directly should get the message across, or perhaps you've agreed on some other sequence. Regardless of the details, if partner is sitting over there looking at three aces and I show that kind of hand, he should probably figure out to bid Blackwood. If he hasn't got three aces, it doesn't really matter what else he's got. Even if 3♠ were forcing in this auction, I don't think it's going to help partner realize the key fact about my hand, which is that I have EIGHT spades.

We just play: 2NT = 20-22 2♣-2♦-2NT = 23-25 2♣-2♦-3NT = 26-28 We also play that 2♣-2♥ is an immediate double negative (0-3 HCP, no Ace or King) so 2♣-2♦-2NT is game-forcing -- partner has already promised sufficient values for game. I think it's a mistake to focus too much on high card points. The original poster was worried about partner turning up with ♠Qxx ♥Jxx ♦xxxx ♣Kxx, but if partner has instead ♠Qxxx ♥Jxxx ♦xx ♣Kxx, you need a 3-3 break in one of the red suits to make 6NT. But if partner has ♥Axxxxxx and out, neither 6H nor 6NT is in any danger unless hearts break 4-0, and even then you may be able to set up diamonds or fall back on the club finesse. So, it's often partner's shape that is the critical ingredient, more than exact HCP strength. But that being said, if partner has no useful shape and just wants to count HCP, that works fine too, if you use 3-point ranges. If it goes 2♣-2♦-3NT showing 26-28 (or 25-27) and partner has 5 (or 6) HCP and a balance hand, 4NT by partner gives you the option to either pass or bid 6NT depending on whether you have a maximum or minimum. With 2-point ranges this is a lot less useful. Partner's strength is already so narrowly constrained that you're not really asking a meaningful question.