Cute relay hand from LV

[awm]

Here's a pair of hands from the LV nationals. Partner and I bid these to 6♣ pretty easily with our relay methods, but it seems a bit harder with relays based on controls instead of 3-2-1 points...

 

[hv=d=n&v=b&n=saxxhkxdajtcakxxx&s=skqxhqxxxdxcjxxxx]133|200|Scoring: IMP[/hv]

[Guest Jlall]

2N 3C 3D 3N :(

[ASkolnick]

Here is our precision auction:

 

1♣-2♣ (5 clubs, GF, 8+ points)

2♦* (Asking)-3♣ (Shortness)

3♦* (Where)-3NT* (Diamonds)

4♥* (Puppet Term, RKC for clubs)-4NT (0 or 3 KC)

 

OK, he could have QC, and does not have AH. Probably no points in diamonds.

 

KQ Spades

QJ Clubs.

 

K Spades

QJ Hearts

Q Clubs

 

KQ Spades

 

I bid 6♣

[PrecisionL]

And with Ultra Club:

 

1♣ (16+) - 1♠ (4+♥ & 8+ hcp) -

1NT (Relay) - 2♣ (Minor Canape) -

2♦ (Relay) - 2♥ (5+♣) -

2♠ (Relay) - 2NT (♦ shortage) -

3♣ (Beta) - 3♦ (1-2 Controls)

6♣ (must have at least 1 K (♠) & 2Qs & J minimum, protected) At worst 50%.

 

Larry

[Echognome]

Playing Gnome (or Echo or Tarzan) Club and bidding it with Jason (I made him relayer):

 

1♣ (16+) - 1♦; (not 9+hcp, 2+ctls)

1♥ (19+) - 1N; (semi-pos, 4+♥, 1+ctls)

2♣ (relay) - 2♥; (4+♥, 4+♣)

2♠ (relay) - 2N; (4♥, 5+♣)

3♣ (relay) - 3♠; (3=4=1=5)

4♣ (ctl ask) - 4♦; (1 ctl)

4♥ (relay) - 4♠; (no ♣A/K/Q or ♣AKQ)

4N (relay) - 5♥; (♥A/K/Q, ♠A/K/Q, no 2nd ♥A/K/Q)

6♣

 

Since a singleton DK doesn't count as a control (for the semi-positive), it's clear we must have SK or HA, thus making the strong relay (4C) odds on. After no club honor is shown (Qs would be shown immediately given 1 control), slam looks a favorite. However, 4N has the safety of checking on the HQ first and playing in 5C opposite KQx xxxx x xxxxx (plus 1-3 Jacks to make up the 6 hcp), although that slam may come in anyway if the Heart is onside, however it's not odds on.

[Apollo81]

seems like you still might have problems, couldnt partner have xxx Axxx x Qxxxx for instance when he shows four 3-2-1 points

[Echognome]

seems like you still might have problems, couldnt partner have xxx Axxx x Qxxxx for instance when he shows four 3-2-1 points

Agree. Opposite that hand we'd hear 4♥ (2 ctls) and would probably bail out in 4NT. Partner can't have Kxx Axxx x xxxxx (3 ctls), so we'd know the best he could have is QJx Axxx x xxxxx which is odds against. I'm actually starting to like the control ask after all.

[cherdano]

2N 3C 3D 3N :(

Push.

[Mbodell]

We have two auctions that might happen:

 

1♣*-1♦* ; 16+ - <7 pts or <2 ctls

1♥*-1♠* ; kokish - forced

1NT*-2NT* ; 19-21 - tx to clubs

3♣-3♥* ; forced - 5+♣ and 4♥ and gf

4♣-4♦* ; agree clubs - 1430

4♥*-5♣ ; 4 kc - signoff

5♥-6♣ ; no signoff - done

 

or:

 

1♣*-1♦* ; 16+ - <7 pts or <2 ctls

1♥*-1♠* ; kokish - forced

1NT*-3♣* ; 19-21 - gf splinter in diamonds w no 5 crd major

3NT

[awm]

I should note that some of the sequences given have not ruled out hands like:

 

♠Kxx ♥Qxxx ♦x ♣Jxxxx as a semi-positive with one control and no top club.

 

♠Kxx ♥Qxxx ♦x ♣QJxxx as a game forcing hand with one control.

 

In any case, our opponents pushed Jlall's auction. Partner and I bid:

 

1♣(1) - 2♦(2)

2♥(3) - 3♦(4)

3♥(5) - 3NT(6)

4♣(7) - 4♦(8)

4♥(9) - 4NT(10)

6♣

 

(1) Strong

(2) 5+ hcp, 2-6 AKQ points with 4+♥/5+♣

(3) GF relay

(4) 3-4-1-5

(5) Relay for AKQ points

(6) Four AKQ points

(7) Where?

(8) No club queen

(9) Relay

(10) ♥Q + ♠KQ (or ♥A + ♦Q)

[kenrexford]

2N 3C 3D 3N :(

Push.

We three are up to a full point at matchpoints.

[effervesce]

Moscito relay auction

 

1♣(1)-1♥(2)

1♠(3)-2♣(4)

2♦(3)-2♥(5)

2♠(3)-3♦(6)

3♥(7)-3NT(8)

4♣(9)-4♦(10)

4♥(9)-5♣(11)

6♣(12)

 

(1) 16+

(2) Semipositive, 3-5 AKQ points, denies 5 card major unless balanced

(3) Relays

(4) 5+♣, 4 card major or threesuited with clubs

(5) 5+♣ 4 hearts

(6) 3415

(7) AKQ point ask

(8) 4 AKQ points

(9) denial cuebid asks

(10) no A/K/Q honor in clubs

(11) an A/K/Q honor in hearts, an A/K/Q honor in spades, no 2nd A/K/Q honor in hearts

(12) Places responder with KQx Qxxx x xxxxx OR Qxx Axxx x xxxxx