A Small Club Slam

[broze]

[hv=pc=n&s=sh64daq65cajt7652&w=sjt932hjt2dk87ck3&n=sa8654haq983dcq94&e=skq7hk75djt9432c8&d=n&v=0&b=1&a=1sp2cp2hp4cp4dp5dp6cppp]399|300[/hv]

 

I sat South on this deal at my club and the bidding for the most part wasn't pretty. 6♣as you can see is an excellent slam and one I think we'd all want to be in. My partner and I play SAYC not 2/1 GF. After my partner's natural 2H, with my huge distribution I rebid 4♣imagining that after a 4th suit GF 3♦ and the inevitable major response a bid of 4♣ at that point might be taken as a cuebid in my partner's major. As it happens it was worse than that, my p had thought my 4♣ bid was showing the A♣ and I read his 4♦ reponse as natural with 5-4-4-0 shape. Happy that we had eventually found a "fit" I signed off in 5♦; my partner realising what had happened corrected to the excellent ♣ slam.

 

When dummy was laid down after the J♥ lead I chuckled and endeavoured to bring home the small.

 

Despite our less than inspired attempt, it is a rather tricky hand to bid well and scientifically as ♣ smalls can often be. So what are your thoughts BBO community?

[broze]

And as for all of you more interested in play than bidding, what is the best line to take to avoid over-ruffs etc.? Purely from an academic point of view of course for there is no danger on the above layout.

[Cyberyeti]

We'd bid

 

1♠-2♣ (not GF)

2♥-3♣(we play this GF at the 3 level)

4N(exclusion, clubs agreed void ♦, 4♦ would have been normal kickback)-5♦(1/4)

6♣

[Fluffy]

for non 2/1 its a hard hand, you picked 4♣ wich is a success on this board. But I think you missunderstood what it means, it makes clubs trumps whatever partner´s got. I wouldn´t have done so on this particular hand, but it worked out.

 

Taking 4♦ as natural is a very bad view, you donñt bid 4th suit naturarilly at the 4 level!.

 

 

My non 2/1 bidding would be:

 

1♠-2♣

2♥-3♦ (4th suit)

4♣-4♦ (4♦ cuebid IE ace since partner is known to be short)

4NT-5♥ (Blackwood, assuming partner has ♦A, 2 without queen)

6♣

[broze]

We'd bid

 

1♠-2♣ (not GF)

2♥-3♣(we play this GF at the 3 level)

4N(exclusion, clubs agreed void ♦, 4♦ would have been normal kickback)-5♦(1/4)

6♣

 

I like this but would be more comfortable if South took control of the auction and was able to ask Keycards himself. After your GF 3♣ I prefer a 3♥ bid followed by

 

4♣ - 4♦ cue [EDIT: though I guess you would play this as kickback?]

4NT - 5♠(2KC+Q)

6♣.

 

for non 2/1 its a hard hand, you picked 4♣ wich is a success on this board. But I think you missunderstood what it means, it makes clubs trumps whatever partner´s got. I wouldn´t have done so on this particular hand, but it worked out.

 

Taking 4♦ as natural is a very bad view, you donñt bid 4th suit naturarilly at the 4 level!.

 

 

My non 2/1 bidding would be:

 

1♠-2♣

2♥-3♦ (4th suit)

4♣-4♦ (4♦ cuebid IE ace since partner is known to be short)

4NT-5♥ (Blackwood, assuming partner has ♦A, 2 without queen)

6♣

 

Interesting. But I feel sure that after a 4thgf♦ from me my p would have rebid ♥ to show 5 in case we have a fit there. So like I said in the OP that is why I didn't choose that sequence.

 

I agree with you about my interpretation of 4♦ though. Taking it for a cue bid with ♣ agreed and then asking aces would have worked well here.

 

I guess the lesson is: play 2/1!

[Statto]

As Fluffy says, 4♣ sets trumps. 4♦ is a cue (void) agreeing ♣ with slam interest. Much as I hate cueing a void in P's suit, 4♠ seems to be the only option now, showing continued slam interest and expressing concern about a ♥ loser. With both major aces, and given that you are likely to only have two ♥s (with three you would probably have bid 4SF), North can place the contract in 6♣.