Where to get to, how to get there

[Cyberyeti]

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Teams, dealer N, love all W bids 4♥, E bids 5♥ if he gets the chance over 4♠.

 

[hv=pc=n&s=skj94hq6da3caqj94&n=sat85ha74dkq5ct65]133|200[/hv]

 

Teams dealer N

 

[hv=pc=n&s=saj6hajt4dj743c94&n=sq53hkq6dakq6caq5]133|200[/hv]

 

Matchpoints, dealer N, would it make any difference if IMPs, it did for us.

 

For reference we play Acol with 4 card majors and a weak no trump, so would be particularly interested in those auctions, but any systems welcome.

[mtvesuvius]

On the first I'd bid 4N over 4♥ then 5♠ over 5♥. I assume I'll play it there for better or for worse.

 

The second one it depends on North's view, South will try for slam, and North needs to evaluate their 4333 13 count, I'd treat it as min in 15-17 NT context, max in 14-16. Anyway I'd have an auction of something like:

1♣-1♠

2♠-2N (Raise Ask)

3♥-4♠ (Minimum with 4)

 

In your system I don't see any trouble with 1N-2♣-2♠-4♠. I don't think I'd ever find the perfect slam unless North treats his hand as Maximum.

 

On the last one 2♣-2♦-2N-3♣-3♦ (or 3N, whatever)-6N seems normal.

[nigel_k]

On the first one, can I just clarify the auction? North is dealer so we are starting with something like P-P-2♣-4♥-P-P-4♠-P-P-5♥?

 

The second one I would make a slam try with South opposite a weak NT with four spades. I wouldn't do anything extra with South after that so it would depend how North evaluates his cards. Probably would not get there.

 

The last one I am not reaching 6♦ and 6NT is about 50% so can take it or leave it. I might downgrade North to 21 and stop in 3NT, otherwise 6NT.

[Cyberyeti]

On the first one, can I just clarify the auction? North is dealer so we are starting with something like P-P-2♣-4♥-P-P-4♠-P-P-5♥?

Correct

The second one I would make a slam try with South opposite a weak NT with four spades. I wouldn't do anything extra with South after that so it would depend how North evaluates his cards. Probably would not get there.

Our methods find this hand really awkward, we got there almost by accident

The last one I am not reaching 6♦ and 6NT is about 50% so can take it or leave it. I might downgrade North to 21 and stop in 3NT, otherwise 6NT.

We've modified our system since this hand came up and would now reach 6♦, certainly at teams, 6N possibly at pairs. 2♣-2N-3N-4♣-4♦-4♥-4N-5♦-6♦. We open 2♣ and rebid 2N on 22-23, so responder knows he's bidding a slam, we don't respond 2N on a minimum balanced, we know we're safe in 5N at the point 2N is bid. We just play our system over 2N a level higher over 3N, so opener shows exactly 3 spades, <4 hearts and responder shows 4♥/4♦.

[mtvesuvius]

I misread the original problem... I'd have opened 1♠ with the South hand, then 5♦ over 4♥.

[Finch]

On the first one am I allowed by system to open an Acol 2♠? I'd much prefer to do that with a 2-suiter than open 2C

[Cyberyeti]

On the first one am I allowed by system to open an Acol 2♠? I'd much prefer to do that with a 2-suiter than open 2C

Sorry, that would be too easy, 2♣ is your only strong bid, it could be worse, my partner opened the N hand 3♣ :)

[Zelandakh]

1) P - 1C - (4H) - 4N - 5C - 5S

1C = 15+ bal/nat or 18+ any

 

2) 1N - 2S - 2N - 3H - 3S - 4H - 5D - 6S

or 1N - 2S - 2N - 3H - 3S - 3N - 4C - 4S

or 1N - 2S - 2N - 3H - 3S - 3N - 4C - 4H - 5D - 6S depending on how aggressive I was feeling on the day (seems to be a close decision)

2S = INV raise or clubs; 2N = min; 3H = 4S + longer C; 4H serious denial cue or 3NT frivolous and 4C serious denial cue; 5D = 2/5 kc -Q

 

3) 1C - 2D - 2H - 3C - 3D - 3S - 4C - 5C - 5D - 5S - 6N (4NT natural invite over 3S is also a reasonable option)

1C = as above; 2D = GF with hearts bal or 3-suited; 3C = bal 4H + 4D; 3S = 3442 min; 5C = 4 controls with H control but no D control; 5S = S control but no C control; others = relay

 

The last is interesting as regards IMPS. 6D would seem to be the safer slam but the transfer auction has wrong-sided it. I think 6D is probably still correct though. Presumably the same issue arises in (American) standard after 2C - 2D unless you open 2NT instead.

[Cyberyeti]

OK, time to reveal what happened:

 

First hand partner opened 3♣, so it went:

 

3♣-P-3♠-4♥-4♠-5♥-6♠

 

This I reckon is not a bad slam on the normal top heart lead, (trumps 2-2 and clubs not 5-0, or if trumps 3-1 then you need to be able to play ♣A and another and not suffer a ruff, or if trumps 4-0 you need ♦ 3-3 and the ♣ finesse, a singleton ♣K makes in almost every case), it was doomed when the heart bidder was 3811 and the club wasn't the king. Opps were in 5♣ which didn't make on a heart lead, flat board.

 

The second, 6♠ seems a very reasonable contract, but with trumps 5-0 and the ♣K offside was doomed, opps in game, big loss.

 

The third we actually met at pairs, played 3N with the field, club finesse was working, spade finesse also, our opps led a passive ♥, but it looks like a ♠ was led at some tables meaning our +490 was about 30% due to the 520s.

[han]

On the first one am I allowed by system to open an Acol 2♠? I'd much prefer to do that with a 2-suiter than open 2C

 

Great, now we probably get to hear about MisIry too.