How to bid the slam

[Miron]

[hv=d=s&n=sqxhxxxdaqjxcakxx&s=sakxhkdkxxcqj9xxx]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

 

Is there any (reasonable) chance to bid the slam after 3♥ overcall? If yes, how should we proceed?

1♣ - (3♥) - ?

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

1C - (3H) - X (1) - (Pass)

4C (2) - (Pass) - 4D (3) - (Pass)

4H (4) - (Pass) - 5C (5) - all pass

 

(1) unless you want to commit your side to clubs

via 4H, North is forced to make a Neg. X

(2) what else?

(3) cue, having discovered at least a 4-4 fit

(4) cue

(5) missing the spade control

If you like to gamble, bit 4 NT, if partner

shows one key card, it is most likely the Ace

of spades

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[Miron]

Hi,

 

1C - (3H) - X (1) - (Pass)

4C (2) - (Pass) - 4D (3) - (Pass)

4H (4) - (Pass) - 5C (5) - all pass

 

(1) unless you want to commit your side to clubs

via 4H, North is forced to make a Neg. X

(2) what else?

(3) cue, having discovered at least a 4-4 fit

(4) cue

(5) missing the spade control

If you like to gamble, bit 4 NT, if partner

shows one key card, it is most likely the Ace

of spades

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

Why should 4♦ be with the club fit? I think that South as no clue about the fit...

[P_Marlowe]

Hi,

 

1C      - (3H)    - X  (1)  - (Pass)

4C (2) - (Pass)  - 4D (3)  - (Pass)

4H (4) - (Pass)  - 5C (5)  - all pass

 

(1) unless you want to commit your side to clubs

    via 4H, North is forced to make a Neg. X

(2) what else?

(3) cue, having discovered at least a 4-4 fit

(4) cue

(5) missing the spade control

    If you like to gamble, bit 4 NT, if partner

    shows one key card, it is most likely the Ace

    of spades

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

Why should 4♦ be with the club fit? I think that South as no clue about the fit...

Hi,

 

of course it depends on partnership

agreement, as always.

But South did have the chance to bid 4D

instead of the neg. X, which in my book, would

have been natural and forcing.

 

Now you may argue, that South is looking

at a strong 6-4 hand with diamonds and

spades (the neg.X), ... ok, but I would take

4D as a cue, because with a good 6 card suit,

I would bid diamonds direct.

 

With kind regards

Marlowe

[whereagles]

A very difficult hand. I might end up just bidding 3NT with the North hand and go 3 down.

 

The only reasonable solution I see besides taking a shoot at 3NT is to double 3♥ and hope to convice pard later on I don't have spades.

[WrecksVee]

For overcalls above 3♣ I have been using Bergen's thrump double. This double shows HCP and asks partner if he can bid 3NT. It at least avoids bringing spades into the picture and aims at 3NT as the most likely contract in a jammed auction.

 

I play this X with 10+ HCP. Opener knowing I lack ♥ strenght can assume 23+ working points. With honors in both ♦ and ♠ he knows I am not hiding a running side suit as the reason for seeking a ♥ stopper. So if there is some minimal ♣ support 5♣ is a good contract. OTOH Responder could be =4351. So there is still some work to do as Opener needs to show ♥ control and long ♣ or Responder needs to show extra strenght. But at this level I am not sure we will communicate clearly.

[1eyedjack]

I don't like the idea of North doubling 3H with only doubleton Spade.

I would like 4C to be forcing over 3H. I don't know if that would get you to slam. You lack room for sophistication so it is down to bidding it on raw power.

If some players may be in 3N going down then the odds required to bid slam are upped somewhat. Playing a weak 1N system you may have a bit more hope of finding it, as 1C will not contain such a hand. Just some idle thoughts.

[coyot]

What about a simple 1♣-3♥-5♣-pass-6♣?

 

Of course it's a bit risky, but the one that jumps to 5♣, denies the following:

1) 5+ spades

2) 5+ diamonds

3) 4spades and 3(4) diamonds

4) heart stopper

 

So, he's left with clubs and diamonds - and that gives the opening hand a good probability that 6CL will be a good idea <_<

 

Yes, it could turn out as a disaster against a weak NT hand with just three clubs :) - but unless you play 4♣ in any such situation as strong, and if you play x as negative, there's no easy way to bid, unless 4♦ would not guarantee a 5card.