Beginner asks "How to get to slam?"

[Wsue601]

North:

K J 9 8 6

A

K 8 7 5

A K 3

 

South:

A Q 4

7 6 5

A Q 9 2

J 5 4

 

This bidding problem is from a Frank Stewart bridge column.

 

The bidding question was simple. South "opens one diamond, next player passes. What do you say?" A jump shift of "2 Spades then support the diamonds next" is the answer. He goes on to say that if partner holds a minimum hand such as seen in South above "you can make 7 diamonds."

 

Using SAYC, I'm assuming South would bid 2NT with North supporting Diamonds with a 3 Diamond bid. But after that, I'm don't know how each partner would bid to get to a final contract of 7 Diamonds.

 

Would blackwood be used? Control showing Cue bids?

 

Thanks in advance,

SueW

[Finch]

While it´s possible to get to 7D, I would expect most pairs to play in 6S.

If North makes a strong jump shift to 2S, South should raise holding AQx support.

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

if North does make a strong jump shift,

and I am not certain I would, South should

raise to 3S.

 

2NT should deny 3 card support, and show a

bal. hand, hence South will hold a 4 card

diamond suit, which 1D did not promise,

i.e. over 2NT, 3D is ok.

After 3S, South could still have only 3

diamonds (... not 100% sure, how 4-4 in the

minors is opened, but 4-4-3-2 is an option).

 

Playing natural methods, it is unlikely that

one ends in 7D, the most likely contract is 6S.

 

Frank Steward just mentioned, that 7D can be made

on a minimum opener with perfect cards,

to show how strong the North hand is.

Constructing perfect minimum hands helps to visualize

the trick taking power of a hand.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[luke warm]

i'd bid 1S over 1D, and 3C over 1NT

 

1D : 1S

1NT : 3C

3S : 4NT

5S : 5NT

6S

 

playing strong j/s

 

1D : 2S

3S : 4NT

etc

 

i don't see 7D playing standard methods

[mikeh]

Well, I have never been a big fan of Frank Stewart's articles, altho I should add that I think being a bridge columnist is tough work: people like me jump on the occasional bad column and take the more frequent good column for granted :blink:

 

I really think he is doing less-experienced players a real disservice by suggesting a jump shift on this hand. That ♠ suit is just not good enough, and the ♦ suit is itself pretty tenuous to start introducing as a possible trump suit once partner raises ♠, as partner should over the jumpshift.

 

Make the hands AKQxx x KJxx Axx opposite Jxx AJx AQxx xxx and the same point is made as in the original, but he has shown a true jump shift hand... not that I like strong jump shifts.

 

The irony is that none but really expert players are at all likely to find ♦ after a strong jump shift, while good but non-expert players have a decent chance after a 1♠ response.

 

Thus 1♦ 1♠ 1N seems like a normal beginning.

 

If you play 2 way nmf, then North forces with 2♦ and bids 3♦ over 3♠, hears a 3♥ bid and maybe gets to drive to grand, knowing that partner holds 3 ♠, the ♥A and at least AQxx in ♦ after using keycard.

 

If you don't play 2 way, then N can jumpshift into 3♦ over 1N, if that is forcing, and over 3♠, bids 4♣ and maybe gets to grand.

 

Or uses old fashioned nmf and bids 3 forcing ♦ over 2♠... the point being that NS get to knowingly find a 4-4 or better ♦ fit at a comfortable level.

 

But after 1♦ 2♠ 3♠, North doesn't know how many ♦'s south has: south could be 4=4=3=2, as an example, and now it becomes extremely difficult for NS to ever discover the perfect fit which Stewart was correctly saying makes the grand a reasonable contract.

[kenrexford]

This seems remote as an explanation, but "support diamonds next" could be interpreted as "eventually support diamonds" in a plausible auction.

 

If North starts with a strong jump shift (of the variety where KJxxx is sufficient with diamonds in reserve), then Opener might raise to 3S, starting a cuebidding sequence. If SAYC includes a Serious 3NT call (um....) and then 4D by Opener shows two top honors (uh.....), then RKCB (again, um......) will illuminate the AQ-AQ holdings. NOW, Responder might "support diamonds next" by bidding 7D, counting upon five spades, three round quicks, four natural diamonds, and a heart ruff. Of course, if Opener has the dreaded AQxx-xxxx-AQx-xx holding, this creates a problem. But, then Opener converts to 7S and makes on a dummy reversal.

 

I'm sure that was what Frank was thinking, and he probably figured this was kids' stuff. (Tee Hee)

[cherdano]

I think 2S is absolutely ok as a strong jump shift. You know you have a spade or diamond fit, and you will easily get to 6S with the actual hands. Most B/I will find a playable small slam by starting with 2S opposite most hands. After that, opener HAS to raise, AQx support is great stuff to tell about!

After 1D-2S-3S, responder should bid 4D to show his jump shift was based on a hand with support.

 

Arend

[Gerben42]

I think many will simply respond 1♠ and then your best friend "New Minor Forcing" will help you out:

 

1♦ - 1♠

1NT - 2♣ (New Minor Forcing)

2♠ - 3♦!

 

This shows slam interest since NMF's first job is to find the major suit fit. Walking away from this path then shows slam interest. Now opener has a great hand since he has all the strength in ♦ and ♠. So what's next? Using "fast arrival" opener bids 3♠ and cuebidding starts:

 

3♠ - 4♣

4♦ - 4♥

 

Now blackwood by opener (if responder did not want this to happen he should have broken off, and opener's hand is great in context!)

 

4NT - 5♥ (Two aces)

6♠

 

You could ask for Kings but even with the optimal response (3 Kings) you would not find out if 7♦ is good or not since this depends on ♦ and ♠ Jack...